God had warned Israel not to fall into this trap in Deuteronomy 8:11-20: Even though God made the king successful, the king boasted as if he did it all on his own. What’s missing from this way of talking? What did the King of Assyria leave out? God.

They share the latest tales of their abilities and accomplishments, and the contrasting stupidity of everyone else. (You might be the type.) When you get together, dialogue quickly shifts to monologue. “Look what I did.” “It was like taking candy from a baby.” “I told that cashier ‘Not on my watch’ and made them get their manager.” “I saw through their nonsense and gave them a piece of my mind.” “All those idiots just don’t get it.”īeware of people who boast about themselves. Or opened the mouth or chirped.” (Isaiah 10:13-14) Like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones.Īnd as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, “By the strength of my hand I have done it,Īnd by my wisdom, for I have understanding He had an “arrogant heart” and a “boastful look in his eyes.” Arrogance is Revealed in Speech and Perspective The King of Assyria clothed himself in arrogance. (Matthew 5:5)Ĭlothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. But God means for his people to be meek and humble.īlessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Sometimes it seems like arrogance is required to get ahead in this world. It’s tempting to envy and emulate arrogant people. He often assures his people that their arrogant enemies will get what they deserve.Īnd delight themselves in abundant peace.

God wants Israel to know that when he gets done correcting them, it will be Assyria’s turn. When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.

Though God plans to use the arrogant Assyrians to correct his people, he will not ignore their boasting. Isaiah 10:12-19 is our passage and arrogance is our theme.

He bumbled hos way into a second