Full Of Boasting

“Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” Psalms 94:12-13 NIV. 

Reflection: why are the wicked full of arrogance and boasting? 

It seems so backwards. The people of God, who have the spirit of the living God in them and are continually seeking truth, seeking to do good and what is right, and truly have something to boast about (in God), but are the humble ones. Instead, those who are wicked, doing what is wrong, full of corruption, deception and lies, and are heading for destruction, for eternal separation of all that is good, are the ones who are arrogant and boastful. I’m sure you have noticed this too. You can even see this behavior in what should be the most clear, the most obvious social issues that you would think should be so crystal clear to everyone, of what is right and what is wrong. But, we can see many choosing wrong, and then being boasting about it, and demanding others to support and celebrate their choice. It doesn’t make any sense. 

It is the power of the enemy. 

And it is the battle we are in. This is not a new battle. It just changes shape. And, for those battling on the side of devil, the fall seems to always follow some consistent characteristics.  It start with the idea of challenging God, as the devil has done from the beginning. Challenging what God has said “Did God really say…” Genesis 3:1b NIV. And, secondly, there is a false promise given by the devil “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.” Genesis 3:4 NIV. And, finally, the third part of the deception, to be like God  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 NIV.  This idea, this thought of not needing God stems from the original rebellion in Heaven, as the devil wanted to be, which was his fall. 

So the boasting, the arrogance is really grounded in a rebellion against God. And then, in this light, the boasting makes more sense. Which is why we can understand why God hates it so deeply. Notice “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Psalms 10:4 NIV. “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5 NIV. “The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day,” Isaiah 2:17 NIV.

In psalm 94, we see a reflection that the people of God wrestled with the same question. “The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.”” Psalms 94:1-7 NIV. It could have been written from what is going on all around us today, right? 

So, is it wrong then to be proud, even boastful of our achievements, our successes, even those we have worked hard for? Let’s look at what actually the Lord says about being boastful “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV. Pretty clear language. 

So let’s check ourselves. Do we have a tendency to be boastful and self promoting? Have we heard from others that we are arrogant? Or are we humble at heart, which pleases the Lord? “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 NIV. The psalmist therefore concludes about his own attitude and actions “But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.” Psalms 94:22-23 NIV. Let us leave the vengeance to the Lord. 

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