Chapter
159
Presumption
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What is the
definition of presumption?
"The act of believing upon probable evidence, or taking for granted;
belief upon incomplete proof; opinion. The act of venturing beyond due bounds;
forward, venturesome, overconfident, or arrogant opinion or conduct;
unreasonable confidence." - Webster.
How does God
look upon presumption, as indicated by His dealing with ancient Israel?
"But the soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in
the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall
be cut off from among his people." Num. 15:30.
If a prophet of
old presumed to speak in the name of God that which he had not commanded, what
was the result?
"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which
I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other
gods, even that prophet shall die." Deut. 18:20.
What befell the
Israelites when, having reached the promised land, they attempted to fight
against the Canaanites without God's consent?
"But they presumed to go up unto the hilltop: nevertheless the ark of
the covenant of the Lord, and Moses departed not out of the camp, Then the
Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote
them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah." Num. 14:44, 45.
What was
withdrawn from the antediluvians because they had persisted in their evil
course?
"And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with
man." Gen. 6:3.
Of what
presumptuous act were men guilty soon after the flood?
"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top
may reach unto heaven." Gen. 11:4.
What did the
Lord say of them?
"And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one
language and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from
them, which they have imagined to do." Gen. 11:6.
What befell them
in consequence of their presumption?
"The Lord did there confound the language of all the earth; and from
thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the
face of all the earth." Gen. 11:9.
What befell
Nadab and Abihu for their presumption in offering strange fire that the Lord had
not commanded?
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his
censer, and put fire there in, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire
before the Lord, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the
Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord." Lev. 10:1,
2.
How was the
little horn, the papacy, to show its presumption?
"And he [the little horn] shall speak great words against the Most
High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change
times and laws." Dan. 7:25.
What is this
power, therefore, called by the apostle?
"And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth,
and exalteth himself above all that is called God." 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.
What does the
psalmist call the sin of presumption?
"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me; then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression." Ps. 19:13.
What admonition
does the apostle give concerning our course toward the truth?
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the
day of redemption." Eph. 4:30.
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