Deuteronomy 17:12-13 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die; and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Refusing to listen to God and keep His Word is a very serious matter, so severe that presumption is worthy of the death penalty. It sounds too severe for a loving God, but He knows no other punishment for sin than separation from a Holy God, which is separation from Life.
We recoil at such a cruel and unusual penalty for such a “small sin” as not going to church, for not hearing and believing God. But in reality, despising God’s Word and spurning His Love is signing our own death warrant. It is our own fault, not God’s. Out of love He warns us of the cursed consequences of presumptuously rejecting God.
The sin of presumption is, at its core, pride of self. It is assuming that I am in the right, and thus God is wrong. It is leaning on my own understanding. It is trusting in my own self-righteous good works. It trusts in my own flawed human reason. It is guided by what feels good and looks good to me. In Job 40:8 God asks Job: “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” Job responded by repenting in dust and ashes [Job 42:6]. The experiences of Job, combined with the Word of God, brought him to fear, love, and trust in God above all things (including self).
Presumption also includes the unbelief that says, “I don’t need God.” It is too easy to drift away from dependence upon God alone and to look to the gods of the world for my good. The Good News is that Jesus died (the death penalty) in our place to forgive our presumption, pride, and arrogance.