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The Course and Consequence of Pride

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When we walk through the passage of 1 Kings 20:1-30, we notice that in the attitude and action of the King of Syria we have an illustration of the course and consequence of pride:

1. The demand of pride (verses 1-6). Pride is always overreaching in its claims, selfish in its requests, and cruel in its commands.

Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.'” And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.” The messengers came again and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.'”
(1 Kings 20:1-6 )

2. The boast of pride (verse 10). Pride never uses a small i, but always the capital I. What a lot of “I” there was in the Pharisee’s prayer!

Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
(1 Kings 20:10)

3. The recklessness of pride (verse 12). Pride ever seeks to “enjoy itself,” although danger may be near. Nero played his fiddle while Rome was burning.

When Ben-hadad heard this message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.
(1 Kings 20:12)

4. The enemy of pride (verses 13-15). God hates pride; it is an abomination to Him.

And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.
(1 Kings 20:13-15)

5. The pastime of pride (verse 16). Ben-hadad was drinking when he should have been on the alert. What an illustration of those who are drunken with self-conceit and arrogance. “This one thing I do,” is their cry: “I seek to find satisfaction in what the world offers.”

And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him.
(1 Kings 20:16)

6. The assumption of pride (verse 18). The King of Syria took it for granted that he would take captive those who had come out from Israel; so the sinner thinks his plans will be sure to succeed, till they are exploded; then he discovers his folly.

He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
(1 Kings 20:18)

7. The overthrow of pride (verses 19-21). Destruction is the result of pride (Proverbs 16:18). Pride is the forerunner of destruction. It was so in the case of Korah, when he in his pride coveted the priesthood (Numbers 16).

So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.
(1 Kings 20:19-21)

8. The persistence of pride (verses 22-27). Although defeated, Ben-hadad returns to his former course. How like one, who, although he has had to smart for his action, still seeks to follow his former course of conduct.

Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.” And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in their places, and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so. In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country.
(1 Kings 20:22-27)

9. The punishment of pride (verses 27-30). The sinner can no more escape the punishment that his sin deserves, than the moth can escape being burnt by coming in contact with the lighted candle.

And the people of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the country. And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'” And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. And the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men who were left. Ben-hadad also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city.
(1 Kings 20:27-30)

This has been adapted from the commentaries of F.E. Marsh, coming soon to the Blue Letter Bible.

Comments

  1. Brother Chris : Shalom to all , Excellant Post on * Pride * !!! * Pride * is What Lucifer Had … Ezek.28:13-17 … Isaiah14:12-15 … When * EL ( YHWH ) – O – HIM *… Created Him … By * HIS Beauty and Spendor * … thinking that he Could Challenge the God that Created Him … ? !!! It is Written in Scripture that the Lord – Adonai is the * Potter * and We Are the * Clay * … Our Bodies are * Matter * from the Earth …and Our Spirit or breath of life is God Combining the * Two Natures * …One Invisable … the Other Visable … 1Cor.15:45-50 … !!! … Pride is Fleshly …Human Nature … the * Carnal Mind * which is Against Being * Led By God or his Holy Spirit * … !!! … Eccles.12:13-14 … is Why God Created Adam and Eve … to Have Fellowship with the Almighty God …and were * the 1st ONES * on Earth to have a Relationship with Him * … ??? !!! Here is a * Mystery * Hidden in Christ * … From Where … ??? * A Key * fits a Lock to a * Door * Yeshua Jesus is That * Door * …Rev.3:18-20 … The * Key of David *…Rev.3:7 … Fits the * Lock * to Have Axcess from Earth to the * Door * to Enter Heaven …( * Mount Zion Is * Where * 1Kings8:33-35 * ! ) …Please look Up * Mount Zion *on BLB*s Search … there are * 21 * Verses on * Mount Zion * … !!! Here is the * Mystery * … In Gen.4:14-17 … After Cain Killed his brother Able … WHO was He Affraid Of Slaying Him ??? WHO Did he Marry in the Land of NOD ??? Most people think it was Cain*s Sister or the Daughters of * Seth * … Gen.5 … But God Created Adam and Eve … Cain and Abel … WHO Else was there … ??? * LIMITING GOD * Will Limit You * in your Walk with The Good Lord … Psalms78:41,65-72 … Please leave your Responces on this … Pride will LIMIT …YOU … !!! I will put Up what the Spirit of the Lord … showed me … Awesome is the God of Abraham , Issac , Israel , bless everyone … Psalms87… amen 🙂 shalom bye !!!

    • If you’re trying to suggest a pre-adamic race, please remember that Romans 3:23 says that “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Because “all [people] have sinned” and sin came only through the seed of Adam, then there can be no other race of people because that would mean that there have been people who existed without sin, a scriptural impossibility.

      • Beloved Sister Barbara : Shalom to all , Excellent Post …!!! * Pride * Destroys the Soul-Mind , Will , Emotions … John14:15-21,26 KJV… Jesus said of not leaving Us Believers Helpless … But Promised us the Holy Spirit … to Teach Us * ALL THINGS * … ??? !!! … Science is a Study of God*s Creation … and Creation is Evolving … Not Just Evolution … as We have been Taught … ? !!! … Eccles.8:16-17 KJV … Vs.17 : Though a Wise Man Think to Know It , Yet he shall Not Be Able to Find it !!! ( Works of God of Creation !!! ) … So Barbara … God Has Sealed … His Eternal Wisdom , Understanding , Power , … Psalms147:5 … as in the 7 Seals in … Rev.5:3-5 … No Man in Heaven , or on Earth , or Under the Earth ( Sheol , Hades , Hell ! ) was able to OPEN or Look into the * Book * which God*s Angel Showed John … !!! … 1John2:20-21,25-29 … The Holy Spirit is Our Guide to Understanding God and His Attributes of his Precepts of his Infinite Agape LOVE … So When the 2 nd coming of Christ as the * Word of God * Comes … We Will NOT be Ashamed … But Be Ready for His Precious Coming … !!! … John in the Spirit was Ready to Worship the Angel in Rev.19:10 … Prophecy Is Jesus … 2Peter1:16-21KJV … * Holy Men Of God Spake as they were MOVED by the * Holy Spirit * !!! ( = Prophecy !!! ) … Amos3:7-8 KJV … Is HOW I KNOW … to God and His Christ*s Glory … and Not My Own Glory = * Pride * …!!! … To Prepare a People * Back to God * before he Comes … Mal.3:1-3 …God KEEPS His Word … His Holy Word … Didn*t you Believe that i would Come … ??? … 1John4:1-7 … Test the Spirits … !!! … Jesus Spoke in * Parables * … said he would speak Openly in Time … Awesome is the LORD … bless everyone amen shalom bye !!!

        • Messenger-2

          I’m not sure what most of your answer has to do with the topic, but there is one absolute truth about God’s Word and that is that there is not anything in it that can contradict what He hasn’t revealed to us because God is His Word. Consequently, you need to align your understanding to what He has already revealed to us in Romans 3:23 as I posted.

          Barbara

  2. Shalom to all , … Dan.12:3-9 … Blessed by the Father and his Son is * Those that Preach the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ … to Turn People … from their Empty Lives … Running to Gather * Things * Material things * ( We Came into this World with Nothing ; We Leave with Nothing , Who is Realy in * Control * ??? God !!! )… To Turn a Sinner from * Death * … James5:19-20 …and Make them by Choice ( Free Will ) to Repent … and to Follow the Law Of Christ … from Jerusalem … the Throne Of God and the Lamb … Micah4:1-2 … * Living Waters * Flow from the Throne to God*s Sheep … Baaaahhh !!! The Sheep Know the Shepard*s Voice … From Faith to Faith in Christ … Praise the Lord … Inspite of your Situations … Blessings from Mount Zion amen shalom !!! bye Ps…Pride Sucks … !!!

  3. Shalom to all , Brothers and Sisters in the * Body Of Christ * … Ezek.9:1-3 KJV … Man Clothed in Linen … Had an * INKHORN * By his Side * ( Modern Day : Laptop with Case with strap to Carry * By Your Side * ??? O K ?? ! ) … !!! Posting In This Blessed Site is our Connection to the Lord …and the Lost … !!! … I Encourage you as Others here to Keep Up the Excellant work for God and His Christ … I Love you all in Christ … God Loved us First … !!! … Peace and Love from Up Above …amen shalom …!!! xoxoxo

  5. Shalom to all , * No I am Not the 2 nd Coming of Christ * Rev.19:10 … But * Christ Lives in Me … as Others *… I am Just a Messenger … to Prepare the Way for the 2 nd Coming… Ezek.8:5 … Two … One on one Side of the River of Life … Moses and Elijah …Matt.17:1-4 … as Peter Saw … But James and John Didn*t … ??? !!! … Malachi3:1-6 … from Repentance to Salvation …New Jerusalem Awaits God*s Children …Enter into Eternal Life at the Wedding of Jesus Christ and the Bride … Rev.21:1-11 … If I was a Liar … I would Never make it Into God*s Kingdom … Faith Hope Peace Mercy Love from Mount Zion … For when I am Weak … Adonai makes me Strong … as Others …amen 🙂 shalom bye !!!…

    • OoPpss … Ezek.8:5 … Should be … Dan.12:5 … The Two are Moses and Elijah One on Each Side of the River of Life ( Like the Tree of Life Rev.22:1-2 !! ) … the Two Olive Branches and the Two Candlesticks that stand before The Lord of the Earth … Zech.4:1-7,12-14 …Vs.2 is the * Menorah * … Brother Mathew and Brother Steve Marrow … we are Poor and Needy … But Rich in the Lord … Blessed is he Who Comes in the Name of the Lord … Rev.19:13 … the * Word of God * …amen shalom !!! …

  6. Ezekiel 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as MY people
    And they hear THY words but they will not do them
    For with their mouth they show much love
    But their heart goeth after their own covetousness

    Ezekiel 33:32
    And lo THOU art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice
    And can play well on an instrument
    FOR THEY HEAR THY WORDS BUT THEY DO THEM NOT

    Ezekiel 33:33
    And when this cometh to pass
    lo it will come
    Then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them

    ———O LORD my GOD was Saul a prideful man–Peter———

    1 Samuel 13:13
    And Samuel said to saul thou hast done foolishly
    Thou hast not kept the commandment of THE LORD thy GOD
    Which HE commanded thee
    for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel
    forever

    Mark 8:32
    And HE spake that saying openly
    And PETER took HIM and began to rebuke HIM

    Mark 8:33
    But when HE had turned about and looked on HIS disciples
    HE rebuked Peter saying
    GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN
    FOR THOU SAVOUREST NOT THE THINGS THAT BE OF GOD
    BUT THE THINGS THAT BE OF MEN

    Mark 8:38
    Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of ME and of MY words
    in this adulterous and sinful generation
    Of him also shall the SON OF MAN be ashamed
    When he cometh in the glory of HIS FATHER with the HOLY ANGELS

    LOVING THE LORD

  7. * It Is Written In Scripture * : Shalom to all , Adonai the Lord would Do a * Wonderfull Work * that if Told ; People would not Believe It …Isaiah59:20-21 … Rev.14:6 …* An Angel * Flying * ( C.G.I. … Computer Generated Imagery … On the Fly … * Click * all Over the World = Internet ??? !!! ) Through the Midst Of Heaven … WI – Fi …??? …) … Dan.12:1 … Michael … the Angel of the Lord … Is With US … !!! Thanks Praise Glory Blessings Honour to God through Christ … 1John4:1-8 … The Lord is Our Help … bless everyone … E=MC^2 = God = LOVE amen shalom !!! 🙂 bye

    • Hey … Moses … Call Elijah … at 1 800 LOVE EwE … Flying through the Midst of Heaven … Rev.14:6 KJV … as in Cell Phones TOO …K(now)??? … Messenger of Jacob*s and Judah*s Blood Covenant … Rev.5:5 … RESTORE …!!!… amen shalom 🙂 Bye !!!…

  8. I understand the writers point that “sinners” have so much pride and I can see how this keeps them from recognizing the greatness of God! But, let’s not forget that although pride should not have any place in a Christians life, we too at times let pride creep in. Humility is very important in the life of a Christian, humbling ourselves in prayer before God’s presence everyday whenever we have the chance is also essential in our getting closer to our KING. Pride is what destroyed lucifer and it still destroys many people today, thier pride and ego. Let us believers in Christ not forget the GRACE of God in our lives daily! We live by the grace of God, we wake up by the grace of God and the things we do according to God’s word is also by his Grace. We are victorious by the Grace of God not by our own might, but it is because the Lord sustains us and strengthens us. Let us not forget our place before the Lord and before the World who desperately need Jesus. Give grace for the grace we have received! Be blessed!

    • Amen Lover of Jesus !!! Excellant Post … !!! … Pride of being * a King * was King Saul*s Downfall … Obedience is Better than Sacrifice … 1Sam.15:18-26 KJV … He Lied to God*s Prophet Samuel and to God … !!! … Everything that was Written in the Past … was Written as Examples for Us to Learn from Other*s Believers in the Lord in the * Bible * and from their Mistakes …Isaiah29:22-24 KJV … Prov.16:1-9 KJV … !!! Awesome is Adonai the Lord … Bless everyone … * Pride is a Cul-De-Sac * to NoWhere * but Sorrow and Pain … amen shalom 🙂 bye !!!