Of all the Bible women, Jezebel was perhaps the most proud. “She painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window” (II Kgs 9:30). She could see that Jehu was furiously executing God’s judgment on the house of Ahab. What pride and audacity to look out at him like that! “They threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot… Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands” (Vs 33-35).
Yes, we cannot deny the fact that in the light of the Word of God, women who paint their faces are cursed women. When people went to bury this proud woman, all they could find was her skull, feet and palms of her hand. Obviously, dogs had eaten her flesh.
Judas Iscariot was another who was puffed up with pride. He was so proud that he indirectly rebuked Jesus. He said that the ointment that was poured at the feet of Jesus could have been sold for three hundred pence and used for the poor – it was as if he was more concerned about the poor than Jesus Himself. Look at the way he died.
Like Saul, he too tried to commit suicide; but from the Scripture, it is obvious that he failed in his attempt. “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:18). From this we can gather that while Judas was hanging (on a rope), the rope must have snapped and, as he fell, a sharp stone or something on the ground must have cut open his stomach to such an extent that all his bowels gushed out. Just think of his state, lying there on the ground where he fell. It must have been a very ugly and horrible sight too. Beware of pride!
Perhaps Judas Iscariot had the worst spiritual pride any man can have. When a proud person prays, it is not Jesus but Satan who stands at his right hand. His prayer not only displeases God but also becomes sin! We read this regarding Judas Iscariot - “Let satan stand in his right hand… let his prayer become sin” (Psa 109:6, 7).
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:5-8).
May the Holy Spirit enlighten us, so we may see how pride has been prevailing in our lives in many ways. May the Lord help us to pull out this demon of pride from our lives – so that the mind of Christ may dominate our lives, bringing glory and grace to us and to others.
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion
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