Pride and Fall

Pride comes before fall.  This saying has been claimed by the folks of Appalachia, and I have heard it extensively since my childhood.  Ever time I heard Trump boast about himself, my self drew up a bit.  But even a proud man can accomplish some good things before his fall..

Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the power of God, and commanded his people to worship God.

Nebuchadnezzar Praises God

Dan 4 [a] King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.


3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

But King Nebuchadnezzar got carried away with his human pride, and obsessed about his greatness.

Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation

Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 

31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 

33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

 for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
    and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
    and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
    or say to him, “What have you done?”

So King Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, and his place in his kingdom was restored.  I hope that President Trump has such a good outcome in his coming years. 

Meanwhile we need wisdom to deal with our circumstances in this time of turmoil.  And I am not interested in having the government spend tax money to educate me about how to think.  Having the government involved in indoctrination of citizens is called propaganda.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

And I have personally witnessed how sustained efforts by those who are against Biblical Faith (Judea-Christian) have inserted themselves into places of strategic value for promoting secular humanism in our government and educational institutions.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism

Wisdom is the quality of  having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Wisdom helps us be givers instead of takers.  Have you noticed the emphasis on what our government can give us?  The things the government has to give are mostly what they take from someone.  I would rather give my gifts directly, to those who I have opportunity to help. 

In the words of John F. Kennedy, 

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,”

Understanding the value of being givers rather than takers is our opening to wisdom.  

Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word[b] will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Trusting the Lord is much better than trusting our government.  As bad as our government may be, it is far better than the Roman pagan government under which Jesus lived and faith flourished.  Persecution does not defeat faith, but rather refines faith.  It is time for faith to flourish. 

6 Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.


12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals[c] with his feet,
points with his finger,
14 with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.


16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.

So it is time to stop trashing Trump.  History will sort through the evidence, the lies will be trampled underfoot, and what is good will be revealed.  Students of history already understand the outcome of promoting secular humanism.  Let us speak up for what is just and right, but in a way to build up instead of tear down.  

Let's make good plans.

Lord God, give us wisdom.