Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar and Nevim Arith Hayomim:
Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“Be nice to the people you meet going up because they are the same people you will meet going down.” Jimmy Durante.
We have all heard the old Proverb “Pride goeth before a fall.” After walking this earth for more than three score years I can only respond: “That I knoweth.” But the Scripture really says it is pride that goes before destruction. It is a haughty spirit that goes before a fall. The words in the Hebrew for “pride” and “haughty” are two different words. Yet both words mean the same (pride) in the Hebrew. Both words have the idea of exalting oneself, being haughty and prideful.
In Classical Hebrew we need to remember that if two different words mean the same thing, they are not identically the same. There is a difference between the two words, but that is usually not evident if you look the words up in the back of your “Strong’s Concordance” or you Hebrew Lexicon. To discover that difference in the words you will need to translate the words letter by letter.
The “pride” that goes before destruction is “ga’an” which is spelled “Gimmel Aleph Nun.” The Gimmel represents misguided missionary zeal. In other words the shadow of Gimmel tells us to beware of our zeal for defending our doctrines or beliefs. Churches have been split and people’s soul salvation have been questioned because they were baptized in the name of the Father only and not in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Gimmel is telling us stand back and ask yourself, “Is this something worth fighting over, is it something worth separating yourselves from other believers?” Sometimes our zeal over some religious doctrine can be so intense that it leads to the Aleph which in it’s shadow warns us of not seeing both sides of an issue. You can become so firm in your belief on an issue that you will refuse to listen to other arguments which might just prove you wrong. Such an attitude leads to the next letter in the word for pride which is the Nun. The Nun shows us that when we become over zealous in some point of doctrine that we refuse to listen to another argument or explanation, we become the Nun or “aloof.” Proverbs 16:18 tells us that this leads to destruction. The word “destruction” here is “shever” which means to break into many pieces. It is also used to describe a sense of sorrow or distress. In other words if you allow this form of pride, taking an overzealous stand on some doctrinal issue that you will refuse to listen and consider another side of the issue, it will make you aloof and lead to sorrow and distress.
The second word for “pride” which is often rendered as “haughty” and is used as an adjective to “spirit” is the word “gavah” which is spelled “Gimmel Beth Hei.” This form if pride also starts with a “Gimmel” which warns against over zealous belief in some doctrine, but this leads to the next letter which is a Beth. The shadow of the Beth speaks of Spiritual pride. This zealous belief often follows some personal revelation which causes a person to feel that he has been given a special commission that makes him a little higher or lifts him up above others. Others look up to him and he runs the risk of falling into the shadow of the “Hei” which is self deception.
The best advice I ever received in Seminary was from a pastor of a large church in Dallas, Texas. He said I was to beware of the two most dangerous people in the church. The first is that critic who will take issue with everything you say or do. You will not be able to sneeze without his discussing your style, it’s value and/or it’s worth. The danger from such a person is that he will discourage you. However, the second most dangerous person in the church, who is even more dangerous than the critic is that sweet, little old lady who will tell you that you are the most wonderful, spiritual and brilliant pastor that the church ever had. The danger here is that you will believe her.
This “haughty spirit” is spiritual pride which makes you think you are somehow more special, more brilliant and more in tune with God than others. You get revelation from God (Gimmel) and it makes you feel above other believers (Beth), but it is only the Hei, self deception. Such an attitude will lead to a fall. In the Hebrew that word for fall is “kishalon” which means to miss your target. The Septuagint uses the Greek word “patais” which is a word for sin. Such an attitude will lead to sin.
C.S. Lewis said it best in his book “Mere Christianity.” “A proud man is always looking down on things and people, and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.”
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