“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully.’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.’” Psalm 75:4-5

Don’t Toot Your Own Horn

I grew up in an extended family where critical spirits were in abundance. People were judged by their clothing, appearance, academic degrees, success, the “look” of their marriages, money, homes, and cars. We were all “just” middle class—but others were snubbed if they didn’t measure up in ways that were considered important.

To her credit, my mother did a wonderful job of breaking through these walls, though my father continued finding fault with anyone or anything “less than.” Mom befriended immigrants in our neighborhood, invited known bullies over to decorate Easter eggs with us kids, and made handmade gifts at Christmastime. She was not ashamed to shop at Woolworth’s instead of Macy’s.

As an adult, I’ve had to learn the hard way that I, too, have a critical spirit. I find fault with others easily, and have only recently begun to see how I perpetuated this spirit in my now-grown children. The Spirit has worked long, hard years in me to bring me to repentance, brokenness, and humility.

Having a critical spirit is another way of saying that I am a proud person—and God hates pride. Pride manifests not only in fault-finding, but in having thoughts such as, “This church/family/neighborhood/workplace is lucky to have me and my gifts.” It makes us defensive and unapproachable, quickly blaming others for wrongs so we will be found without fault. Proud people want to be recognized for accomplishments, and they tend to view others with a wary eye. “What did she REALLY mean by that?” 

In our verse above, it is God Who is speaking. He is telling those who boast—the proud—to STOP IT RIGHT NOW. He was telling us to stop tooting our own horn. The next verse confirms this: “Don’t lift up the horn.” Literally, this means, “Don’t lift the head proudly like a horned animal; do not speak with a stiff neck.” Picture it: if we hold our head high for very long, we will get a stiff neck! Then we can properly be called a stiff-necked person.

No, God wants us to be pliable, flexible, willing, and humble. Nowhere in Scripture is a stiff neck praised. Proud people are unwilling participants in God’s plans, for they bow to no one’s will but their own. Their heads are held high, where they can look down on others from their position “above.”

God hates it when we assume a position “above” others. Only He is above. Only He is exalted. Only He is high and lifted up. Only He is worthy of accolades and admiration. We cannot and must not sit on His throne.

“God, forgive us for being proud, stiff-necked, fault-finders. You alone are worthy of praise for good works, for victories, for successes. Anything we possess came from Your hand. We bow our knee before You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”