I’ve noticed Amelia repeating herself lately and it occurred to me that she mostly does this when she has something she wants to say but she doesn’t feel she has my attention. She begins a sentence and you might think she is struggling with processing as she repeats the first phrase multiple times before continuing but when I turn my full attention to her, invariably the words rush out in a wave, her thoughts very well developed and complete. We insist on her listening to us, her Poppy, her parents and I, but we must also lead by example.
I know this, yet I’ve become so accustomed to distractions, I’ve begun to allow my focus to drift and she recognizes it immediately. At times, I’m simply tired and zone out momentarily. Sometimes three other littles are vying for my attention. Other times, however, there’s something I’ve judged more important or more interesting and I’ve tuned her out entirely. Of course I never think of it in those terms in the moment. Only afterward, as I think over our time together, do I realize with the help of the Holy Spirit- I think we rightly call that conviction- that I’ve traded precious time getting to know what’s in her heart and mind for lesser things.
Pride sneaks in unnoticed on the coattails of a compliment, an award or recognition, or anything we feel we’ve earned through hard work or talent. It tries to sound like humility as it talks down its nose to or about the unrecognized or unrepentant. The Bible says pride goes before a fall but it also describes how it originated with the Fall. (Proverbs 16:18, Genesis 3:7) It’s still tripping people up today, good people like you and me, and we’ve failed to recognize it. So what is pride?
Pride is overconfidence in one’s self, or as warned against in the Bible, thinking of one’s self more highly than we ought. (Romans 12:3) Pride is overconfidence that refuses to seek advice or ask for help. It is a feeling of entitlement or complacency that ends in humiliation. (Proverbs 29:23)
“Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.16.18.NLT
King Hezekiah restored temple worship and ensured all pagan shrines and temples were destroyed in Judah early in his reign. He spurred the people to generosity by his own lavish provision for temple worship. (II Chronicles 30:24, 31:3-8) Some of his officials are credited with preserving proverbs of Solomon. (Proverbs 25:1)
“In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly.
As a result, he was very successful.”
2 Chronicles 31:21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.31.21.NLT
When threatened by the powerful Assyrian forces, God miraculously intervened.
“Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.
And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers.
So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land.
And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.
That is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them.
So there was peace throughout the land.
From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too.”
2 Chronicles 32:20-23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.32.20-23.NLT
“Hezekiah was very wealthy and highly honored.
He built special treasury buildings for his silver, gold, precious stones, and spices, and for his shields and other valuable items.
He also constructed many storehouses for his grain, new wine, and olive oil; and he made many stalls for his cattle and pens for his flocks of sheep and goats.
He built many towns and acquired vast flocks and herds, for God had given him great wealth.
He blocked up the upper spring of Gihon and brought the water down through a tunnel to the west side of the City of David.
And so he succeeded in everything he did.
However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.”
2 Chronicles 32:27-31 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.32.27-31.NLT
II Chronicles ends the summary of Hezekiah’s life with the Lord’s withdrawal to test what was really in the heart of the king and we find no evidence one way or another here. Why this test for someone who was so obviously faithful to God? During my two year battle with cancer, I recall many well-meaning people asking why God would allow me to have cancer. Their sentiments were surely meant to encourage, absolutely intended as a compliment, but allowing myself to ask that question of God in turn called His Sovereignty into question. I responded with a question I’d recently heard. Why not me? God chose to allow my cancer and He chose to heal me. With Job I say, “Let the name of the Lord be praised,” and I ask myself, “Why was my life spared? How do my days reflect my gratitude to God?”
“About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill.
He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign.
But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud.
So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem.
Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem.
So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime.”
2 Chronicles 32:24-26 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ch.32.24-26.NLT
God held His kings responsible for His people. An old Testament king was charged with hand copying the Law of God in the presence of the priests. He was to keep his copy with him and read it daily as long as he lived to prevent him from becoming proud, acting as if he were above his fellow citizens, and to keep him from turning away from God’s commands, even in the smallest way. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20) When someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. (Luke 12:48)
“Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift.
He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered.
Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils.
He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries!
There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?”
Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.”
“What did they see in your palace?” asked Isaiah.
“They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.”
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:
‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon.
Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’”
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.”
For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.””
Isaiah 39:1-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.39.1-8.NLT
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.
Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.”
Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.3.12-14.NLT
“Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.
But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
Galatians 6:8-10 NLT
A Fitting Reply 