Lesson Outline for May 29, 2025
What is pride?
- Put yourself above others and God
- Self-importance; self-exaltation; self-justification; self-preoccupation
- Arrogance not confidence; self-sufficiency, not dependency on God
- Pride leads to disobedience and rebellion against God
Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions
- Proud = #H1361 – “gabah” – haughty, lofty, arrogant (in a bad sense) Ez 28:17. G#5244 “hyperephanos” showing oneself above others w/ contempt, haughty, to appear over others.
- Pride = H#1347 “gaon” – pride, exhalation and arrogance (bad sense) / G#5243 “hyperphania” – looks down on and treats other with insolence
- Humble = H#6800 “sana” – humility and modesty in action, be lowly / G#5013 “tapeinoo” – make low, bring low, assign a lower rank, ranked below others who are honored / rewarded
Green text in scripture denotes author’s comments /additions
Pride vs Humility – Case Studies
Cain
Gen 4:4-7 ESV – “4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering He had no regard (would not even look at it). So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted (exalted, lifted up)? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
James 4:6-7, 10 ESV – “6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you…, 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
- Cain’s pride got in his way. He hated his brother because Abel’s gift was accepted.
- God loved Cain, and corrected him on what God required for acceptance. What did God tell Cain? Cain had a choice.
- Abel is in Heb 11 “Hall of Faith” even though it cost him his life
- Are there areas of your life not submitted to God? These areas will give the devil access. James 4:7; 2 Tim 2:24-26
Abraham and Lot
Gen 13:8-9, 11 ESV – “8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” … 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other.”
1 John 2:16 ESV – 16 For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world.
- Who was the senior and responsible for Lot’s success?
- What was Abraham’s posture?
- Anyone know or remember what happens after this – Lot’s location, Lot’s rescue, Abraham’s request.
King Saul and David
1 Sam 15:9, 12, 23 ESV – 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. … 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” … 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption (insubordination/arrogance) is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”
Prov 11:2 ESV – “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
- Not Saul’s first disobedience / rebellion – Samuel warned him previously. Saul disobeyed numerous times previously.
- Saul led the Israelites to disobedience. He built a monument to himself
- He lied to Samuel. He self-justified, self-exalted
- Saul left in place for another approx. 17 years – he never repented to God
- David anointing to king – approx. 17 yrs, never hated Saul, did not take the throne without Israelite people’s approval
King David takes a census
2 Sam 24:1-3, 10 ESV – 1 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” 3 But Joab said to the king, “May the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”…,10 But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
1 Chron 21:1-3 ESV – 1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?”
What is the big deal with taking a census?
Ex 30:11-12 – Only the LORD commanded a census to be taken all males 20 or over – 1) Flat tax to all in Israel, and it required payment when commanded by the LORD.
Num 1 and 26 – For military service. Fight to take the “promised land” 2) Military service
Succumbed to temptation Satan tempted him, David did not follow God’s escape from the temptation. God never allows a temptation without providing an escape route. (Matt 6:13; 1 Cor 10:13)
Sin was pride – we know this because David would not listen to closest advisors; census was used to gain info for taxes / war
What was his response? Repentance and trusted in the LORD’s hand, not man – given 3 options and he took whatever God was going to bring.
Sin brings consequence for sin! 70K Israelites died from David’s prideful decision
Note – It extended beyond David (it extends beyond us); his pride brought a generational curse – Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah – David had a pattern of wanting to be liked, passive leadership at home, not disciplining his sons, lust…
Jesus tells Peter Satan requested to sift Peter
Luke 22:31-33 ESV – 31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
- Peter’s sin? All of us are susceptible to the enemy, especially when we think we’re not!
- Peter Restoration – John 21:7-19
2 Cor 10:4-5 ESV – “4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
Phil 2:8 ESV – “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
- Getting rid of pride starts with destroying our own “arguments and lofty opinions” in our mind
- What are you believing and doing that is against what God’s word is telling you?
- Jesus Christ is our model of humility. Read through Philippians 2
Pride’s Impact:
- Makes us think we are above God and others; self-exaltation “we make ourselves an idol”
- Rejects wise counsel! We are open to following the lies of Satan
- Is rebellion and causes pain in our life, and in other’s lives; many pains passed on to future generations
Walking in Humility:
- Enables us to walk in selflessness, putting God first and then others next in a Godly order; we’re confident, not arrogant
- Accepts wise and righteous counsel and allows us to discern lies of Satan reject his patterns in our life
- Keeps us from causing pain and hurt to ourselves and others; we’re able to lead ourselves, our families and our work areas in a manner pleasing to God
