James 4:6 (AMPC), “But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

In 2 Kings 22, we read about King Josiah, who succeeded his father Amon, to rule over Judah. The Bible says Josiah was not like his father, or grandfather before him. They were evil rulers who worshipped false gods and sacrificed children to appease them. Because of their wickedness, they stored up wrath against the land and its inhabitants. Josiah only heard about the fate of his nation after he ordered the priest of God’s temple to find the book of the Law. When it was read to Josiah, he heard the prophecy of his land and his people’s demise, because of their wickedness.  King Josiah was horrified, and the fear of the Lord came upon him. He rent his clothes and called for a prophet of the Lord so that he could repent and hear God’s voice for his people. The prophetess Huldah came before the king and gave him this word: 2 Kings 22:19 “because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD…and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,’ says the LORD.” Huldah prophesied that Josiah would die peacefully at the end of his reign, because he had humbled himself before the Lord, and he would not see calamity upon his land and people. Then a sudden turn of events accrued. In 2 Chronicles 35:20-22, Necho, the king of Egypt, came to fight against an enemy near the Euphrates River. Josiah, without consulting the Lord, came to confront and fight Necho. The king of Egypt sent this message to King Josiah, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.” (2 Chronicles 35:21). In his arrogance, king Josiah refused to listen, and as a result, he died in battle, in spite of the prophecy. God will always honour His Word concerning us, however, when we choose to harden our hearts against heeding His Word and His ways, we will walk in the consequence of our actions. Keep your heart tender towards the voice of the Holy Spirit, and He will give you the supernatural strength to resist the temptation to go your own way. He will lift up those who humble themselves to hear and obey Him, but He will set Himself against the proud.