A Look at Psalm 119:21

Psalm 119:21 “You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from Your commands.”
 

Arrogance, or the loss of humility, is the root of every sin and every evil. The reason they (the arrogant) are cursed is because they walk in conflict with the commands of God. All of the commands of God are expressions of His Will which are to be obeyed. Obedience is the spirit of meekness. The meek person is willing to obey God in all things. 

Complete obedience to God will result in ridicule from other people. When a person is full of pride, they are not willing to take ridicule from other people. Thus, they walk in disobedience to God so as to avoid the humbling experience of ridicule. When a person worships him/herself, they cannot handle ridicule because that tears at the very heart of what they worship. However, when a person worships God over themselves, they can endure ridicule because they do not see themselves as exalted. Subsequently, the meek do not stray from God’s commands.
 

“The one who sows to please his sinful nature [arrogance], from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit [meekness], from that Spirit will reap eternal life” Galatians 6:8. The reason the arrogant are cursed is not because God has cursed them but because they are living in violation of divine order. The sinful nature simply reaps destruction.
 

Divine order is given for our protection. If it were not for the fact that God rebukes us when we are disobedient, we probably would never turn from certain sins.

I once talked with a man who had gone through a serious illness. He told me about how he had simply been “playing” with his commitment to God. Finally, through his struggles, he committed his life deeply to God. He said, in reference to God, “Once Daddy spanked, I straightened out.” 

Let me encourage you to take some time to pray through this verse, meditating on it. As you do, ask God to help you humble yourself in His presence.

Continued