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"Do not be proud"

Text: Jeremiah 13:15

THE FOOLISH SIN OF PRIDE

One of the most unnecessary and foolish of sins is pride. It is usually deeply embedded and very difficult to remove from a person.

“Hear and give ear:
Do not be proud,
For the LORD has spoken.
Give glory to the LORD your God
Before He causes darkness,
And before your feet stumble
On the dark mountains,
And while you are looking for light,
He turns it into the shadow of death
And makes it dense darkness.
But if you will not hear it,
My soul will weep in secret for your pride;
My eyes will weep bitterly
And run down with tears,
Because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.”
Jeremiah 13:15-17

1. “Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken”

a) A plea was made to the children of Judah:

i) To hear

ii) To give ear (to give heed)

b) A direct appeal:

i) To cease being proud.

ii) It is the LORD Himself who has spoken to the people (and not just the prophets).

2. “Give glory to the LORD your God before He causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and while you are looking for light, He turns it into the shadow of death and makes it dense darkness”

a) Foolish pride will give self all the glory.

b) Glory belongs to God and not to man!

c) The imagery of Light and Darkness was used.

d) The imagery of Light.

i) To represent glory.

ii) Many seek self-glory (in wealth, in achievements etc).

e) The imagery of darkness.

i) This is the opposite of Light.

ii) God can send darkness (failure, devastation from war etc).

f) Those who seek self-glory light may find the darkness of death instead!

3. “But if you will not hear it, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive”

a) Jeremiah felt deep sorrow over the foolish pride of his countrymen.

b) Deep sorrow would be felt.

i) Sad and bitter tears would be shed.

ii) There will be a weeping over the folly of pride.

c) The reason was oft-repeated.

i) The Lord’s flock would be taken captive.

ii) It is here expressed proleptically (The flock of God had been taken captive).