Pride is a hard emotion to keep in check in today's world. Being a servant and humble is almost looked down upon as weak..........
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| Do You Struggle With Pride? |
Insight Into Scripture
When the Old Testament speaks of "The land devouring people" (18:8) it is indicating a hostile, inhospitable environment.
Ten Shekel and a warrior's belt (18:11) would be one year's worth of pay and a distinctive article of clothing.
The javelin used to strike Absalom would have been a blunt rod. The heart section that the Bible refers to would have been Absalom's chest area. (18:14)
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This is a picture of Absalom's monument. You can find the story of the death of Absalom in 2 Samuel 18:18 "Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself the pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to keep my name in remembrance." He called the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's monument to this day."
The tomb is known today as Yad Avshalom (Avshalom's Monument) and is located in the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem, situated between the Temple Mount and Mount of Olives.
A custom that the people of Jerusalem had for centuries is that they used to come to this monument with their children and stone it, to show children what happens to sons who disobey their parents.
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| Absalom & His Hair |
Scripture Reading
And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great terebinth, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it and told Joab, "Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak."
Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained them. And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the forest and raised over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled every one to his own home. - 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14-17
Thought for the Day
As I was reading how Absalom died, having his head stuck, I am sure that his long, beautiful, heavy hair did not help his situation. I remembered a couple of chapters before (14:25-26) where it described Absalom as a very handsome man, and the Bible made light of his very heavy hair. I could not help but to get the sense that Absalom may have been very prideful of his beautiful hair. How ironic that the very thing he may have been prideful of, was the very thing that may have gotten him killed?
Jesus taught against pride and boasting, and praised the meek and humble. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted". -Matt. 23:12
He gave us examples of what not to do in Luke 20:46-47 - "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." Yes, Jesus was very clear where God stands on the issue.
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| What is Your Pride Level? |
Pride is a hard emotion to keep in check in today's world. Being a servant and humble is almost looked down upon as weak, and a poor quality. But the greatest man who ever lived, was the most humble and servant-hearted man. How is your pride level? Do you find yourself always outdoing the other person you are talking to? Are you more interested in yourself than the other person? I will leave you with a quote from What Jesus Demands of the World by John Piper (A very GOOD Book)
"Boasting is the voice of pride in the heart of the strong. Self-pity is the voice of pride in the heart of the weak."
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Father thank You for your great stories. Thank You for teaching me through Your word. I pray that I will be meek and humble more and more everyday. I pray that I can be a shining example for You. Father I pray for the unknowing people, I pray that their hearts will be touched and Your word will be heard.
I love You father and I pray in Your Name,
Amen.
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