The plague of pride (2 Nephi 13)

Remember after he received the 10 Commandments from The Lord how Charlton Heston Moses walked down off Mt. Horeb to find the children of Israel in open rebellion against God, and worshiping a golden calf? 

Charlton Heston Moses was pretty ticked off.  I was a little bewildered myself.  I mean, these people saw some stuff, right?

Not to mention the 10 plagues in Egypt...

So, why did the children of Israel rebel so often, and get lost in sin?  Seems pretty dumb of those folks...

Oh shoot!!!  I do the same thing!!!  Man, I hate it when I do that!!! 

WHY??? 

I'm brushin' up on lookin' down, I'm workin' on my roar.

Pride!!!

2 Nephi 13: 8-11

8.  For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongues and their doings have been against The Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory.

9.  The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it.  Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!

10.  Say unto the righteous that it is well with them; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

11.  Wo unto the wicked, for they shall perish; for the reward of their hands shall be upon them.

 

We will all receive the consequences of our own sin.  That is, unless someone else takes upon Himself those consequences.  When we repent, Christ pleads our case in love, and provides the mercy that saves us.  If we don't, Christ judges our case in love, but must abide by the justice that is necessary. 

2 Nephi 13: 13

13.  The Lord standeth up to plead and standeth to judge the people.

Photo by Steve Bloom

Did you hear about the cannibal lion who finally humbled himself?  He swallowed his pride. 

The last part of 2 Nephi 13 is about the inevitable fall that follows pride.  It talks about women who wear too much jewelry, and make a tinkling sound as they go.  I always thought these verses were pretty funny.

24.  And it shall come to pass, instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth; burning instead of beauty.

Let's all be humble instead of bald, long-necked, stinky girls.  Isaiah is just giving a warning to Israel about pride, which is apparently what leads people toward wrong choices. 

Remember, the greatest example of humility was He who had the best reason not to be...

Next time we'll talk about the Provo Temple...

Peace be with you.