Haughtiness
I want to explore a specific type of haughtiness- everybody's natural belief that they are better than those around them and their natural desire to dominate. This is the trait that underlies all competition in our lives. When we compete we are involved in a battle of the egos where we try and exert our superiority. This post will not be a thorough investigation of the area but rather a quick outline of the general characteristics of such a person guided by Shlomo Hamelech:
טז שֶׁשׁ-הֵנָּה, שָׂנֵא יְהוָה; וְשֶׁבַע, תועבות (תּוֹעֲבַת) נַפְשׁוֹ. יז עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת, לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר; וְיָדַיִם, שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם-נָקִי. יח לֵב--חֹרֵשׁ, מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן; רַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת, לָרוּץ לָרָעָה. יט יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים, עֵד שָׁקֶר; וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים, בֵּין אַחִים.
16. There are six things that the Lord hates, and they stem from a seventh which is an abomination of His soul;
17. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
18. a heart that thinks thoughts of violence; feet that hasten to run to evil;
19. [one who] speaks lies with false testimony and incites quarrels among brothers.
There are six general principles defining this type of haughty person
Method of action: He lies (17) and he gives false testimony (19). He lies about himself and his own qualities- i.e. he tries to bring himself up and make himself better than those around him by presenting himself as not who he really is.
He gives false testimony- meiri explains that this is not necessarily in court- but in general he will also lie to destroy those around him- by bringing them down and destroying their reputation.
Full expression of his character: he sheds inoccent blood(17)-The full expression of his character is a murderer who seeks to destroy those around him. Underlying all of his haugtiness there is an actual drive to destroy anybody that challenges him. Though for most people the full expression isn’t realized, the character of trying to dominate partakes of the same qualities as that of a murderer's.
Where his energies lie: All his energies lie in thoughts of violence. He is completely preoccupied with how he can destroy those around him and how he can dominate them. His thoughts will be spent on elaborate planning and deception. The haughty person is not stupid.
He is overly self confident: his feet hasten to run to evil(18) -He is completely confident in everything he does - Hitler famously said "I follow my course with the precision and security of a sleepwalker." When a person has such an aggrandized view of his greatness and is so intent on dominating those around him he will not have any doubts about his right and will to dominate.
He breaks all identification with people: He is so focused on dominating others that he breaks all identification with people. He has no respect for any type of relationship including the relationship between brothers. Thus, he would not be bothered if he causes strife between brothers (19), spouses, or parents and children.
טז שֶׁשׁ-הֵנָּה, שָׂנֵא יְהוָה; וְשֶׁבַע, תועבות (תּוֹעֲבַת) נַפְשׁוֹ. יז עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת, לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר; וְיָדַיִם, שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם-נָקִי. יח לֵב--חֹרֵשׁ, מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן; רַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת, לָרוּץ לָרָעָה. יט יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים, עֵד שָׁקֶר; וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים, בֵּין אַחִים.
16. There are six things that the Lord hates, and they stem from a seventh which is an abomination of His soul;
17. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
18. a heart that thinks thoughts of violence; feet that hasten to run to evil;
19. [one who] speaks lies with false testimony and incites quarrels among brothers.
There are six general principles defining this type of haughty person
Method of action: He lies (17) and he gives false testimony (19). He lies about himself and his own qualities- i.e. he tries to bring himself up and make himself better than those around him by presenting himself as not who he really is.
He gives false testimony- meiri explains that this is not necessarily in court- but in general he will also lie to destroy those around him- by bringing them down and destroying their reputation.
Full expression of his character: he sheds inoccent blood(17)-The full expression of his character is a murderer who seeks to destroy those around him. Underlying all of his haugtiness there is an actual drive to destroy anybody that challenges him. Though for most people the full expression isn’t realized, the character of trying to dominate partakes of the same qualities as that of a murderer's.
Where his energies lie: All his energies lie in thoughts of violence. He is completely preoccupied with how he can destroy those around him and how he can dominate them. His thoughts will be spent on elaborate planning and deception. The haughty person is not stupid.
He is overly self confident: his feet hasten to run to evil(18) -He is completely confident in everything he does - Hitler famously said "I follow my course with the precision and security of a sleepwalker." When a person has such an aggrandized view of his greatness and is so intent on dominating those around him he will not have any doubts about his right and will to dominate.
He breaks all identification with people: He is so focused on dominating others that he breaks all identification with people. He has no respect for any type of relationship including the relationship between brothers. Thus, he would not be bothered if he causes strife between brothers (19), spouses, or parents and children.
Comments
Post a Comment