Title: Fiction of pride/Judges 12:1-4
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| 14 Fiction of self-esteem |
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Judges 12:1-4
If it can be said that self-esteem is "to raise one's dignity," it is Mordecai who raised the pride of the nation and kept the integrity of faith. Haman the Amalekite, who had been an enemy of the people of Israel, was favored by the king in the Persian Empire and became prime minister. So, in accordance with the king's command, all the king's servants in the court politely knelt and bowed down whenever Haman passed by.
1. The tribe of Ephraim did not share in the joy of their neighbors because of their false pride.
2. Because of their pride, the tribe of Ephraim did not participate in the sufferings of their neighbors.
Those with strong self-esteem are selfish. When Jephthah felt threatened during the battle of war, he asked for help from the Ephraimites, but was refused. At that time, they may have been lucky that they did not go to war. These people do not take care of their sufferings, only showing their pride to the poor or those in suffering. Rather, they are those who exploit them with power.
3. The tribe of Ephraim only looked at the weaknesses of the other side.
The apostle Paul also confessed in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives." Those who claim their self and pride cannot receive Christ as their Savior. Moreover, it is impossible to be used as a servant of Christ.
Another incident in the text is that God raised judges even in times of peace, but the mission of the judges in times of trouble is to save them. In times of peace, the mission of the judges is to educate Israel with the word of God so that they do not fall again. will be However, if you are appointed as judges and forget their mission during peaceful times and pursue your own pleasures, you will be disloyal judges. Ibsan, who was established after Jephthah, was called in a time of peace.
His job would be to reorganize Israel in a time of peace and educate them so that they do not fall, but he neglects to supervise so that sin does not seep into Israel while enjoying his abundance. The mission of the judges is important in times of peace because there are more temptations in times of abundance than in times of trouble, and because it is easier for the rich to become more arrogant than the poor and to leave God.
Today is the time of material abundance and the abundance of the Word. In times like these, we should be more vigilant and awake and approach God.