For whosoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted Luke 14:11.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth spoke as she welcomed Mary. The baby also leaped in her womb and that signalled something glorious about to happen. Mary had just been visited by God and she needed affirmation and consolidation of what God was doing in her, seeking a godly repose and someone to share her current unusual experience with though initially troubled at the saying of the angel, but later got encouraged when she learnt about Elizabeth's conception. She decided to visit and intimate Elizabeth with the new things going on in her life though strange, unimaginable, yet real experiences the duo were going through. Elizabeth too carrying her bundle of joy needed someone to share with since Zachariah, her husband was mute as a result of his unbelief when the angel announced the birth of their child. These handmaids in God's hand were undergoing divine visitation and surprises, He fashioned them as He pleased, one too old to have a child yet conceived, the other, a virgin who conceived a child without sexual relationship with any man. Truly they were both experiencing wonders and needed to give support, comfort and encouragement to one another knowing that the miracles in their bodies could only be by God. Both of them in high ecstasy, yet, at this time the Holy Spirit was emphatic about the issue of pride knowing it was an opportune time when they'll embrace and communicate what God was doing in them. At this crucial moment Mary lend a voice to the lot of the proud. Her utterances were not all premeditated but it came from the Holy Spirit. The song of Mary in Luke 1:52-53, "He has shown strength with His arm, He scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He put down the mighty from their throne and exalt the lowly," God is never at any time prodigal with His grace and gifting. Though He is ever mindful of His covenant promises, yet, man must know his limit and boundary. And when God explicitly demand anything from us, we must be cautious enough to approach it with all seriousness.
Many so called mighty who exalt themselves against God have been pulled down. A notable example is the proud Herod who was eaten up by worms when he would not give glory to God. His account found in the book of Acts 12:21-24 is still shocking and fearful, "So on a set day Herod arrayed in a royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting "The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied." His judgement came swiftly and brought increase to the work of God. This evil king had wronged God by harassing His people and by ordering the killing of His saint-Apostle James, afterwards, he proceeded on an evil mission to show his prowess and he imprisoned Peter who was scheduled to be killed but God delivered him (Acts 12:5-17). And because Peter was miraculously released, he killed the guards assigned to watch him (Acts 12:19). Then, on one of his good days when he was praised by the people, he arrogated God's glory to himself and to show his nothingness, God did not give it a rethink but permitted His angel to struck him. No one can stand in God's place and go free for God will never share His glory with anyone. Herod behaved wickedly and if God had not exterminated him, he would do more harm to the believers. Herod did not go free for his evil acts neither will anyone does (Malachi 3:15, 4:3, Jeremiah 2:34-37, Ezekiel 21:26b-27). Job also noted God's judgment on the proud (Job 40:11-12), their right due from God who fully repays the proud (Psalm 31:23) and renders just recompense as His saints plead before Him (Psalm 94:2).
Prophet Jeremiah and Obadiah both alluded to God's distaste for pride and His judgment on the proud (Jeremiah 49:16, Obadiah 3-4). When God comes swiftly against the proud, there is nothing anyone can do about it. Belteshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar will not learn form the his father's experience but vaunted himself because of his greatness. He ordered for the vessels of the Lord's temple to drink wine together with his lords (Daniel 5:1-3). Then came the handwriting on the wall which marked the end of his reign. God will no longer condone his excesses; consequently, he was slain and was replaced by Darius that same night (Daniel5:23-30). But before his death, Daniel was sent for to interpret the handwriting on the wall. Daniel warned him of the imminent danger but he took it lightly, "But you his son, Belteshazzar have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and your lords, your wives and concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hands and own all your ways, you have not glorified" Instead for him to repent of his pride and amend his ways, he did not but he had time to honour Daniel (Daniel 5:18-23, 29). Man cannot contend with God; he cannot contend with him who is mightier than He (Ecclesiasts 6:10b). God detest the proud (Psalm 101:5b), He tolerates only the humble but the proud He sees afar (Psalm 138:6).
Jesus cited pride as one of the sins that disqualifies and defiles a man (Mark 7:22). He even gave a parable about the danger of pride to those in the house of the rulers of the Pharisee when He saw how they chose the best seats for themselves (Luke 14:7-11). The crux of the matter was His summary in verse 14 "For whosoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted " John the beloved remarked that pride is not of God, it is of the world (1John 2:16-17), and its evil effect is ravaging and tearing our world apart. Also, Paul, the Apostle listed pride among the sins on which the judgment of God will be meted in Romans 1:30. Evidently, this evil called pride characterizes our modern-day Christianity as Paul the Apostle noted in 2 Timothy 3:2-5 and truly many are proud, boastful, haughty, headstrong, fake, often seeking undue attention and recognition in order to gain acceptance. But the bible clearly commands that from such we must turn away. Never to mingle with the haughty ones so as not to have their evil rub on us. It was a strict command given to us the latter-day saints by Paul because the proud will grow worse and worse and they can cause someone to stumble and fall as it happened to Ephraim, Israel and Judah (Hosea 5:5). Little wonder God himself emphatically said,"I abhor (hate, detest) the pride of Jacob. For the bible says, "The LORD God has sworn by Himself. The LORD God of hosts says, I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hates his palaces; Therefore, I will deliver up the city and all that is in it" Each and everyone who desires to walk with God must be humble. For it is better to whole heartedly rely on God being patient and of a humble heart than being proud and of a haughty spirit (Ecclesiasts 7:8).
Many times, proud people think they are wise but really, they are not and because they cannot submit to learn, they fall and display folly. It is good to be humble than being puffed up with pride (1 Timothy 3:6), and since there is nothing anyone can gain from pride, it only brings shame and reproach. Its associates are humiliation and dishonour and that is the reason why many Old and New Testament servants of God frankly talked against it. However, humility still remains a basic requirement for man from God (Micah 6:8). The psalmist declared in Psalm 18 verse 27 that God will save the humble people but He will bring down the haughty look. Habakkuk, the prophet also says, Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him" (Habakkuk 2:4a). Hence it is needful to avoid self-praise, undue magnification and compliments since there is no justification for it (Proverbs 27:2) because only the humble who does not regard the proud will be blessed by God (Psalm 40:4).
