Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 61 Asking Jehovah To Root Out Pride From Our Hearts!

Psalm 119:17-20  GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18)  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19)  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20)  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 

The proud err by straying from God's truth

Psalm 119:21  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. 

We are beginning to learn why God rebuked the proud and why He cursed them, by seeing what it means to err from God's commandments.

The Hebrew word translated "err" means to swerve aside like a drunkard who cannot maintain his balance. It means going astray morally by ignoring or disobeying God's commands. 

Psalm 95:10,11  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 11)  Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

This text seems to indicate an obstinate, unrepentant heart that is filled with habitual contempt for God and His holy law. 

Remember that the Old Testament scriptures are given to us to learn from and for examples to us. 

Sometimes, the example is a good one that we are encouraged to emulate in our faith walk. More often, the example is a bad one that serves as a warning to us. 

Psalm 95 is where the Psalmist is reflecting upon the rebellion and unbelief of the Hebrew people, and how often they refused to trust God. God identified the root cause of their spiritual failures. 

He said that they did "err" in their heart. This manifest itself in the people failing to learn and know the way of God. 

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the word "err" as wandering away from the right path of God, deviating from the true course. To "err" is like people who stubbornly refuse to walk in the ways of God. 

The second aspect of the Psalmists concern is the issue of pride. Biblically, there are two kinds of pride: moral and spiritual. 

The proud are lifted up with self conceit

Daniel 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: 

Moral pride comes as a result of thinking too highly of ourselves, being full of self conceit. Daniel spoke about the judgment of God that fell upon Nebuchadnezzar. 

When he lived as a beast for 7 years, it was because his self conceit.  Pride caused his heart to be lifted up (Daniel 4). This is moral pride. 

God is against the proud and arrogant ones.

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

This is the same pride that God resists. He fights against this kind of pride because it is so damaging to the gospel of Christ and to the people of God. 

Then, there is the issue of spiritual pride. This pride results in consistent disobedience of God's commands, neglect of worshiping and walking with God, and contempt for His moral standards. 

Judgment of the proud is certain

Malachi 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Notice that they who do wickedly are the same ones classified as the proud. God will judge the proud who err in their heart. In the day of the LORD, these people will be burned up like dry stubble.

Nehemiah 9:16  But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 

Nehemiah prayed for the sins of the people in the days when Jerusalem was being rebuilt as the Jews came back home after 70 years of captivity. 

Notice how Nehemiah described the sin of their forefathers. They were proud and hardened their necks against hearing the Word of God. They refused to submit to God's rule over them and would not obey His commandments. 

Jeremiah 13:15  Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. 

Jeremiah was the weeping prophet. He prophesied that Israel was going to suffer extreme judgment from God for their sins. He pleaded with his people that they would not be proud because Jehovah spoke.

Thoughts to Ponder...

We will let Jeremiah's words close out this lesson from Psalm 119. We must give glory to Jehovah and deal with the sins of pride or erring in our heart. 

If we do not take heed, then God will chasten us, cause darkness to fall upon us, allow us to stumble and fall. 

Weep over our pride, and cry out to God, confessing this sin and seeking forgiveness from Him. 

Jeremiah 13:16,17  Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. 17)  But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive. 

May the Lord of glory help us see what we need to do in regards to the sins of erring in our heart of having pride in our heart. Please help us be free of these sins so that we might love and serve you with all humility of mind.

Have your way in each of our hearts this day. Please make us more like your Son, Jesus Christ.

Bob