“Pride Goeth Before the Fall”

2Kings 14, 2Chron 25 Or we might Title this: Beware of Fame

This week we have all heard of the fight between Britney Spears and her father. It seems he has control of her finances and she wants to do the controlling, Ah, so it goes, your family’s private matters become public. Beware of fame! The proverbs writer wrote the ramifications of pride in the life of King Amaziah as a lesson for us. He included that statement that pride goes before a fall because he saw the truth of it in the lives of people around him. What many do not include is the latter part of that verse in Prov 16:18 so let’s get the whole verse in our heads:

“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” 

The writer of this proverb used two synonyms “pride and a haughty spirit.” King Amaziah had both character flaws. Pride is an elevated feeling about oneself and a haughty person is disdainful, overbearing, and obnoxious.   Also, it is noted that the word “before” is used twice.  In addition, if we return to the whole chapter we find that in vs 5 God abhors, that is, hates, every arrogant person.

The backdrop of this story about King Amaziah is found in our reading today. We find that he indeed did defeat the Edomites but that this victory went, as we say, to his head. He picked a fight with the King of Israel who wisely said; stay home and bask in your victory but Amaziah refused to do that. In the end, Amaziah was captured and Jerusalem was attacked.

There is a life lesson here for us. When we are victorious, don’t gloat in it but give praise to God. And don’t take on another battle that was not ordained by God.