"All mankind is stupid and devoid of knowledge..." How's that for a commentary on humanity? The books of Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes tells us consecutively: "the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom", "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge...", "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...", "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments..." Oh for grace to understand the beauty, simplicity, and profound truth of this starting point toward a right perspective on life!
Jeremiah, a book that many view as depressing, has given me such hope and encouragement as I bow down in amazement of our compassionate and sovereign Creator. Over the years we grab a few profound verses from this book but in its entirety, it holds a picture that has energized me with renewed views of myself and my Father. "Ah, Lord, GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You..." (32:17) How I need to bask in that verse daily as I begin each day on my knees for God's divine and power direction.
Since the fall, we are all born with a bent in the opposite direction of holiness. And with each chapter of Jeremiah, we see ourselves but for God's grace in the wayward Israelites and all the pagan nations around them. We must not point our finger, for in this book, we see the only Finger that has a right to point, and He will do what He purposes to do. If we, in our wicked bent toward evil, want to kick against God in pseudo pride, then all that we have waiting for us is calamity. And it's this that I want to address in this post: pride and punishment!
While all the book of Jeremiah has valuable lessons, pride is a major part of our sin nature which can and does wreck havoc in the life of unbelievers and believers alike. And in chapter forty-eight, we see clear characteristics of this pride. Contemplate the following list and apply with holy desire of divine correction to your own lives: lofty, praised (desire for praise), trust in own achievements and treasures, at ease since youth, undisturbed warriors, valiant, glory and strongholds in yourself, arrogant toward God, idle boasts, abundance, and riotous revelers.
The punishment of unconfessed and foolish pride is sure. Whether the lesson is dealt with in this life or the next, pain is sure. But the pain here, I pray, is corrective pain that leads to salvation. Because the pain in hell will never be over. Consider the following punishment characterized in this same chapter, for the Creator God that Jeremiah tells us to "behold" in the verse above does not miss His mark: destroyed, put to shame, captured, shattered, no more praise, calamity, cut off from being a nation, silenced, sword (death), great destruction, broken, little ones crying, continual weeping, anguished cry, exiled, priests and princes (high positions and status of no consequence), ruined lands, slaughtered, disaster, laughing stock, futile fury, and no shouts of joy.
Due to length of post, I left many in the punishment list off. But hopefully, we get the picture of the end of pride. Let us seek God on our knees in humble adoration of His ability to heal us while we still breathe the breath of life on earth. Let us give up to Him all our concerns, questions, and idols, that we may live a life that brings Him honor, glory, and praise. And that our life will be fulfilled with joy and peace as only He can give. May Jesus Christ be praised for His unspeakable gift of salvation. Holy is His name!
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