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It is difficult to see what those whom the prophet was addressing had to proud of; but it is certain that they were proud, and that thereby they were, more than by aught else, hindered from receiving the word of God. The inflated shape, the mean material, and the easily destroyed nature of those" bottles" to which he had likened them, as well as the arrogant boastful talk of the drunkard, whose doings theirs he predicted should resemble; both these comparisons show how vividly the prophet discerned in them this besetting sin of pride, and the ruin it would be sure to work them. Let us, therefore, note -

I. SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THIS EXHORTATION, "Be not proud."

1. The main reason which the prophet here urges is its antagonism to the Word of God. Now, such antagonism cannot but be, for:

(1) The Word of God despises what men most esteem.

(a) Their own moral worth. How high men's estimate of this! how low that of the Word of God!

(b) Their own capacities. Man deems himself capable of self-support, self-deliverance, and self-salvation. The Word of God tells him he is utterly dependent on God for all things, be he who he may.

(c) The world - its maxims, honors, wealth, etc.

(2) It esteems what men most despise.

(a) Such qualities of mind as meekness, forgiveness of injuries, humility, indifference to the world, great regard to the unseen and the spiritual.

(b) Persons who have nothing but moral excellence to recommend them, be they poor, obscure, and despicable in the world's esteem.

(c) Courses of life which may involve "the loss of all things," so only as we "may be accepted of him."

2. Its other terrible fruits. Some of these are given in the verses following. It will not suffer men to give glory to God; it leads men into deadly peril (Ver. 16). It causes deep distress to those who care for their souls; it will end in their utter ruin (Ver. 17).

II. How OBEDIENCE MAY BE RENDERED TO IT. Probably there is nothing but that threefold work of the Holy Spirit of which our Lord speaks which will ensure such obedience. Pride is too deeply rooted in the hearts of men to yield to any lesser force but:

1. The conviction of sin - destroying all man's self-complacency.

2. Of righteousness - filling him at the same time with admiration of the righteousness of Christ, with despair of attainment of it, but with joy that, though he cannot have it in himself, he yet has it by virtue of his faith in Christ.

3. Of judgment - destroying the supremacy of the world over his mind, and so delivering him from the temptation to its pride. This work of the Holy Spirit lays the axe at the root of the tree, and ere long hews it down. Let, then, this Holy Spirit be sought in all sincerity, and let his guidance be ever followed; so shall "the mind of Christ" be increasingly formed in us, and we shall learn of him who was "meek and lowly in heart," and so find rest in our Souls. - C.

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KJV: Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

WEB: Hear, and give ear; don't be proud; for Yahweh has spoken.