Proverbs 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

In reading this verse this morning I felt I was to write on it, but then I checked other translations, and was shocked! The ESV and the Japanese agree, but the NIV is very different. One of the difficulties of Hebrew is that it is written in consonants, with vowels indicated with marks like punctuation. That can lead to such things as the long-held misunderstanding that the name God gave for Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14) was Jehovah, when the current understanding is that it was Yahweh. That, coupled with the fact that every language has homophones, words that sound the same but with different meanings, and you get what we have here. Where the ESV and the Japanese say, “the lamp/flame of the wicked,” the NIV says “the unplowed field of the wicked.” That threw me for a loop! In any case, the point that caught me as I read is that pride and haughtiness are sin. Recent news events are what made this jump out at me. Every human being is deeply flawed, which is why we need a Savior. However, God allows events in our lives to point those flaws out to us and give us opportunity to repent. One of the most polarizing people in the world today is Donald Trump. He was the darling of the media and the “glitterati” until he became a politician espousing common-sense changes to the system. Those policies gave him quite a following, but his pride, his reaction when attacked, has been an issue that has made him hard for many to accept. Yesterday, watching video from the Republican National Convention, I saw a very different Donald Trump. Coming within millimeters of having his head blown open seems to have knocked the haughtiness out of his eyes, and that is a very good thing indeed. From the very first reports after the assassination attempt, he has seemed to be very aware that God spared his life, and it looks like he has repented of his pride. If that is indeed the case, it is a very good thing indeed, both for him and for the nation, not to mention the world. The spiritual battle is intense, even when it doesn’t spill over into physical violence, and we are not immune from deception. We need to stand strong, but not in pride. As James said, we must submit first to God, and then resist the devil. (James 4:7) From that position of humility and strength, we are to pray for our leaders and for our neighbors, that the lies of the enemy may be defeated and God’s rule and reign be established, for His glory.

I didn’t like Donald Trump at all when he was simply a media personality, but his policies as president won me over. That said, I continue to be amazed at the depth of Trump Derangement Syndrome I see displayed with great intensity, even by my own relatives, and very intelligent relatives at that. I have come close to serious rifts with people who are very dear to me, and that pleases no one but the devil. Of all people, I should be aware that pride is sin, period, and walk in loving humility, without letting go of the truth. We live in a sinful world, but we are no longer of the world (John 17:14-15) and I must not act like the world. I have no wisdom or strength to get it right on my own, but God is able to do anything, and I am to be fully submitted to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I get very upset at the blindness of people I love, but I have certainly been blind about a lot of things. May I continue to grow as You intend, extending Your grace and love to those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!