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Judges 9:22-11:28<\/strong><\/span> Old Testament<\/strong> \u2013 Alright, I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m seeing quite a bit of pride flowing around in Judges recently \u2013 particularly in today\u2019s readings.\u00a0 And we all know the old saying, \u201cPride goeth before the fall.\u201d\u00a0 And indeed we are seeing people fall after their prideful fits.\u00a0 In fact, Satan himself was guilty of the sin of Pride.\u00a0 He wanted to be equal with God.\u00a0 He thought he was all that and a bag-o-chips.\u00a0 But he ain\u2019t.\u00a0 Never will be.\u00a0 So, maybe the saying in regards to Satan certainly is \u201cPride goeth before the Fall.\u201d\u00a0 And that\u2019s Fall with a capital \u201cF\u201d unfortunately.<\/span><\/p>\n We saw Abimelech\u2019s deadly pride in yesterday\u2019s readings when he had killed 70 of Gideon\u2019s sons \u2013 his half brothers \u2013 so that he could rule the people of Schechem.\u00a0 Pride & Power.\u00a0 Deadly combination then \u2013 and still is today.\u00a0 We then read Jotham\u2019s parable in yesterday\u2019s readings and see that his words came true in today\u2019s readings.\u00a0 I am amazed at the depth of Abimelech\u2019s sin of pride even in his dying moment when we read in chapter 9 verses 52 through 54 today: \u201cAbimelech followed them to attack the tower. But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance, a woman on the roof threw down a millstone that landed on Abimelech\u2019s head and crushed his skull. He said to his young armor bearer, \u201cDraw your sword and kill me! Don\u2019t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Wow\u2026\u00a0 Now \u2013 don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I think for me to say that Abimelech was completely prideful and that I am not is the same sin \u2013 pride.\u00a0 It would be prideful for me to put myself above Abimelech.\u00a0 He\u2019s not a lot different than we are today.\u00a0 I think pride is something we all probably struggle with at some level or at some point in our lives.\u00a0 I know I do.\u00a0 We are all sinners.\u00a0 And as I read about Abimelech in Judges today \u2013 or reflect upon Satan\u2019s Fall \u2013 I realize that pride is a sin that we really must vigilantly watch our entire lives.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t, I think we can get blinded to the fact that we\u2019re prideful \u2013 and we\u2019ll say dumb things like \u201cdon\u2019t let it be said that a woman killed (fill in your name as if you were to say this about yourself in the 3rd person, cuz that\u2019s how you refer to yourself when you are prideful)!\u201d\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Pride kills\u2026\u00a0 let us pray for humility in our lives today.\u00a0 God can redeem and heal us from our pride!<\/span><\/p>\n Even poor Gaal \u2013 who I think was trying to do the right thing fell prey to pride as we see in verse 29 today \u2013 \u201cIf I were in charge, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, `Get some more soldiers, and come out and fight!\u2019\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Unfortunately, Gaal got his wish and it did not turn out well for him.\u00a0 Pride goeth before the fall\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0An image is below for verses 37 & 38 \u2013 \u201cBut again Gaal said, \u201cNo, people are coming down from the hills. And another group is coming down the road past the Diviners\u2019 Oak.\u201d Then Zebul turned on him triumphantly. \u201cNow where is that big mouth of yours?\u201d he demanded. \u201cWasn\u2019t it you that said, `Who is Abimelech, and why should we be his servants?\u2019 The men you mocked are right outside the city! Go out and fight them!\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Matthew West\u2019s awesome song \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Praying:\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n
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