93. With Pride Comes the Fall

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Hymns: RHC 401 Yield Not to Temptation 244 Fill Me Now 165 Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne 402 His Way with Thee 

Isaiah 39

1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. 3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

OUTLINE

  • Beware of the Subtle Promptings of the Sin of Pride (v1-2 cf. Isaiah 14:12-13)
  • Be Warned of the Condemnation from God that Comes with the Festering of Pride (v3-7 cf. Isaiah 14:12, 15)
  • Behold the Scriptural Remedy – the Recourse Against the Devil in the Temptation of Pride (v8 cf. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Proverbs 8:13)

With Pride Comes the Fall

INTRODUCTION

The Book of Isaiah consists of 66 chapters. Interestingly, the same number of chapters as there are books in the Bible. The judgment of God for sin is described for us from chapters 1-39 and 40-66 is described the salvation of God. 

Isaiah 13-23 describes God’s judgment on the nations. It began first with Babylon in chapters 13 & 14. This gives to us the context of our study. Babylon became the power that overthrew Jerusalem in 586 B.C. 

Isaiah 36-39 traced the deliverance of Judah from the Assyrians during the reign of Hezekiah, a glorious deliverance ending with Hezekiah’s fall because of pride showing to the Babylonians, all the treasures of God’s house.

  • Beware of the Subtle Promptings of the Sin of Pride (v1-2 cf. Isaiah 14:12-13)

1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

The scene opens in Isaiah 39 with the healing of Hezekiah by the LORD extending his life for another 15 years in answer to his prayer (Isaiah 38).

A parallel account in 2 Kings 20:12 (KJV) At that time Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

Merodach was an idol of the Babylonians (Jeremiah 50:2 – ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is confounded.’ 

Jeremiah 50:2 (KJV) Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

The kingdom of Assyria was yet flourishing, and Babylon was one of its dependencies.

That humanity and common civility teach us to rejoice with our friends and neighbours when they rejoice, and to congratulate them on their deliverances, and particularly their recoveries from sickness. [Matthew Henry]

The king of Babylon, having heard that Hezekiah had been sick, and had recovered, sent to compliment him upon the occasion. If Christians be unneighbourly, heathens will shame them. 

It becomes us to give honour to those whom our God puts honour upon. 

The sun was the Babylonians’ god; and when they understood that it was with a respect to Hezekiah that the sun, to their great surprise, went back ten degrees, on such a day, they thought themselves obliged to do Hezekiah all the honour they could. Will all people thus walk in the name of their God, and shall not we? 

Those that do not value good men for their goodness may yet be brought to pay them great respect by other inducements and for the sake of their secular interests. 

The king of Babylon made his court to Hezekiah, not because he was pious, but because he was prosperous, as the Philistines coveted an alliance with Isaac because they saw the Lord was with him (Genesis 26:28). 

The transgression of the 10th commandment – Thou Shall Not Covet.

The awareness of those that comes to us with impure motives. Only the Lord can reveal it when we are prayer and keep close to the Lord.

No embassy, on the other hand, could be more welcome to the Jewish monarch who had the common enemy in his neighbourhood, and who would be glad to see a division made in his favour by a rebellion in the very heart of that enemy’s kingdom. Hence arose that excessive attention which he paid to the envoys of the usurper, and which so offended Isaiah, or rather God, who, as a consequence, threatened the Babylonian captivity (Dr. Wiseman’s Lectures on Science and Revealed Religion, pp. 369-371 Ed. And. 1837).[1]

The king of Babylon was an enemy to the king of Assyria, and therefore was fond of Hezekiah, because the Assyrians were so much weakened by the power of his God. 

At that time – That is, soon after his recovery; or after he had amassed great wealth, and was surrounded with the evidences of prosperity – 2 Chronicles 32:27-31 (KJV) And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; 28 Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. 29 Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much. 30 This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.

It is a hard matter to keep the spirit low in the midst of great advancements. Hezekiah is an instance of it: he was a wise and good man, but, when one miracle after another was wrought in his favour, he found it hard to keep his heart from being lifted up, nay, a little thing then drew him into the snare of pride. [Matthew Henry]

Blessed Paul himself needed a thorn in the flesh, to keep him from being lifted up with the abundance of revelations.

2 Corinthians 12:7-8 (KJV) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

We have need to watch over our own spirits when we are showing our friends our possessions, what we have done and what we have got, that we be not proud of them, as if our might or our merit had purchased and procured us this wealth. 

When we look upon our enjoyments, and have occasion to speak of them, it must be with humble acknowledgments of our own unworthiness and thankful acknowledgments of God’s goodness, with a just value for the achievements of others and with an expectation of losses and changes, not dreaming that our mountain stands so strong but that it may soon be moved. 

It is a great weakness for good men to value themselves much upon the civil respects that are paid them (yea, though there be something particular and uncommon in them) by the children of this world, and to be fond of their acquaintance. What a poor thing was it for Hezekiah, whom God has so dignified, to be thus over proud of the respect paid him by a heathen prince as if that added any thing to him! We ought to return the courtesies of such with interest, but not to be proud of them. 

We must expect to be called to an account for the workings of our pride, though they are secret, and in such instances as we thought there was no harm in; and therefore we ought to call ourselves to an account for them; and when we have had company with us that have paid us respect, and been pleased with their entertainment, and commended every thing, we ought to be jealous over ourselves with a godly jealousy lest our hearts have been lifted up.

As far as we see cause to suspect that this sly and subtle sin of pride has insinuated itself into our breasts, and mingled itself with our conversation, let us be ashamed of it, and, as Hezekiah here, ingenuously confess it and take shame to ourselves for it.

Here, in Isaiah 39, the sin of pride can plague also the believer when he is not careful, allowing his heart to be lifted.

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Ponder this statement, “Pride is the ground in which all other sin grows and the parent from which all the other sins come.” 

It is the result of disregarding the commandments of God as summarized in the Ten Commandments.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Here, in Isaiah 39, the subtle danger of pride entering even the heart of His people, in the life of Hezekiah whom God exalted with an extension of life for 15 years and cause the sundial to go back 10 degrees to record His saving work.

  • Be Warned of the Condemnation from God that Comes with the Festering of Pride (v3-7 cf. Isaiah 14:12, 15)

3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. 5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Let us observe that if God love us, he will humble us, and will find some way or other to pull down our spirits when they are lifted up above measure. 

A mortifying message is sent to Hezekiah, that he might be humbled for the pride of his heart, and be convinced of the folly of it; for though God may suffer His people to fall into sin, as He did Hezekiah here, to prove him, that he might know all that was in his heart, yet He will not suffer them to lie still in it. 

It is just with God to take that from us which we make the matter of our pride, and on which we build a carnal confidence. When David was proud of the numbers of his people God took a course to make them fewer; and when Hezekiah boasts of his treasures, and looks upon them with too great a complacency, he is told that he acts like the foolish traveller who shows his money and gold to one that proves a thief and is thereby tempted to rob him.[Matthew Henry]

If we could but see things that will be, we should be ashamed of our thoughts of things that are. If Hezekiah had known that the seed and successors of this king of Babylon would hereafter be the ruin of his family and kingdom, he would not have complimented his ambassadors as he did; and, when the prophet told him that it would be so, we may well imagine how he was vexed at himself for what he had done. 

We cannot certainly foresee what will be, but are told, in general, All is vanity, and therefore it is vanity for us to take complacency and put confidence in any thing that goes under that character. 

Those that are fond of an acquaintance or alliance with irreligious men will first or last have enough of it, and will have cause to repent it. 

Hezekiah thought himself very happy in the friendship of Babylon, though it was the mother of harlots and idolatries; but Babylon, who now courted Jerusalem, in process of time conquered her and carried her captive. 

James 4:4-6 (KJV) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Leagues with sinners, and leagues with sin too, will end thus; it is therefore our wisdom to keep at a distance from them. Those that truly repent of their sins will take it well to be reproved for them and will be willing to be told of their faults. [Matthew Henry]

Isaiah shows the development of sin and the consequence of it in the first 39 chapters.

Isaiah traced the fall of the King of Babylon, the human personification of Satan’s dominion, by the example of the fall of Satan himself. The root cause pride. 

Pride was the first and most ancient of sin among the created beings, beginning with Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-15), the anointed cherub, the archangel of God.

It was the sin of pride, the haughty spirit that caused the most beautiful and perfect of God’s creature, the “anointed cherub” to fall. This is found in Isaiah 14:11 “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.” Sin did not first take place on earth. Sin first took place in heaven. It was an angel who sinned first, not man. The word of God says in a parallel passage to our Scripture text in Ezekiel 28:15 “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” 

The iniquity by which Lucifer fell was pride, or his being lifted up by reason of his superlative beauty and brightness. 

Ezekiel 28:17 “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

When we achieve success, our success can get into our head and we think that it is “I” and “me” that has achieved this great feat. The Christian writer Andrew Murray also observes that pride is ‘the root of every sin and evil.”

When Satan was cast down to earth, he tempted man. He had the intention to kill man through his lies. His falsehood brought about the fall of man. Satan lied, man believed. And Man died! This death is three-fold: (1) physical death (2) spiritual death (i.e, alienation from fellowship with God), and (3) eternal death (i.e., eternal condemnation in the lake of fire). 

Therefore, this message is most timely. 

Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.[2]

The root cause of Satan’s sin was his pride. The centre of the word “PRIDE” is the letter “I”. We in verses 13-14 the conception of sin begins first in the heart with the five-fold self-exaltation, and we shall see the fourfold condemnation in verses 12 & 15. It was “I will” versus “God’s will”. 

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Notice it began in the heart, no actions taken yet. Sin is first conceived in the heart. We reiterate – Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

A haughty spirit, a proud heart, not seen by others but known only to oneself and definitely to God. 

How we need to nip it in the bud and repent immediately. For he allowed the wicked thought of rebelling against His Creator God to fester in the heart, notice the development of thought – I will ascend into heaven, I will then exalt my throne above the stars of God, then I will sit upon the judgment seat of God and I will ascend above the heights of the clouds and finally I will be like the Most High. The anointed cherub of God wanted to be like God.

The scheming of the heart to rebel against God starts with a mere thought. How we need to guard our thoughts brethren.

From the fall of Lucifer, we learn of the subtlety of the sin of pride. It begins with a thought. Left unchecked, it results in the most drastic fall. For the fallen angel, there is no recourse, unlike men. 

And so, Isaiah chronicled, the pride of the Babylonian kings and their destruction in Isaiah 13-14. 

The King Nebuchadnezzar fell because of the sin of pride, the pride of achievement. You see here Daniel giving the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel 4:22-37 “It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him. 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king. 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance ruined his life, until he humbled himself before the Most High, praising the One who is “able to humble those who walk in pride.” (Daniel 4:37).

It is a danger most acutely seen in times of prosperity as we saw in the scene after Hezekiah’s recovery from fatal illness whom God healed.

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

It’s an attitude of the heart, when the fear of God departs – Proverbs 8:13 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

The opposite of pride is humility – Proverbs 29:23 (KJV) A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Proverbs 18:12 (KJV) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 11:2 (KJV) When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Isaiah 2:11-13 (KJV) The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

Obadiah 3-4 (KJV) The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

Matthew 26:33-35 (KJV) Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Romans 11:20 (KJV) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

1 Timothy 3:6 (KJV) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

  • Behold the Scriptural Remedy – the Recourse Against the Devil in the Temptation of Pride (v8 cf. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Proverbs 8:13)

8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Hezekiah reckoned that word of the Lord good which discovered sin to him, and made him sensible that he had done amiss, which before he was not aware of. 

The language of true penitents is, Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness; and the law is therefore good, because, being spiritual, in it sin appears sin, and exceedingly sinful. 

True penitents will quietly submit, not only to the reproofs of the word, but to the rebukes of Providence for their sins. 

When Hezekiah was told of the punishment of his iniquity he said, Good is the word of the Lord, not only the mitigation of the sentence, but the sentence itself; he has nothing to object against the equity of it, but says Amen to the threatening. 

Those that see the evil of sin, and what it deserves, will justify God in all that is brought upon them for it, and own that He punishes them less than their iniquities deserve. 

Though we must not be regardless of those that come after us, yet we must reckon ourselves well done by if there be peace and truth in our days, and better than we had reason to expect. If a storm be coming, we must reckon it a favour to get into the harbour before it comes, and be gathered to the grave in peace; yet we can never be secure of this, but must prepare for changes in our own time, that we may stand complete in all the will of God, and bid it welcome whatever it is.

How then can the Christian be protected from the sin of pride?

WHAT THEN IS THE RECOURSE AGAINST THE DEVIL IN THE TEMPTATION OF PRIDE?

Brethren, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Satan is a tempter. He tempted man to sin against God. For this reason, man tries to push the blame and punishment away from himself. Eve, for instance, excused herself by blaming the serpent, “the serpent beguiled me,” and Adam blamed Eve, “the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me…” (Genesis 3:12-13). 

Man has only himself to blame. Dear brethren, we have only ourselves to blame. Adam & Eve could have chosen not to sin, not to yield to temptation, but he made a conscious decision to go against God and His Word. Man was not without help either. Even in the garden, if man had cried to God for help, it would have been given him. 

The Bible tells us, 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

When man sinned, he truly died in these ways: He became (1) dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1) (2) subject to physical death (Genesis 3:19) and (3) liable to “the second death” which is eternal condemnation in the lake of fire (Rev 20:6, 14).

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Revelation 20:14 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

The moral law was written on Adam’s heart at creation. After he fell, it was defaced but not totally obliterated. 

According to Romans 2:14-15, some faint impressions of its requirements still remain on the hearts of all human beings, just like stubble in a field of wheat or corn after the crop has been harvest. [Whatever Happened to the TEN COMMANDMENTS -Ernest C. Reisinger]

Romans 2:14-15 (KJV) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

At Mount Sinai, God graciously gave an explicit record of that perfect moral law in the form of the Ten Commandments. They were written by God Himself (Exodus 32:15-16), unlike the civil and ceremonial laws which Moses wrote at His direction.

Though they were given to the children of Israel after their deliverance from Egypt, they enshrine what Adam and Eve were expected to observe.

They therefore go back to creation and are authoritative for all people in every time and place. They are fixed, objective standards of righteousness, and so everyone should be concerned about his or her duty to Almighty God, the Creator and Judge of all the earth, who requires a perfect and perpetual obedience to His revealed will.

Solomon concluded his life with this final summary statement of man’s duty when he said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Proverbs 1:7 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:29 (KJV) For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Proverbs 8:13 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 9:10 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy isunderstanding.

Proverbs 10:27 (KJV) The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Proverbs 14:26 (KJV) In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Th obedience to the commandments of the LORD is therefore life.

Proverbs 14:27 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:33 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 19:23 (KJV) The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

The Christian writer Thomas Kempis (1380-1471) warned “The devil never sleeps, and your flesh is very much alive. Prepare yourself for battle. Surrounding you are enemies that never rest.”

The Bible says in 1 John 3:8 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Only Jesus is able. Flee to the cross, to Jesus to confess our sins at the foot of the cross, there is forgiveness. 

Revelation 12:10-11 “Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The word of their testimony is the word of God. Christ was tempted in the same threefold way in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-15). Christ was tempted (1) to turn stones into bread to satisfy hunger (i.e., the lust of the flesh), (2) to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple to make a display to the eye (i.e., the lust of the eyes), and (3) to possess all the kingdoms of the world under Satanic leadership (i.e., the pride of life). 

The first Adam failed the test of temptation, but the greater Adam- Christ Himself-passed the test most excellently and earned salvation for us. 

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many be made sinners, o by the obedience of one many be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19). 

We cannot save ourselves. Only Jesus can save us. 

And lastly, they loved not their lives unto the death. These resisted the devil to the end. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

“Pride is the ground in which all other sin grows and the parent from which all the other sins come.” “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

The condemnation of Satan was thorough. The word “How”[3] is an interrogative adverb expressing mourning and reproach. How sad it is to see the fall of one that was made for the express Glory of God spurning that great privilege. Ezekiel 28:15 says “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

The prophet Jeremiah made a good observation when he said, Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

God search the heart of his trusted angel, the perfection of his creation and found Lucifer wanting. 

Firstly, to BEWARE OF THE SUBTLE PROMPTINGS OF THE SIN OF PRIDE (v1-2 cf. Isaiah 14.12-13)

Secondly, to know of the SURETY OF THE CONDEMNATION FROM GOD THAT COMES WITH THE FESTERING OF PRIDE (v3-7 cf. Isaiah 14:12,15)

Thirdly, the Scriptural Remedy: WHAT THEN IS THE RECOURSE AGAINST THE DEVIL IN THE TEMPTATION OF PRIDE? (v8 cf. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Proverbs 8:13)

And saints through the ages overcame the evil one by  (1) the blood of the Lamb – going to the foot of the cross confessing our sin, and (2) by the word of their testimony – use God’s word to ward off the attacks of pride in the heart and (3) steadfast resisting the devil and submitting to God in all things – they loved not their lives unto the death.”

May God help us. Let us pray.

O LORD, protect thy blood-bought children that we may not fall into the snare of the devil and be condemned as the devil was by the subtle promptings to the sin especially to the sin of pride. 

Help us to know Thy word thoroughly, memorize Scripture so that when temptations come, we can ward off the fiery darts of Satan. 

Help us Lord to resist the devil but submitting to God in all things for our lives. Praying in Jesus name, Amen.

[1] ‘In this darkness and doubt,’ says Dr. Wiseman, ‘we must have continued, and the apparent contradiction of this text to ether passages would have remained inexplicable, had not the progress of modern Oriental study brought to light a document of the most venerable antiquity. This is nothing less than a fragment of Berosus, preserved in the chronicle of Eusebius. This interesting fragment informs us, that after Sennacherib’s brother had governed Babylon, as Assyrian viceroy, Acises unjustly possessed himself of the supreme command. After thirty days he was murdered by Merodach-baladan, who usurped the sovereignty for six months, when he was in turn killed, and was succeeded by Elibus. But after three years, Sennacherib collected an army, gave the usurper battle, conquered, and took him prisoner. Having once more reduced Babylon to his obedience, he left his son Assordan, the Esarhaddon of Scripture, as governor of the city.’

The only objection to this statement, or to the entire consistency of this fragment with the Scripture narrative is, that Isaiah relates the murder of Sennacherib, and the succession of Esarhaddon before Merodach-baladan’s embassy to Jerusalem. 

But to this Gesenius has well replied, that this arrangement is followed by the prophet in order to conclude the history of the Assyrian monarch, which has no further connection with the subject, so as not to return to it again.

By this order, also, the prophecy of his murder is more closely connected with the history of its fulfillment. 

Isaiah 37:7-8 (KJV) Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. 8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.

And this solution, which supposes some interval to have elapsed between Sennacherib’s return to Nineveh, and his death, is rendered probable by the words of the text itself. ‘He went and returned, and dwelt in Nineveh; and it came to pass,'(Isaiah 37:7-8).

Thus, we have it certainly explained how there was a king, or rather a usurper in Babylon at the time when it was really a provincial city of the Assyrian empire. Nothing was more probable than that Merodach-baladan, having seized the throne, should endeavor to unite himself in league and amity with the enemies of his master, against whom he had revolted. Hezekiah, who, no less than himself, had thrown off the Assyrian yoke, and was in powerful alliance with the king of Egypt, would be his first resource. 

2 Kings 17:24 (KJV) And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Chronicles 33:11 (KJV) Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

These instances incontestably prove that at the time of Hezekiah, Babylon was dependent on the Assyrian kings. 

Who, then, it is asked, was this Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon? If he was governor of that city, how could he send an embassy of congratulation to the Jewish sovereign, then at war with his liege lord? The canon of Ptolemy gives us no king of this name, nor does his chronology appear reconcilable with sacred history. [Matthew Henry]

[2] From chapter 14 verses 14-17 is description of God’s judgment on the surrounding nations of Israel who refused to humble themselves before the LORD God of Israel, the only living and true God: Assyria, Philistia 14:28-32, 15:1-16:14 on Moab, 17:1-14 on Damascus (Syria) & Ephraim (Israel), 18:1-7 Ethopia, 19:1-20:6 on Egypt, 21:11-12 on Edom, 21:13-17 (Arabia), 22:1-25 (Judah & Jerusalem), 23:1-18 Phoenicia. Their departure from God and the refusal to acknowledge Him.

[3] Isaiah 14:12-15 (KJV) How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.