Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling (Proverbs 16:18).
The proud are lifted up, exalted, and self-important. The arrogance of humanity is often depicted in the lives of great kings. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon toured his capital and reflected on his self-worth: “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). Nebuchadnezzar’s words – might, power, glory, and majesty – reveal the desire of the human heart and mind. Like Adam before him (Genesis 3:5), the Babylonian king desired to be a god.
I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:13-14; cf. Ezekiel 28:2ff).
Nebuchadnezzar’s megalomania led to insanity. God removed the king’s sovereignty and exiled him to live as a beast (Daniel 4:31-33). “But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him” (Daniel 5:20). Nebuchadnezzar sought to be exalted among the gods. The great king discovered that pride and arrogance do not reflect the image of God. Rather, arrogant behavior diminishes humanity and reduces humans to live as the beasts. Human society comes to resemble a world in which the innocent and weak are crushed in the ruthless jaws of the predator. The prophet Daniel envisioned just such a world.
His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; and he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease (Daniel 8:24–25).
Daniel envisioned an uncivilized human society which represents every human that seeks to be godlike – from Adam and Nimrod, to Herod and Caesar. Arrogance is the epitome of toxic leadership.
Lest we come to believe that such arrogance is limited to pagan strongmen, we must consider the arrogance of the kings of Israel, specifically the son of David – Solomon. Solomon’s glory and wealth was legendary. His appetites and passions were insatiable.
Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:9-11).
In his wisdom, Solomon came to understand that wealth, power, and glory cannot satisfy the needs of the human soul. The way humans live and exploit one another leads Solomon to congratulate the dead for their escape, but it would have been best to have never been born (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3). Joy and peace escaped Solomon. As he considered his own mortality he fell into despair (Ecclesiastes 2:20f). The writer of Ecclesiastes begins and ends with the declaration that human existence is vanity. The thoughts penned throughout the book are those of a tortured and desperate mind.
God deals harshly with those who seek to be “lifted up.” Adam and Eve were driven from Eden (Genesis 3:24). Saul was anointed by Samuel to be king over Israel and “the Spirit of God rushed upon him” (1 Samuel 10:10, ESV). However, when Saul became arrogant and disobedient “the Spirit of the Lord . . . left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear” (1 Samuel 16:14, NLT). The very anointing that lifted Saul into power became the source of his destruction. Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel and spoke with “the voice of a god.” He was struck down by an angel of the Lord “because he did not give God the glory” (Acts 12:21-13). God will bring low all those who seek to be lifted up. God’s purpose is declared in Mary’s song:
“He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones” (Luke 1:51–52).
Paul explains that megalomania and self-aggrandizement are common to humanity. The human ambition to be god-like leads to insanity and depravity of mind.
For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21).
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind (Romans 1:28).
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
The testimony of Scripture is that fallen humans seek to clothe themselves in glory and power, but their every effort is foiled by a jealous God who refuses to share divine glory. Before God we remain afraid and naked, far short of God’s glory – the image and likeness in which we were created (Genesis 1:26f; 3:10).
The arrogance of humanity is contrasted by the humility of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only one to perfectly represent the character and glory of God. As he was lifted high in shame on the cross he demonstrated the self-sacrificing nature of a leader who seeks only to be obedient to the will of the Father. It will not be the arrogant who are blessed in the earth. Instead, those who are poor in spirit, meek, and gentle are blessed in the earth, and only they will inherit the kingdom of God (Matthew 5:3-5).
