Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dan 4 - Pride
Dan 4 - Pride
Dan 4 - Pride
A Bible Study
Da 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in
pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory
from him:
Da 4:37 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.
Pride has much to do with the history of the universe. Even if we completely
bypass the fact that pride turned a cherub into a cheater, the historical
impact of pride would be hard to overstate.
Daniel, for example, had been taken captive because of pride. It wasn’t his
personal pride. But it was price nonetheless that led to the Babylonian
victory.
2Chr 32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed
unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25
But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto
him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him,
and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled
himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the
days of Hezekiah. 27 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;
Le 26:19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your
heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
1
It is in this chapter that William Miller found his “seven times” that he
understood to be 2520 years. Read the chapter yourself and see how many
times you find this phrase. Should Miller have spoken of “twenty-eight
times”? v. 18, 21, 24, 28. Is there any evidence regarding whether these four
verses are contemporary with each other or in succession? Whether they are
a time prophecy or not? All this is related to Daniel 4 also – at least that is
how William Miller understood it. (See Reply to Stuart’s Hints on the
Interpretation of Prophecy). We will talk about this in class.
And chief among the methods used to break the pride of the people was
God’s plan to subjugate them to other nations – the ultimate national
humiliation.
Is humiliation the normal way God uses to help persons infected with pride?
It is certainly the method used with Nebuchadnezzar.
The thoughts are not under control. (The natural heart spews
out pride)
Mark 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding
also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth
into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his
heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all
meats2? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that
defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed
evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from
within, and defile the man.
Conclusion
From what the passages in this study say about pride, it seems that it may
be a much more subtle problem than arrogance. Pride is a view of one’s self
2
This is related to Daniel 1. Daniel avoided unclean meats. Should we? Some versions
translate this phrase “purging all meats” differently, adding a few words, and thus saying
that Jesus removed all distinctions between clean and unclean meats. Read the passage
above. Would it make sense to bring that up in light of what Jesus is saying? Was there some
change during this conversation between what was and what was not acceptable for
followers of Christ?
that is comfortable. It feels little of its insufficiency. It feels injured when
insulted or when despised.
Weak and poor people often have this type of pride. Strong and wealthy
persons have it even more often.
Da 4:37 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.