Sermon Tone Analysis

Proverbs 6:16-19   \\ There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

\\ \\ What does this mean, “six things the LORD hates” but yet there are “seven that are detestable to him?”

You can plainly count the number of things listed and find seven, so why does it even mention there “are six things the LORD hates?” \\ \\ First of all, the number seven that we see in this text and throughout the Bible does not indicate perfection, but completeness.

God has a complete hatred of these things.

They are things that reveal the complete depravity of humans, and the total lack of godliness.

\\

Second, this list is not exclusive.

\\ What is basically being said in this text is: The list is complete of the things God hates - all sin.

But here is only a small representation of those things, in fact, here are six of them.

The Hebrew  fixes on a certain number (here “six”), in order to call attention as to a thing of importance; then increases the force by adding, with a “yea or nay seven,” the next higher number; here “seven,” the sacred and perfect number.

In all possible troubles; not merely in the precise number “seven.”

\\ This formula of X and X+1 is used several times throughout the Bible.

Job 5:19 He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

Proverbs 30:15-16 The leech has two daughters -- Give and Give!

There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, "Enough!":

The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water -- And the fire never says, "Enough!"

(Horse-Leech has two tongues and sucks the blood of its victim but it is never satisfied)

Proverbs 30:18-19 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the air, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the midst of the sea, And the way of a man with a virgin.

Proverbs 30:21-23 For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up: For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food, A hateful woman when she is married, And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.

(This same formula also appears in Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13 and 2:1, 4, and 6)

PRIDE IS THE OLDEST SIN \\

Pride is defined as “a reasonable or justifiable self-respect; or improper and excessive self-esteem known as conceit or arrogance.”

Paul expresses a positive kind of pride when speaking of confidence in Christians (2 Cor 7:4) or of strength in the Lord (2 Cor 12:5, 9).

However, it is the latter sinful meaning of pride which most frequently appears in the Bible.

The 10 Hebrew and 2 Greek words generally used for pride refer to being high or exalted in attitude, the opposite of the virtue of humility, which is so often praised and rewarded by God.

One other Greek word refers to a person's being puffed up or inflated with pride or egotism.

Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart and spirit.

Examples of proud people can be found in both Testaments.

Pride was the downfall of King Uzziah who, because of this sin, dared to offer incense on the altar of incense and was stricken with leprosy as his punishment from God (2 Chr 26:16).

King Uzziah BEFORE he became proud

He was successful with his foreign affairs

He was successful with his domestic affairs

He was successful with his military affairs

\\ King Uzziah AFTER he let pride drive a wedge in his relationship with God \\ He burned incense on his own (Only priests could burn incense)

His pride turned into anger \\ He was disgraced at his death \\ \\ King Uzziah would normally have been buried in a tomb with the other kings of Israel, but because of his leprosy, a result of his sin, he was buried in a cemetery that was next to the tomb of the kings.

Hezekiah, after his healing by the Lord, became proud of heart and brought wrath upon himself, Judah, and Jerusalem (2 Chr 32:25, 26).

The Pharisee in the temple, praying and comparing himself with the humble tax collector, is another example (Lk 18:9-14).

Herod's refusal to give God the glory for his greatness brought judgment from God and he was eaten by worms and died for his sin of pride (Acts 12:21-23).

Satan 

You said in your heart, “I will ascend to Heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountains.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:13-15) \\ The sin that we find here committed by Satan is the sin of pride.

The Hebrew word for pride here means “to lift up.”

It was this attitude that drove Satan to try to lift himself up above all else, including God.

\\ Pride Will Drive A Wedge In Our Relationship With GOD And With Others.

\\ \\ Besides being sin that can entrap us, pride is something that will very quickly separate us more and more from God. \\

Pride Opens The Door To A Host Of  Other Sins.

When it comes to basic descriptions, pride is an attitude that focuses undue attention on one self.

For example, we give in to greed when we feel that SELF does not have enough;

We give in to envy when we feel that SELF has not received its due, and honor has gone to someone “less” deserving;

We most often give in to anger when SELF is offended;

We give in to a critical spirit when SELF-ESTEEM has been injured;

We feel resentment when our own SELF is threatened by of others.

\\ The remedy from Scripture is very simple.

Counter the vice with an opposite, and more powerful virtue.

\\ What is that virtue that we can remedy pride with?

Humility \\ Confess and repent

Don't take yourself too seriously

This is the part the Pharisees couldn't get past.

They really thought they were too important to have to be humble.

King Uzziah became so prideful that he didn't think that he needed to be humble \\

Philippians 2:3

Consider others better than yourselves \\ \\ Remember the example of Christ - He took “the form of a servant” even washing the disciples feet.

Ask for cleansing - Both for areas you know about and for the great unknown area that we all have, especially when it comes to the sin of pride.

\\ Psalm 19:12

Cleanse me from my secret faults \\ Remember that spiritual pride is one of the most unseen dangers of our lives.

It is like an iceberg, the most dangerous part of it lies beneath the surface.

We don't have it within ourselves to be able to cure ourselves, even if we could see the entire problem.

The remedy must lie with our trust in the God who “looks at the heart.”

\\ God hates sin.

His word is clear about that.

Luke 1:51-52 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.