August 28th~Too Big For Your Britches?

Lamentations 5:1-22

Obadiah 1:1-21
2

Kings 25:22-26

Jeremiah 40:7-41:18

We finished Jeremiah’s book of Lamentations. He summarized the situation in Jerusalem in detailed fashion and recorded the sentiment of the people, “The joy of our hearts has ended; our dancing has turned to mourning. The garlands have fallen from our heads. Disaster has fallen upon us because we have sinned.” However, Jeremiah ended on a positive note, “But Lord, You remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. Restore us and bring us back to You again” (5:19-22).

Jeremiah also recorded for us some of the chaos that ensued after the fall of Jerusalem. Though the Babylonians had established their own governor, Gedaliah, there were discontent guerilla forces working behind the scenes as well. Ishmael, a member of the royal family, was sent by the Ammonites to murder Gedaliah and his staff and make a power play for control of Judah; however, Johanan and his men believed that the Jews would be better off under Babylonian control for a while. The showdown between them left dozens of people dead and the land without law and order. Thus, the people prepared to flee the country, fearing the anger and return of Nebuchadnezzar.

Finally, we read the book of Obadiah, which consists of one chapter of prophecy aimed at the nation of Edom. Instead of assisting Jerusalem in its time of need, the Edomites helped the Babylonians in capturing or killing escapees. This decision angered the Lord, who vowed revenge. His message was pointed and powerful, “You are proud because you live in a rock for- tress and make your home high in the mountains. Who can ever reach us way up here, you ask boastfully. Don’t fool yourselves! Though you soar as high as eagles and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you crashing down!” (1:3, 4).

Daily Reflection

When I was a boy and I would smart off or defy my mother somehow, she would respond with a common idiom that I did not understand at the time. She would say, “You’re getting too big for your britches!” Britches, or breeches, are pants. That was mom’s way of saying I was becoming prideful, and my pride was making me feel bigger or more important than I really was. She would also say, “You’re aimin’ for a whoopin’,” which meant that I was dangerously close to getting spanked! That was enough for me to change my behavior.

Have you ever felt too big for your britches? What is it about pride that makes you feel bigger or more important than you really are?

Pride is deceiving. It makes you think more highly of yourself than you ought. Pride can be the result of experiencing unchecked success, reaching an important position, gaining power, obtaining wealth or possessions, etc. Pride has a way of causing you to focus on your strengths and to overlook your flaws. You begin to think that you are bigger and better than others. You might even believe, at some point, that you are untouchable, like the Edomites, who lived in rock fortresses high in the mountains. “Who can touch us up here,” they boasted.

Beware! God is opposed to the proud. His response to the Edomites was, “I will cut you down to size” (1:2). No one is untouchable! Pride usually comes before a fall. If you become too big for your britches, you will only be aimin’ for a whoopin’!

BiAY.org | Day 240 — 125 Days to Go