Pride Goes Before Destruction - Proverbs 16:18

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul”, and in chapter sixteen and verse eighteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “pride goes before destruction” where we read,

Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

The verse begins, “Pride goes before destruction, ...” Solomon began with the word, “pride” or “exaltation, majesty, excellence and arrogance” “goes before destruction” which means “precedes the presence of breaking, fracture, crushing, ruin, shattering and affliction”. Solomon shared how arrogance and haughtiness precedes ruin and affliction that comes upon a person.

The verse continues, “... and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Solomon added the words, “and an haughty spirit” or “and elation, arrogance and loftiness within a person's disposition, desire and mind” “before a fall” which means “in advance and preceding a stumbling, tottering or calamity”. Solomon said an arrogant and lofty mind and disposition comes in advance of stumbling and calamity.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon that there are consequences to being “prideful” and “haughty”. Those who behave in these ways cause their own ruin because God hates “pride” God. (See Proverbs 6:16-19) God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. “Pride” and “arrogance” is sin, and when anyone humbles themselves and surrenders their life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and preserved from the “pride” and “haughtiness” that leads to demise.

Next time we see Solomon say, “better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".