BEWARE THE SIN OF PRIDE
(1 CHRONICLES 21:1-17)

Nee-Keng Tan

We often mention about David’s sin of adultery. Very rarely do we talk about his sin as recorded in 1 Chronicles 21 and the parallel account in 2 Samuel 24. This morning, we will look at this account to learn about the sin of pride which is the topic of my sermon.

What was David’s sin? It was to count the number of people in Israel. In verse 3 we read of Joab sounding out to David not to be "a cause of trespass to Israel" by counting the people. It appears that David wanted to see how great his nation was by finding out the number of people he had. It was David and not God who wanted to know this. From the figures that were given to him after the count, we see that it was not just the number of people he was interested in, he wanted to know the number of "men that drew the sword". In modern days, when a newspaper or magazine wants to compare the military strength of two countries, they will list the number of soldiers each country has, as well as the number of fighter planes and tanks. Yes, David wanted to know his military might, to boast of his superiority over the nations around him. It reminds us of how Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon boasted that it was he who made Babylon great. However, he was made to behave like an animal until he acknowledged that God was the One who made his kingdom what it was. This is the sin of pride. The person simply thinks too highly of himself. David was a great man of God, one after God’s own heart, yet he fell into this sin.

What about us? It is indeed a warning for us. God willing, we will be pastoring churches, heading Bible colleges or taking care of various church ministries. When the groups we oversee grow in number and in spiritual maturity, it is very easy for us to fall into a similar sin. Will we start comparing with other pastors on the number of members we have or the number of churches that we have established? It is not wrong to take stock of how much our ministry has grown, to give thanks to the Lord, to praise Him for the work He has done for us, but how easy it is for us to translate such knowledge into proud boasting. Let us beware.

How did David fall into this sin? Satan was at work, for we read in verse 1 that "… Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." But he did not force David to sin. He might have put thoughts into David’s mind that caused him to want to number the people. Was his nation truly great? He may have wanted the population figures to confirm it. Although Satan tempted him, David did not have to yield to it. It’s just like if someone comes to you and tries to provoke you to a fight, you can choose not to do so. Being tempted is not sin, but yielding to temptation is sin, as the hymn we sang tells us, "Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin." 1 Cor 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." There was a warning given to David to tell him that what he was doing was sinful. Joab saw that David was falling into sin and tried to make David realise it, as we have seen in verse 3. But then, the next verse tells us that "the king’s word prevailed against Joab." David would not listen to Joab. This truly shows David’s proud heart at that time. Proverbs 21:4 says "An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin." It was a double sin of pride for David. The capital "I" prevailed. Notice that the middle letter of the word "SIN" is "I" and the middle letter of "PRIDE" is also "I." Be careful of "I", "me" and "myself". When we focus too much on ourselves, the sin of pride enters easily. How we need to always focus on God instead of self.

When I started studying full-time at FEBC last semester, I remember enjoying the lectures because there was so much that I learnt, especially as it was presented in such a systematic way. But soon I started having that superiority complex in terms of Biblical knowledge when I talked to brethren in the church and elsewhere. Isn’t 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 true when it says "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know." Thank God for the reminders that we receive from our lecturers, I quickly threw such thoughts out of my mind. Furthermore, I realised that that knowledge was just a small part of what we should equip ourselves with during our studies here. I was also humbled when I found myself struggling with writing papers and critiques.

I know that was not the end of all my struggles against pride, for our "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet 5:8). This semester, the lectures on the Asian Awakening by our principal have been very interesting, especially as he has been leading us in singing many songs. However, it did not seem very challenging intellectually. We learnt how John Sung took out a loaf of bread or a miniature Chinese coffin to illustrate or make vivid his sermon. We learnt a number of the songs he used in his revival meetings. It can make us think we are ready to hold evangelistic meetings like John Sung! However, when we sang the songs and choruses again and again, I realised that which was so lacking in me. It is the power of the Holy Spirit, and this is the most important! The things we have learnt are like the parts of a motor car engine, and the Holy Spirit’s power is like the petrol that flows to the engine. Without any petrol flowing into the engine, all the parts cannot move. They may be the most precise parts made according to the best design, without petrol flowing in, the engine is dead. Similarly, all the techniques that we have learnt are of no use without the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

What are the consequences of pride? Dr Jeffrey Khoo, in his book Fundamentals of the Christian Faith, quotes Dr Chia Yu Ming of Spiritual Training Theological Seminary, Nanking, China, as saying "The sins of the spirit are ten times worse than the sins of the flesh." Pride is one of the sins of the spirit.

Proverbs 16:5 says, "Every one who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." God hates the proud and so there are serious consequences for one who falls into the sin of pride. Lucifer is doomed to be "cast into the lake of fire and brimstone" (Rev 20:10) because of his pride. David was not spared either. Although he repented (verse 8) he still had to face the consequences of his sin. God gave David three choices. David chose that which did not put him into the hands of man but into the hands of God. God then sent pestilence and 70,000 men died. It was also an appropriate lesson for David. He wanted to glory in the number of people he had in his kingdom. Now this figure was much reduced.

The sin of pride can be committed, even by those who have been close to God. God hates this sin. Pride brings about serious consequences. As we get equipped for our future ministries, we will gain much knowledge, understanding and skills. We become very fertile ground for Satan to plant the seed of pride in us. God gives us opportunities to cast it out of our lives (the way of escape mentioned in 1 Cor 10:13). Let us do so.