The Lord’s Dealings Are Based On Our Pride

                                                                                 

On the one side, it is terribly true... 

Psa 138:6  Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

It all sprang out of that proud heart that lifted itself up and said... 

Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 

Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

With that I, all the trouble began, and that one bit his poison into the race. 

The poison of the human race is pride, and it has come all the way down.

It is sometimes almost untraceable: 

We are not able always to trace it out in all its forms...

There are, of course, the obviously, manifestly proud, the ambitious, the assertive, the self-important, the self-sufficient. 

It is an ugly thing. 

A lot of our murmuring is pride...

A lot of tears are pride which we think is humility...

A lot of our criticism of other people springs from pride...

Pride is at the root. 

Very much of our poor, miserable tone is, after all, pride. 

Oh, how subtle and serpentine a thing this is!

It is there. 

So the Lord has to stand back.

On the other hand, look at humility...

To this man will I look – that is the beginning, the Lord even looking in anyone’s direction –“even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit".

And He dwells with them.

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

Psa 25:9  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

It is like that all the way through; vindication is on that basis.  

Num 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

And you know when that was said at the time when his position was disputed, and God appeared at the entrance of the tabernacle and answered the challenge on the ground of the meekness of His servant. 

God stands by and vindicates the meek.

I say the whole Bible is founded on this issue. 

What a vital matter this is!

Is not the Lord justified in taking any steps to clear up that situation - breaking, emptying, humbling, withholding, deferring, delaying...

In any way bringing us to nought, to a place of utter dependence, where there is nothing we can rely upon at all but the Lord Himself? 

Is He justified?

It is a tremendous process.

It is a very real, very devastating work...

And the very fact that we suffer so much shows how deep and real it is.

~T. Austin Sparks~