Zephaniah Chapter Two, Pride & Consequence

Zephaniah 2:10 This they shall have for their pride, because they have reproached and made arrogant threats against the people of the Lord of hosts.

Pride is perhaps the most fundamental sin in Scripture. It was the sin that caused Lucifer, the Light Bringer, to err in regard to his position of importance as a created being, Isaiah 14:12-14. Being the greatest of the angelic hosts God created in the beginning, his wisdom was marred when he considered his position as the covering cherub, Ezekiel 28:14.

Lucifer was beautiful and wise, and because of this it was said his heart was lifted up, Ezekiel 28:17. Another rendering simply defines that as he was proud, and his pride corrupted his wisdom. Further, the prophet wrote that Lucifer corrupted his wisdom for the sake of his splendor; in short, Lucifer was not only proud but the universe’s first narcissist. Pride is the sin God said Moab and Ammon committed and were being punished for. Why? Not because they railed directly against the Lord, but that they made violent overtures toward the people of His name, Israel. Long ago God said to Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed,” Genesis 12:3.

This was why Balaam was unable to curse Israel when he sought permission from the Lord. The one God has blessed cannot actually be cursed; and any attempt to curse will not bring down a malediction, but rather God’s wrath. Ammon and Moab sought more than once to take Israel’s land by force. Their hatred for Israel was Satanic; indeed, Satan moved his people against God’s in a constant effort to extinguish the Jews from the earth. He will continue to try during the seven year Tribulation, because if he succeeds he will overthrow the promise of God regarding the nation of Israel. He has tried through the Roman Catholic Church to do away with the Jews, through Islam, and through Nazi Germany to name a few historical markers that precede the coming of the Antichrist and the height of Satan’s fury against God’s people.

Even today many professing Christians do not accept Israel as a nation or the Jews as God’s earthly people, set aside and partially blinded until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Many believe–and are taught to believe by church leaders–that physical Israel is no more and the Jews have long since lost their place. The spirit of Moab and Ammon who made arrogant threats against the Jews is alive and well today in many, sadly well-meaning and honestly deceived believers.

Isaiah says of Moab, “We have heard of the pride of Moab–he is very proud–of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; but his lies shall not be so,” Isaiah 16:6. Solomon cautions, “A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor,” Proverbs 29:23. Pride is lethal. It is intrinsically linked to the unforgivable sin because pride forbids the haughty spirit to admit our need of a Savior; therefore the proud will never stoop to ask for salvation. One cannot be forgiven when forgiveness is never asked for; hence it is the one sin God cannot forgive. Historically, Moab and Ammon knew of Abraham and Lot, of Sodom and the adjacent cities, and of Egypt and the Exodus to name a few incidents. They are without excuse–as are we. God, the true God of heaven and earth, was with Israel. Yes, sometimes He disciplined the nation, and sometimes that discipline involved human instrumentality as it was when Babylon was brought in to exile the people.

But Israel remains God’s people, and He is jealous for them. He will guard them, preserve them, and ultimately restore them wholly to their land, and they will experience national revival and serve the Lord when He returns bodily in power and glory. Moab, Ammon, and all nations would do well to regard this stern and sobering warning from Scripture, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God,” Psalm 9:17. They will follow their spiritual master, who will suffer the same fate, “Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit,” Isaiah 14:15.