Feeding the Animal of Pride

578 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 17:9-11, "Surely by now he is hidden in some pit, or in some other place. And it will be, when some of them are overthrown at the first, that whoever hears it will say, 'There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.' 10 "And even he who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt completely. For all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 "Therefore I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. (2 Sam 17:9-11) Hushai seeks to buy David some time by thwarting the advice of Ahithophel. He reminds Absalom of David's past battlefield strategies involving ambush. David was a master at guerrilla warfare and even now was likely holed up in a place where he would be able to spring a surprise attack on any unwitting enemy. Hushai has already thrown out words like a mama bear protecting her cubs and now uses the word valiant to describe David and his men. This would stir up memories of past battlefield exploits of David and send a few chills down the spine of Absalom and his men. Then Hushai plays to Absalom's pride. Why not go after David with all the men of Israel, and YOU lead the way. Imagine the press clippings as you move out from Jerusalem with such a massive army of loyal soldiers led by their new king. Pride. The chink in the armor of Absalom, and a huge chink in our armor as well. The Bible has much to say about pride: For instance we know that, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, (James 4:6) and Pr 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” Ps 138:6 says, “Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.” And in Col 3:12 we are admonished to “clothe ourselves in humility.” Pride is an animal easily roused and easily fed, our flesh always wants to think more highly of itself than it ought. Resist the flattery of the flesh and remember that “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov 16:18) Father, guard our hearts from pride.