Thematic Bible: Self-exaltation


Thematic Bible



The king uttered these words: "Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?" Verse ConceptsBabylon, History OfAchievementLove, Abuse OfLuxuryPride, Examples OfSelfishnessStrength, HumanTreasureSeeking Honourroyalty


Now Herod was having an angry quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they joined together and presented themselves before him. And after convincing Blastus, the king's personal assistant, to help them, they asked for peace, because their country's food supply was provided by the king's country. On a day determined in advance, Herod put on his royal robes, sat down on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them. But the crowd began to shout, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" read more.
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read: "This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: 'Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege? Hezekiah says, "The Lord our God will rescue us from the power of the king of Assyria." But he is misleading you and you will die of hunger and thirst! read more.
Hezekiah is the one who eliminated the Lord's high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem, "At one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices." Are you not aware of what I and my predecessors have done to all the nations of the surrounding lands? Have the gods of the surrounding lands actually been able to rescue their lands from my power? Who among all the gods of these nations whom my predecessors annihilated was able to rescue his people from my power? Now don't let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don't believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how can your gods rescue you from my power?'" Sennacherib's servants further insulted the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah. He wrote letters mocking the Lord God of Israel and insulting him with these words: "The gods of the surrounding nations could not rescue their people from my power. Neither can Hezekiah's god rescue his people from my power." They called out loudly in the Judahite dialect to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, trying to scare and terrify them so they could seize the city. They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth.

"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'This is what the sovereign Lord says: "'Your heart is proud and you said, "I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas" -- yet you are a man and not a god, though you think you are godlike. Verse ConceptsAmbition, negative aspects ofComplacencyExaggerationsHeart, Fallen And RedeemedLove, Abuse OfPride, Evil OfPride, Examples OfRulersSelf ConfidenceSelf Righteousness, Nature OfSin, Causes OfSuperiorityAudacitySelf ExaltationArrogantly Like GodIn The Heart Of The SeaMen As GodsProud Peoplelimitations

Will you still say, "I am a god," before the one who kills you -- though you are a man and not a god -- when you are in the power of those who wound you? Verse ConceptsMen As Godsartists

Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders of the community, chosen from the assembly, famous men. And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the Lord?"

Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone -- gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways! Verse ConceptsDeafnessFaultsConcubinesGovernmentGreed, Condemnation OfHand Of GodIronLife, HumanUnreliabilityDrinking WineGod Giving BreathIdols Not SeeingBeing Without UnderstandingNature Of GodOther WivesTemple Utensils RemovedWood And StoneBronze For Idols

You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them. Verse ConceptsAnimal Sacrifices, Meal OfferingSeeking Honour

Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. Verse ConceptsClaimsPride, Examples OfSelf ConfidenceSuperiorityBoastersGreat IndividualsSorcerymagic

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