Pride & Humility - Lesson 6: Exalting Self over God

Pride and Humility

Lesson 6: Exalting Self over God

Isaiah 2:11-12 [11] The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day. [12] For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and haughty, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:

Romans 1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

The Main Points for This Lesson:

The main purpose of this series of lessons on pride and humility is to emphasize what God has shown us – that he resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. These lessons should help show what pride and humility are, how they appear in our own lives, and what the end result of each is, encouraging and exhorting us to put off pride and clothe ourselves with humility.

In the first lesson, we gave simple definitions for pride and humility. Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than is right and true. Humility is thinking rightly of ourselves in the sight of (or in relation to) God the Father Almighty and his son Jesus Christ, our lord.

Pride and exalting self over God. Pride leads us to exalt ourselves over others, to honor ourselves and despise others. Many stories from the Bible illustrate this in regards to men exalting themselves over other men. However, pride ultimately leads us to exalt to the place of being equal with God or of being greater than God. The serpent in the garden tempted Eve by saying that she could be “like God” by eating the fruit of the tree. Belshazzar lifted up his heart against God.

Pride blinds us. Pride, by its nature, excludes at least some part of what is right and true. When the rich exalts himself over the poor, thinking he has greater inherent worth because he possesses wealth than the one who does not possess wealth, he is shutting his eyes to the fact that the Lord is the maker of both the rich and the poor (Proverbs 22:2).

Further blindness. If levels of blindness exist, then it can be said that pride can lead to further blindness. Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself. He had set aside the knowledge of God, and instead put himself in the place of God. God humbled him by having him eat grass like an ox. Finally, Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself and acknowledged that God is the one who rules over all things, giving glory and honor to God. His son, Belshazzar, in pride, exalted himself as well. Notice the greater pride of Belshazzar in this: Not only did he lift up his heart against God, but he did so knowing full well of the experience of Nebuchadnezzar. Knowing all this, his pride blinded him to the plain lesson taught through the experience of his father Nebuchadnezzar.

Pride is dangerous. Pride leads men to their own destruction. It not only leads men thus, but blinds them to the path (and its end) on which they are walking. In its exclusion of what is right and true, we can also say that pride enslaves us (Matthew 6:23).

The truth shall set you free. Pride exists by excluding truth. The end of pride is destruction. Jesus said that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). The truth will lead us to humility, both before God and men. This is the path of freedom, and it is the path that leads to life.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are now having a few lessons on pride and humility. This is important because God has said in his word, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

In this lesson, we will look at Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in the book of Daniel.

Let the children know that you will read two stories from the book of Daniel about Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. You want them to listen to the stories and notice when the main character in each story is proud and/or humble, and what their pride and humility looks like.

Read to them the story of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:1-37. The main purpose is to show the pride of Nebuchadnezzar, his humility (how God brought him low) and how he humbled himself. With that in mind, it is not necessary to read the whole story.

Read to them the story of Belshazzar in Daniel 5:1-31. Again, the main purpose is to show the pride of Belshazzar, especially how he lifted up his heart against God, and this in spite of knowing about the experience of Nebuchadnezzar.

To close the lesson, pray with the children and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

Daniel 4:1-37

[24] this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king: [25] that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will. [26] Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule. [27] Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility. [28] All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar. [29] At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. [30] The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? [31] While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from the sky, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you. [32] You shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass as oxen. Seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.”

Daniel 5:1-31

[22] You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, [23] but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified.

More Stories and Examples:

Acts 12:20-23 [20] Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. [21] On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. [22] The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” [23] Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Other Verses:

Genesis 3:1-7 [1] Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’” [2] The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, [3] but not the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [4] The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die, [5] for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too. [7] Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for themselves.

The serpent introduced Eve to pride. You can be like God. Since that time pride has continued to dwell in and deceive the hearts of men. Notice the result of the first act of pride. It was not glory and honor. Rather, it was guilt and shame as they now saw their nakedness.

Psalm 10:1-18 [1] Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? [2] In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise. [3] For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh. [4] The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God. [5] His ways are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them. [6] He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.” [7] His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. [8] He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless. [9] He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net. [10] The helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength. [11] He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.” [12] Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless. [13] Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?” [14] But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. [15] Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none. [16] Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land. [17] Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear, [18] to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.

Proverbs 1:24-33 [24] Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; [25] but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; [26] I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; [27] when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. [28] Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; [29] because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh. [30] They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. [31] Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. [32] For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. [33] But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.

Isaiah 2:11-12 [11] The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day. [12] For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and haughty, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:

Ezekiel 28:1-10 [1] Yahweh’s word came again to me, saying, [2] Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God— [3] behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; [4] by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; [5] by your great wisdom and by your traffic you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches— [6] therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because you have set your heart as the heart of God, [7] therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they shall defile your brightness. [8] They shall bring you down to the pit; and you shall die the death of those who are slain, in the heart of the seas. [9] Will you yet say before him who kills you, I am God? but you are man, and not God, in the hand of him who wounds you. [10] You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, says the Lord Yahweh.

Ezekiel 28:11-19 [11] Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, [12] Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: You seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. [13] You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, [] turquoise, and beryl. Gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. In the day that you were created they were prepared. [14] You were the anointed cherub who covers: and I set you, so that you were on the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. [16] By the abundance of your traffic they filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I have cast you as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed you, covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. [17] Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I have cast you to the ground; I have laid you before kings, that they may see you. [18] By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your traffic, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore have I brought out a fire from your midst; it has devoured you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all those who see you. [19] All those who know you among the peoples shall be astonished at you: you have become a terror, and you shall nevermore have any being.

Luke 6:22-23 [22] “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. [23] But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

If we are blinded by pride, how great is the darkness in us.

John 8:31-32 [31] Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. [32] You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Romans 1:18-32 [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, [19] because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them. [20] For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. [21] Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. [24] Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, [25] who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. [26] For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. [27] Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. [28] Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; [29] being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, [30] backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; [32] who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 8:6-7 [6] For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; [7] because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.