“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.” (vv.12-15)
In this passage, we have certainly one of the most extreme expressions of pride. Whether it is specific to an enemy of Israel or a description of the ultimate enemy, Satan, either way we have pride on display. And scripture tells us that, “pride comes before a fall.”
Even though Satan's sin is well-documented in Scripture, it still boggles the mind to realize that rebellion began in the heart of an Angel. But the record is there in the prophets. Satan's rebellion was doomed to fail, of course; and his judgment was sure. One of the most exalted angels in heaven was cast out of God's presence and thrown to the earth (Ezek. 28:17 ).
We too need to guard our hearts against the flaming darts of pride. Unfortunately, our battles against Satan do not always end in decisive spiritual victory. But that's due to our humanity, not to any lack in God's daily provision for our spiritual lives. Knowing the kind of enemy Satan is, God has given us all the armor we need to defeat him. We just need to use it and not let pride (or any one of Satan's tools) bring us down.
The Truth: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)
In this passage, we have certainly one of the most extreme expressions of pride. Whether it is specific to an enemy of Israel or a description of the ultimate enemy, Satan, either way we have pride on display. And scripture tells us that, “pride comes before a fall.”
Even though Satan's sin is well-documented in Scripture, it still boggles the mind to realize that rebellion began in the heart of an Angel. But the record is there in the prophets. Satan's rebellion was doomed to fail, of course; and his judgment was sure. One of the most exalted angels in heaven was cast out of God's presence and thrown to the earth (Ezek. 28:17 ).
We too need to guard our hearts against the flaming darts of pride. Unfortunately, our battles against Satan do not always end in decisive spiritual victory. But that's due to our humanity, not to any lack in God's daily provision for our spiritual lives. Knowing the kind of enemy Satan is, God has given us all the armor we need to defeat him. We just need to use it and not let pride (or any one of Satan's tools) bring us down.
The Truth: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you may make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:11-12)
