Of the various themes I notice as I read through the Bible, pride emerges again and again. Like roaches living through nuclear destruction, pride never dies.

The authors of scripture hammer against pride. Proverbs 16:5 serves as a good example—The Lord detests all the proud of heart. The sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

To what type of pride does Solomon refer? Pride in hard work, or an accomplishment, or as a proud papa? Not so much. Think more of arrogance, of boldly opposing the Lord, of setting our will against God’s will.

“Detests” slaps me in the face. I hear a lot about the love of God, but I rarely catch a word about this quality of heart the Lord detests. You could say the Lord abhors, the Lord despises, the Lord loathes people reveling in opposition to his will.

Which gives me pause. We live in the most openly narcissistic period in the history of the world. Humans have always been self-focused, but the encouragement to flaunt myself across every available platform appears truly modern. As I join the party, I skate ever closer to the pride of heart the Lord detests.

Satan’s fall resulted from his pride, hoping to make himself equal to the Lord. Should we be surprised that this remains the most effective trap he lays in our path today?

I know where my excessive pride leads. Solomon warned me with this true-through-the-ages principle (contradicting the shouts of cultural influencers)—Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Proverbs 16 in week twenty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Artem Page