Wednesday Bible Blurb Pride 10 21 2026
The orange and golden leaves of the cottonwood tress were shimmering in the evening breeze as I drove west on highway 212 in Montana. The small gullies and creeks were bright orange and a dull grey as the sun began to set. Antelope covered the rolling hills; mule deer hid in the crevices of the small streamlets. Hundreds of beef cattle silently roamed the green hillsides. There had been rain causing the grass to grow and show its last fading shades of green before Winter sets in when all will be covered in white. The pine trees swayed in the wind. Magpies and starlings circled in the air as an eagle floated past with a majesty that shouted out a glory to God for his most beautiful creation. As I drove highway 212 in southeast Montana, I could not help but to see and appreciate the beauty of what God created.
The year was 1876 and the 7th Calvary of the U.S. Army was heading west over the same terrain I had driven past. I can imagine their thoughts as they rode horseback in long columns through this area of shear peace, tranquility and beauty. They could add the buffalo to what they saw and relish in the cold clear waters of the little streams. A sense of beauty and confidence might have been in their thoughts. They were veterans of the U. S. civil war, proud and hardened soldiers, used to hardship and fighting. They had conquered the south and now they would easily conquer the rebellion of the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors. They were confident in their abilities and thought little of the Indians who would oppose them. They were riding on the pride of their high horse, and the 7th Calvary of the U.S. Army was ready for war against the plains Indians.
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Pro. 16:18 [NKJV]).
He was king over the greatest empire the world had ever known. King Nebuchadnezzar had a nightmare and called for Daniel the prophet to explain it to him. The news from Daniel was not good. The pride of Nebuchadnezzar would be his undoing. His destruction was upon him, and he was about to fall from his tower of pride. “The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; 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 chooses.’” (Dan. 4:30-32). The prideful most powerful man on earth was brought down to eating grass in the field like his lowly sheep and oxen. For seven years he ran as an animal in the garden of his great city of Babylon. Void of the spirit of man, lonely and out of his mind his pride was stripped away day by day, year after year. “Pride comes before a fall.”
This was not the end of Nebuchadnezzar but in many ways the beginning. When God restored his humanity Nebuchadnezzar praised God Almighty. Humility destroys pride. “At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” (Dan. 4:36-37).
Nebuchadnezzar was not the first nor the last to be brought low by pride. Lucifer, Satan the devil lifted his heart against God. He had been made perfect and beautiful in all his ways until pride was found in him. (Ezek.28:12-19). Satan fell from heaven because he said in his heart: “I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;” (Isa. 14: 12-15 vs 13). Lucifer will not be able to control his pride by humbling himself to God. His eventual ruin is certain. His pride and vanity will not end, and the result is he will be cast into the lake of fire and tormented forever. (Rev. 20:10). His pride came before his fall.
Do we puff out our chests in pride and arrogance like Nebuchadnezzar and Satan? How does God view pride and humility? Pride and humility are the exact opposites. It is humility that destroys pride and it is pride that destroys humility. What does God say about pride?
It is pride that destroys humility.
James 4:6 “But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Pro. 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
Pro. 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”
It is humility that destroys pride.
Pro. 16:19 “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”
Matt. 23:13” And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will beexalted.” (Quoted from Pro. 11:2).
Pro. 29:23 “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”
Isa. 66:2 “For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ Says the Lord.
‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’”
The proud king Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up by his deceitful heart of pride and was brought low by God. Lucifer was lifted up by his heart and will never repent. We defeat our pride by humility. We defeat our pride by knowing God is in control and ruler of all. We defeat our pride by wholly submitting to God. We defeat our pride by putting God first in all things.
June 25, 1876. It was the end of the rainy season in eastern Montana. The sky was blue, the long grass was a deep green and the temperatures hovered around 75 to 80 degrees. The big sky country was splendid in all its beautiful glory and the 7th Calvary under the command of Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer rode over a hill. The peace was shattered as around 2,000 Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors descended upon the 210 men of Lt. Colonel Custer’s force. Less than one hour later all 210 men were dead. Custer had fought his last battle, and it was his pride and arrogance that lost the battle that fateful day. The beauty of Montana had been shattered by the cries of war. Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and other Indian chiefs had destroyed the myth of pride and arrogance of the long golden-haired Lt. Colonel Custer.
“Pride comes before a fall.” (Pro. 16:18).
Mike Wallace
