Truth is more fascinating than fiction or Pride=Sin

Truth is stranger and more fascinating  than fiction. If you do not believe this, then you need to read Daniel chapter 4 of the Bible.  Dr. David Jeremiah starts this chapter by describing the sin of pride.

"There is little doubt that the most fundamental sin is the sin of pride.  That is the sin that caused Satan to become what he is.  That is the sin that God says He hates more than any other. Pride is nothing more than an exaggerated and dishonest self-evaluation. It says;" I want people to notice me, to admire me, to praise me, to flatter me, to idolize me.  I want people to ascribe to me a value, an importance, an honor, a reputation and a significance that I do not deserve.  In effect, a prideful person puts himself in the place of God.  A prideful person refuses to see himself as God see him."

Several verses in proverbs and James 4:6 show how much God hates this sin and why.

Read proverbs 8:13, 11:2, 16:5, 21:4 and 29:23.

Proverbs 16:1 8. "Pride goes before destruction  and an haughty spirit  before a fall."

We are not talking about a good self-esteem that we all need as children of God so that we do not allow our self  to be abused by others. We are talking about Pride.

Chapter four begins with  King  Nebuchadnezzar telling his story about another dream.  Once again Daniel is the only one that can interpret the dream by the power of the Holy Spirit in him.  This time he does not really want to because the warning is  against the King. He begs the King to repent so perhaps he could be spared.  Pride got in the way.

  Later, the king is looking over his kingdom and says these words."Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power for the glory of my majesty?" While the words were still in the king's mouth, judgement fell on him.

  I am not going to say what happened, read it yourself.  But the last words that we hear from him seven years later, when he is restored  are found in 4:37.

 "Now, I,  Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways are just and those who walk in pride, he is able to abase."

 I looked up the word( abase) -to bring down, make lower in rank ( you think) to degrade, to humble, to humiliate , to bring low.  I find it interesting that these are the last words we hear from this king.  Chapter five starts with these words...".King Belshazzer made a feast"...oh no, hear we go again.