#2samuel

[thelattertimesofbeingcrazyfc]

National Day of Prayer 2024

LIFT UP THE WORD – LIGHT UP THE WORLD For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. 2 Samuel 22:29-31 Today, we observe the National Day of Prayer, uniting as a nation under God, seeking…

[evolia7]

PERPETUA VERGINITÀ

Una scrittura molto usata dai protestanti è Matteo 1,25:

"Giuseppe non la conobbe FINCHÉ Maria non ebbe partorito un figlio; e [una volta nato, Giuseppe] gli pose nome Gesù".

Qui la scrittura non dice che dopo la nascita del Salvatore Giuseppe conobbe Maria, inoltre mai la Scrittura dirà che Maria partorì altri figli oltre Gesù stesso.

La Scrittura semplicemente afferma che Maria ha partorito Gesù senza necessità alcuna che Giuseppe [come nessun altro] la conoscesse.

Vi faccio alcuni esempi di come la Scrittura fa uso della congiunzione "FINCHÉ", /che differisce dal modo con cui la utilizziamo noi solitamente/:

"Abbonderà la pace FINCHÉ non ci sia più la luna" (Salmo 71, 7) significa che quando non ci sarà più la luna non ci sarà più pace?

Salmi 109,1:

Oracolo del Signore al mio Signore:

«Siedi alla mia destra,

FINCHÉ io ponga i tuoi nemici

a sgabello dei tuoi piedi».

Significa forse che quando i nemici saranno sgabello dei suoi piedi, Gesù non siederà più alla destra del Padre?

1Corinzi 15,25:

"Bisogna infatti che Gesù regni FINCHÉ non abbia posto tutti i nemici sotto i Suoi piedi".

Forse che dopo Gesù non regna più? Come è possibile, visto che la Scrittura dice chiaramente che il suo regno è eterno e senza fine?

"Regnerà per sempre e il Suo regno non avrà fine" (Luca 1,33).

È quindi chiaro che "finché" non significa che dopo Gesù cessa di regnare. Così anche in Matteo 1, 25 quel "non la conobbe FINCHÉ..." non significa che dopo Giuseppe conobbe Maria. Giuseppe non la conobbe mai prima né la conobbe dopo. /L'evento a cui fa riferimento il FINCHÉ in questione non presuppone alcun cambio di abitudini negli atteggiamenti di Giuseppe dopo un indefinito momento temporale, altrimenti il testo ne avrebbe parlato in maniera ugualmente esplicita anche in seguito. Fa "semplicemente" menzione che, nonostante la giusta reticenza di Giuseppe, al momento prestabilito Gesù nacque come annunciato./

Salmi 122,2:

"I nostri occhi sono rivolti al Signore nostro Dio,

FINCHÉ abbia pietà di noi".

Significa forse che dopo che Dio avrà avuto pietà di noi, i nostri occhi non saranno più rivolti a Dio?

Matteo 28,20:

"Ecco, io sono con voi tutti i giorni, FINO alla fine del mondo".

Significa questo che dopo la fine del mondo Gesù non è più con noi? Ovviamente no, Gesù sarà sempre con noi, anche dopo la fine del mondo. /Il mondo finirà lo stesso, ma Lui non si muoverà/.

Così anche Maria è rimasta sempre vergine anche dopo il parto.

2Samuele 6,23:

"Mikal, figlia di Saul, non ebbe figli fino al giorno della sua morte."

Dobbiamo forse pensare che Mikal ebbe figli dopo la sua morte? Ovviamente NO.

Come qui non significa che dopo la sua morte Mikal ha avuto figli, così anche quel famoso "FINCHÉ" non significa che dopo il parto Giuseppe conobbe Maria intimamente, /perché non aveva motivi di cambiare atteggiamento verso di lei, specie dopo la nascita miracolosa di Gesù/.

La Scrittura non dice mai che Maria ha partorito altri figli, era infatti stato profetizzato che sarebbe rimasta sempre vergine.

Ezechiele 44,1,2:

«Questa porta rimarrà chiusa: non verrà aperta, nessuno vi passerà, perché c'è passato il Signore, Dio d'Israele. Perciò resterà chiusa».

Maria è "la porta rimasta sempre chiusa" perché rimasta sempre vergine; attraverso questa porta Dio si è incarnato ed è entrato e venuto nel mondo, "Perciò questa porta resterà sempre chiusa, nessuno vi passerà, perché c'è passato il Signore" (Ez 44, 1-2).

Non fatevi ingannare dalle sette protestanti, che soggiogate da spiriti bugiardi offendono Dio e offendono Maria, usano la Scrittura al contrario e dicono menzogne contro la Beata Vergine.

Di Giuseppe Longo, /con alcune precisazioni mie/.

[somenteumvaso]

Deus é minha fortaleza" é uma expressão bíblica que significa que Deus é uma proteção e defesa em momentos de dificuldade. 

Versículos bíblicos que mencionam Deus como fortaleza:

"Deus é minha fortaleza e minha força; ele me traz a salvo" (2Samuel 22:33) 

"O SENHOR é o meu rochedo, e o meu lugar forte, e o meu libertador; o meu Deus, a minha fortaleza, em quem confio" (Salmos 18:2) 

"O Senhor é a minha proteção e a minha fortaleza, o meu Deus, em quem confio" (Salmos 91:2) 

"Deus é o nosso refúgio e fortaleza, socorro bem presente na angústia" (Salmo 46) 

Significado de fortaleza

Fortaleza é uma torre segura que protege seus habitantes de ataques dos inimigos. A fortaleza de Deus é a capacidade de enfrentar as dificuldades com coragem e perseverança, mantendo a fé em Deus mesmo em meio às adversidades. 

[escritos-que-edificam]

O caminho de Deus é perfeito: as promessas do Senhor sempre se cumprem; Ele é escudo para todos que nele se refugiam. 2Samuel 22:31

[penitentservant]

The Psalms

Ive been wondering something about the Psalms since reading 2Samuel.

In most places where I see the Psalms being referenced, they're presented as solemn and somber. Especially Psalm 23.

But 2 Samuel describes King David, this shepherd made King, as dancing and whirling, to the point his wife calls him disgraceful and embarrassing himself.

So, I wonder if the music of this former shepherd, who loved God, who played the harp and apparently danced wildly, did not intend the Psalms to be more energetic and lively.

Anyone have any thoughts/theories/research on this?

[kingdomshiftersministries]

Stubborn Destiny Chasers

Apostolic Watch: Apostle Taquetta Baker & The Kingdom Shifters Team

Spirit of Pharaoh- Causes childhood affliction and kill the next generation. Causes constant youth and adult affliction and oppression in the chosen to hinder there destiny advancement and their impact on the next generation. Pharoah operates with a hardness of heart. This spirit’s heart strengths in pride and haughtiness the more the person tries to be delivered. Pharaoh likes to increase the suffering of a person. This spirit increases affliction, bondage, distress, suffering, hardship, slavery and oppression. This spirit operates like a dictator. It pursues unto death even when God has demanded freedom and blessings. It oppresses continuously so that the person does not realize how blessed, mighty, and impactful they are. It does this by increasing the person’s suffering the more they are determined to be obedient to God, covenant with God, are blessed, and as they evolve in God and destiny.

Study Exodus 5-6

Definition of dictator: a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.

We reject every demonic dictatorship in Jesus name.

Prophet Reenita’s Insight:

I saw Pharoah building pyramids around God’s people and sending destinies and callings to the grave. Trying to mummify these areas without you realizing it. Putting precious possessions in the tomb with you. Wow!

Back To The Apostolic Watch Revelation: Overthrowing Pharoah

* Know who you are and whose you are and stand and live through the truth of your God identity and the sovereignty of God.

* Close doors to legal grounds they have against you through repentance, breaking soulties, close doors to cycles and patterns, and seeking the grace and mercy of God.

* Release the fire of the Holy Spirit

* Worship and praise to rise up our of heaviness, depression, grief, oppression and psychological warfare

* Ask God for supernatural insight for breakthrough Jeremy 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.'

* Deal with them in the court of heaven.

* Break its territorial hold over you from the region you live in.

* Reject the dictatorship of the spirit of Pharoah, its government, and its oppressions.

* Render his works drowned and powerless.

* Declare you thrive and are successful as you overthrow every operation of pharaoh.

* Propheticly decree against this spirit to overthrow their demonic litigations.

* Command restoration, restitution and blessing of what has been oppressed and stolen.

Exodus 14:36-28 Then the Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea and the water will come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots, and over their horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the water returned to its normal depth at daybreak. The Egyptians tried to retreat in front of the advancing water,but the Lord destroyedthe Egyptians in the middle of the sea. The water returned, covering the chariots and the horsemen of Pharaoh’s entire army that had pursued the Israelis into the sea. Not a single one of them remained.

Psalm 18:29-30 For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lordis tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2Samuel 22:30 For in You I can charge an army; with my God I can scale a wall.

Hebrews 11:33-34 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Mark 10:29-31 Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Psalm 144:13-15 The Amplified Bible

Let our barns be full, supplying every kind of produce, And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; Let our cattle bear Without mishap and without loss, And let there be no outcry in our streets! How blessed and favored are the people in such circumstance; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored] are the people whose God is the LORD!

[christophe76460]

Bath-Shéba (ou ce que Dieu peut faire d’une vie en ruine)

« Qui est un Dieu comme toi, pardonnant l’iniquité… ? » Michée 7:18

Chacun des lecteurs du récit de 2Samuel 11 s’est certainement demandé si cette femme « très belle à voir » qui se baignait était une séductrice ou une imprudente. Toujours est-il que le résultat a été un désastre pour sa vie. Quel bouleversement dans la vie de cette femme quand elle a réalisé qu’elle était enceinte (il suffit d’un moment pour ruiner une vie). Comment sa famille réagira-t-elle ? En Israël, selon la loi, David et Bath-Shéba auraient dû mourir tous les deux. Est-ce cela qui l’attendait ? Quand son mari Urie reviendrait du siège de Rabba et l’apprendrait, serait-il le premier à jeter la pierre dans sa colère ou sa souffrance ? Qu’allait être sa vie maintenant et celle de l’enfant ?

Quelque temps plus tard, elle apprend que son mari est mort à la bataille. Châtiment ou délivrance pour elle ? Après son deuil, David la prend chez lui. Mais la vie au palais suffira-t-elle à effacer ces mois de tourments ?

Avec la naissance qui la comble, il semble que oui ; et puis c’est un nouveau choc : l’enfant tombe malade et meurt (2Samuel 12:15-19). Son cœur de mère saigne. Dans ces moments de deuil et d’abattement, juge-t-elle sa conduite devant Dieu ? (La souffrance y conduit souvent.) Dieu garde ces secrets-là pour lui. Toujours est-il qu’il lui donne un autre enfant. Comment son cœur blessé par tant de jours de souffrance ne serait-il pas touché par la grâce de Dieu, qui porte une affection spéciale à cet enfant et, par le prophète Nathan, le fait expressément nommer Jedidia, « le bien-aimé de l’Éternel » (2Samuel 12:24-25) ?

Elle élèvera quatre fils (1Chroniques 3:5). Lors de la révolte d’Adonija, avec Nathan elle rappellera avec foi et humilité devant David la promesse de Dieu selon laquelle Salomon son fils devrait occuper le trône (1Rois 1:11-21).

Enfin, elle figurera dans la lignée glorieuse du Messie (Matthieu 1:6).

Ces récits sont un message spécial à tous ceux dont la vie a été brisée par un péché. Le Dieu de toute grâce désire relever et réhabiliter son enfant qui a péché.

[northemoonduringthenight]

When the bearers of the Ark of the Lord had advanced six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 

Then, girded with a linen ephod, he danced before the Lord with all his might, as he and all the Israelites brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of trumpets.

2Samuel 6:13-15

Artwork: Franz Carl Remp, The transfer of the Ark of the Covenant by the singing and dancing David

[ejw7]

*Artigo: RECONCILIAÇÃO E DEPOIS OFERTA*

Neste momento, Deus trabalha ardentemente nos corações, pois a amargura tem emperrado a obra divina. O Senhor concede as últimas oportunidades para acertarmos a questão do perdão. Vemos na Bíblia que Deus Se agradava muito de Davi. Ele tinha pecados e erros, mas Deus sempre o honrava em todas as coisas. Havia algo nele que agradava a Deus. Ele era um homem simples. Ele nunca se considerou maior e nem menor do que o tamanho que Deus disse que ele tinha. Davi sempre se humilhou e aceitou as repreensões do Senhor, porque a repreensão nunca é para gerar revolta e ira, mas para gerar humildade.

Precisamos saber como estamos e, mediante os arranjos diários, veremos se estamos resistindo à Palavra da verdade. Precisamos aproveitar os momentos em que Deus deseja trabalhar e restaurar todas as coisas. Temos de administrar a Palavra de Deus em nossa vida. Tenha coragem de agradar a Deus desta forma: humilhe-se na presença de Deus. Devemos ter no coração o desejo de agradar a Deus, e a única maneira é humilhando-nos. No momento em que nos "abaixarmos", Ele exaltar-nos-á. Temos de abrir o coração, para recebermos as coisas do Senhor.

Vemos em 2Samuel 16:5-8 as palavras que Davi ouviu de Simei. Quem escolheu e colocou Davi no trono foi Deus. O Senhor não chama os homens por meio de um clique mágico. Ele tem um tempo para trabalhar em todos, para aperfeiçoar. Hoje, não são poucos os cristãos que têm boca para liberar iras e injúrias e não têm comunhão com as pessoas. Somos verdadeiras "ilhas". Nós formamos "grupinhos" e não temos comunhão com todos. Precisamos analisar o nosso coração, para ver como estamos.

Todos os valentes de Davi estavam com ele, mas Abisai, valente de Davi, não sabia receber as afrontas sem se irar. Mas, Davi disse: "tu não vês que Deus está me testando, que está trabalhando em minha vida". Davi tinha todo o direito de amargurar-se, segundo a ótica humana, contra Simei, mas não fez isso. Jesus veio trazer a novidade e aprofundar as leis da velha aliança. Temos de liberar perdão e pedir perdão para depois servir ao Senhor. O Senhor purifica-nos mediante a confissão e o arrependimento. Na nova aliança, o Senhor coloca a ordem: primeiro a reconciliação e depois o servir ao Senhor. Se Jesus voltar e não tivermos acertado isso, o nosso destino será as trevas exteriores e a disciplina milenar. Não há mais tempo para cultivar ódio e ira congelada. Precisamos urgentemente nos humilhar e praticar o perdão.

_*"__A repreensão divina nunca é para gerar revolta e ira, mas para gerar humildade em nós!__"*

_Para Android:_ https://goo.gl/vBVeQa

_Para iOS:_ https://goo.gl/vSp5Sw

[a-biblia-ensina]

a.bíblia.ensina: NATÃ: A MISSÃO DE UM PROFETA - 2SAMUEL 12:1-30

[christblogtalk]

Bread of Life with Rev Ray: The Lodabar Experience! 2Samuel 9:4-5 The Lodabar Experience 2 Samuel 9:4-5 Lodabar is Lodabar was a shantytown, a slum, a place where none of us would like to live. The  word Lodabar means “no pasture”, “no word” or “no communication”

[learning2walkdaily]

April 10th- we see we could be taking away our praise from the Lord and giving it to a person instead.

2Samuel 24: 22Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. 23“Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 24However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you…

[grunkletony]

Seven prayers inspired by Jonathan Cahn's "The Return of the Gods".

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

So God created man is his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

There is no such thing as Jew and Greek, slave and freeman, male and female; for you are all one person in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach us through dreams and signs what are the rights, roles and responsibilities of transgender, intersex and non-binary people in American society down through the generations.  Help us too affirm and apply your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31 to the intersex people in our midst.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

If a man has intercourse with a man as with a woman, they both commit an abomination, they shall be put to death; their blood shall be on their own heads.  Leviticus 20:13

I grieve for you, Johnathan my brother; dear and delightful you were to me, your love for me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.  2Samuel 1:26

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach us through dreams and signs what are the rights, roles and responsibilities of Gay men in American society down through the generations. ��Help us too affirm and apply your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31 to the Gay men in our midst.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

No woman shall wear an article of man's clothing, nor shall a man put on woman's dress for those who do these things are abominations to the Lord your God.  Deuteronomy 22:5

'Do not urge me to go back and desert you,' Ruth answered.  'Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay, your people shall be my people, and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  I swear a solemn oath before the Lord your God; nothing but death shall divide us.'  Ruth 1:16-17

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach us through dreams and signs what are the rights, roles and responsibilities of Lesbians in American society down through the generations.  Help us too affirm and apply your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31 to the Lesbians in our midst.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

He had a foster-child Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, who had neither father nor mother. She was a beautiful and charming girl, and after the death of her father and mother Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.  Esther 2:7

'A curse upon him who withholds justice from the alien, the orphan and the widow'; the people shall all say 'Amen'. Deuteronomy 27:19

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach us through dreams and signs what issues of child care and maternity care have we been neglecting by obsessing over abortion.   Help us too affirm and apply your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31 to the healthcare and socio-economic issues around abortion.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

When an alien settles with you in your land, you shall not oppress him.  He shall be treated as a native born among you, and you shall love him as a man like yourself, because you were aliens in Egypt. Leviticus 19:33

He is no respecter of persons and is not to be bribed; he secures justice for widows and orphans, and loves the alien who lives among you giving him food and clothing.  You too must love the alien, for you once lived as aliens in Egypt.  Deuteronomy 10:18-19

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach our elected officials to write an ethical set of guidelines for handling immigrants and refugees coming to the United States for generations to come.  Help our elected officials too craft a comprehensive immigration policy consistent with your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

'See how the wicked string their bows and fit the arrow to the string, to shoot down honest men out of the darkness'? Psalm 11:2

Like a madman shooting at random his deadly darts and arrows. Proverbs 26:18

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach our elected officials to to pass much needed and long overdue gun regulations to bring our 2nd Amendment rights in line with your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

{God takes his stand in the court of heaven to deliver judgement among the gods themselves. Psalm 82:1

No Israelite woman shall become a temple-prostitute, and no Israelite man shall prostitute himself in this way. Deuteronomy 23:17

When he had entered Capernaum a centurion came up to ask his help. 'Sir,' He said, 'a boy of mine lies at home paralyzed and racked with pain.' Mathew 8:5-6

Heavenly Father, god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Holy Spirit teach us through dreams and historical and anthropological records on boy-wives and pederasty how to craft boy-wife, and child-bride customs for ourselves and our posterity down through the generations that are consistent with your son’s teaching to “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mathew 22:39 and to “Treat others as you would like them to treat you” Luke 6:31.  We ask in Jesus' name, Amen!}

Just in case it's not clear I think the move to legalize child bride marriages in red states is nothing more than legalized pedophilia.

[yhwhrulz]

Wayside Chapel Daily Devotional 24th March 2024

3/24 Numbers 15:39

39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.

How many times have you heard someone say, "Let your heart lead you"? If your heart is to do the will of God, that can be a good thing (2Samuel 7:3). But in most cases our heart is what gets us in trouble. We are born with a propensity toward evil. Our eyes, like Eve's, cause us to lust after the forbidden (Genesis 3:6). That was why the Lord had the Israelites take the threads of their clothing and end it in a tassel. Orthodox Jews would make the tassel of 613 threads and tie them with five knots. Each thread was for an Old Testament law and each knot for a book of the Torah. This was the "fringe of His garment" that the woman with an issue of blood touched (Matthew 9:20).

The physical reminder was given to keep their hearts in the right place. The LORD used an illustrative term "inclined to whore after," to describe our hearts. We fall in love, or perhaps "lust" is a better word, with forbidden things. God's word tells us what is safe and wholesome and that is why we need reminders. They can steer our hearts and minds back in the right direction.

This is one function of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. He gently speaks to our hearts when they "whore after" things that are forbidden. We don't have the tassels today, but we should have other reminders that are constantly with us. Some carry a Bible or have Scripture handy as an electronic device app. Others wear some kind of symbol such as a cross or a fish. Better still, a routine of Bible reading, memorization, prayer and fellowship will guard our hearts. Do you have a reminder to keep your heart in check?

Consider: Even a new creation in Christ needs continual reminders to keep our hearts and minds in the Spirit. Are your reminders working for you, or do you need to add some additional ones?

[christophe76460]

Avant la ruine, le cœur de l’homme s’élève ; {Proverbe 18:12}

Il y a un vieux proverbe populaire qui dit que les événements à venir projettent leurs ombres devant eux. L’homme sage nous enseigne qu’un cœur arrogant est le prélude prophétique du mal. L’orgueil est le signe aussi certain de la destruction que le changement du mercure dans le baromètre est le signe certain de la pluie, et il est encore plus infaillible ! Quand les hommes sont devenus fiers et arrogants, la destruction les a toujours frappés. Laissons le cœur brisé de David nous montrer que la gloire de l’homme est éclipsée lorsqu’il se vante de sa propre grandeur. {2Samuel 24:10} Voyez Nebucadnetsar, le puissant bâtisseur de Babylone, rampant sur le sol, mangeant de l’herbe comme les bœufs, jusqu’à ce que ses ongles aient poussé comme des griffes d’oiseaux et ses cheveux comme les plumes de l’aigle. {Daniel 4:33}

L’orgueil transforme le fanfaron en animal sauvage, comme auparavant il transforma un ange en diable. Dieu hait les regards hautains et ne manque jamais de les abaisser. Toutes les flèches de Dieu sont dirigées sur les cœurs fiers. Ô chrétien ! Est-ce que ton cœur est arrogant ce soir ? Car l’orgueil peut entrer dans le cœur du chrétien aussi bien que dans celui du pécheur. Il peut l’amener à rêver, à croire qu’il est riche en biens matériels, qu’il n’a besoin de rien. Est-ce que vous vous glorifiez de vos grâces et de vos talents ? Êtes-vous fier de vous-même parce que vous avez montré des dispositions saintes et eu des expériences agréables ?

Notez-le, lecteur, il y a une destruction qui viendra sur vous également. Ces champs de coquelicots de vanité vont être arrachés à la racine ; ces fleurs vont dépérir, s’étioler dans la chaleur ardente et votre auto-suffisance deviendra comme la paille sur le tas de fumier. Si nous oublions de vivre au pied de la croix dans la plus profonde humilité d’esprit, Dieu n’oubliera pas de nous corriger avec son bâton. Une destruction, non pas de votre âme, mais de vos joies, de vos conforts et de votre fierté viendra sur vous, Ô croyant excessivement exalté. Pour cette raison, que celui qui se glorifie, se glorifie dans le Seigneur. {1Corinthiens 1:31}