Author: iolaHC

I am an Artwork in progress

Meddle Not with Them – Part 4

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Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

This gives the believer a proper perspective. We do not have to carry the burden of fixing the entire political world. God has already declared its final outcome. At Christ’s Second Coming, He will bring the kingdoms of this world under His righteous rule. What human beings cannot accomplish completely through political change, Christ will accomplish perfectly through His kingdom.

Therefore, Proverbs 24:21 calls us to be neither politically indifferent nor rebelliously consumed, but wise, prayerful, responsible, and faithful. We can seek what is right while recognising that perfect justice awaits the return of the King of kings.

Human governments may change, rulers may rise and fall, and earthly systems may remain imperfect, but the kingdom of Christ will endure forever. Amen!!

Meddle Not with Them – Part 3

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Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

Daniel (Dan. 7:18) continues: “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.”

The book of Revelation likewise declares that believers are made “kings and priests unto God” (Rev. 1:6). This points to the future reign of God’s people with Christ, when the authority of earthly kingdoms will ultimately give way to the righteous rule of Christ and His saints.

Therefore, when we see corruption, injustice, or wicked leadership, we should not conclude that it is our responsibility to personally overthrow every corrupt government. Our responsibility is to remain faithful to God within the circumstances in which He has placed us. We can pray, speak truth, obey the law where it does not conflict with God’s Word, defend those who are being wronged, and seek righteous reform. But we must leave the ultimate overthrow of evil kingdoms and the establishment of perfect government to Christ.

To be continued…

Meddle Not with Them – Part 2

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Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? 

Even when governments are corrupt, we should recognise the limits of what human beings can ultimately accomplish. We may be able to influence particular laws, policies, leaders, or circumstances through lawful means, but we cannot establish a perfectly righteous government through human political effort. Every human government remains subject to the weaknesses and sinfulness of the people who govern it.

This is why the Christian’s ultimate hope is not placed in political rulers, political movements, or earthly governments. The complete overthrow of evil and the establishment of perfect righteousness will take place when Jesus Christ returns and establishes His kingdom.

Daniel (Dan. 7:13-14) saw this future kingdom in his vision: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven…” He (Christ) then received: “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him.”

Unlike earthly kingdoms, Christ’s kingdom will not be characterised by corruption, injustice, selfish ambition, or changing political agendas. His authority will be righteous, permanent, and universal.

To be continued…

Meddle Not with Them – Part 1

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Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? 

Scripture gives two authorities that should be respected: The LORD and the king (ruler). The fear of the Lord is foundational. God is the ultimate authority. The king represents legitimate civil authority. Scripture does not teach blind obedience to rulers when they command something contrary to God’s Word. God’s authority remains supreme. Nevertheless, believers are generally commanded to respect lawful government and authorities.

Romans 13:1-7 and 1Peter 2:13-17 develop the principle that believers are to respect lawful authority. This does not mean that every government or ruler is righteous, nor does it mean that Christians must approve of everything a government does. Scripture records rulers who were corrupt, unjust, and hostile to God, and God’s people sometimes had to refuse commands that directly contradicted God’s Word. The apostles themselves continued to obey God when human authorities commanded them to stop preaching Christ (Acts 5:29).

The words “meddle not with them that are given to change” therefore provide a warning against becoming consumed by rebellion, political upheaval, or a continual desire to overthrow established authority. There is a legitimate place for exposing injustice, speaking truth, praying for rulers, defending the innocent, and seeking lawful and peaceful reform. But the believer must be careful not to allow opposition to a corrupt government to become an obsession that produces anger, hatred, disorder, or rebellion against authority itself.

To be continued…

Be Not Envious of the Wicked

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Proverbs 24:19-20 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. 

‘Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked.’ This repeats a theme already seen in Proverbs 24:1 (see Psalm 37 and 73). The believer is not to envy the wicked, become frustrated because of their apparent prosperity, or allow their success to disturb his faith. The wicked may appear to prosper while the righteous struggle. This can be difficult to understand.

Psalm 73 describes exactly this struggle. Asaph admitted that he became envious when he saw the prosperity of the wicked. The answer was to look beyond the present circumstances and consider their final end.

The wicked have no lasting future apart from repentance. The imagery of the candle being put out speaks of the extinction of their prosperity, influence, and continuing legacy. The light that appears bright for a time eventually disappears.

This does not necessarily mean that every wicked person’s descendants will literally disappear. Rather, the expression emphasises the temporary nature of the wicked person’s apparent success and legacy. The believer therefore must not envy what will not last.

Rejoice Not – Part 2

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Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 

‘Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.’ God sees not only the outward circumstances but also the attitude of the heart. A person may outwardly appear innocent while inwardly rejoicing over another person’s suffering. God sees the heart.

Scripture gives a serious warning: if we rejoice over an enemy’s calamity, God may be displeased with our attitude and show mercy where we expected judgment.

Biblical examples of rejoicing over another’s fall: [1] Tyre rejoiced when Jerusalem was destroyed and anticipated benefiting from her downfall (Ezk. 26:2-6). [2] Ammon rejoiced over the destruction of Israel (Ezk. 25:6). [3] Edom stood by and rejoiced when Jerusalem fell rather than helping God’s people (Obad. 11-14). God condemned these attitudes.

Examples of mourning: [1] David mourned over Saul and Jonathan despite Saul having been his enemy (2Sam. 1:11-12). He also demonstrated compassion toward those who opposed him (Ps. 35:13-14). [2] Jeremiah was deeply grieved over the sins and destruction of his people: “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears…” (Jer. 9:1). A righteous heart does not delight in destruction.

Rejoice Not – Part 1

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Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 

God now addresses the attitude we should have toward our enemies. It is natural for the flesh to feel satisfaction when someone who has harmed us finally suffers. We may think: “He/she deserved it.” Perhaps he/she did. But Scripture says we must not rejoice over his downfall. Justice belongs to God; vengeance does not belong to us.

Why should we not rejoice? Because hatred can corrupt our own hearts. The downfall of an enemy should cause us to recognise the seriousness of sin and the reality of God’s judgment, not give us an opportunity for personal celebration.

David demonstrated this attitude toward Saul. Although Saul persecuted David, he mourned when Saul died rather than celebrating his enemy’s destruction (2Sam. 1:11-12). Likewise, David could pray for and mourn with those who were suffering (Ps. 35:13-14).

To be continued…

Against the Righteous – Part 2

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Proverbs 24:15-16 …For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Nothing in this verse suggests that Christians may deliberately continue in sin because God will forgive them. Scripture explicitly rejects that idea: “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid” (Rom. 6:1-2). Hebrews 10:26-27 warns: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

The “falling” here is best understood in the context of adversity and calamity, especially considering verse 15, and not as backsliding into sin. The righteous may be knocked down by circumstances, but God enables him to rise again.

There is an important distinction: A righteous person may fall into adversity; he must not deliberately fall into sin. When a believer does sin, however, he must repent and return to God rather than use grace as an excuse to remain in it. Revelation 3:15-18 explains God’s counsel to backsliders: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Against the Righteous – Part 1

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Proverbs 24:15-16 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 

Scripture now warns the wicked against deliberately targeting the righteous. The imagery is of someone lying in wait to attack another person’s home or destroy his security. The wicked may think: “He is vulnerable; I can take advantage of him.” But God sees the injustice.

The righteous should not be targeted simply because they are less willing to use dishonest or violent methods to defend themselves.

‘For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.’ This is one of the most encouraging verses in Proverbs. The number seven represents completeness or repetition. The point is not that the righteous person literally falls exactly seven times, but that even repeated adversity cannot permanently destroy him.

Notice that the verse does not say: “The righteous man never falls.” It says: “He riseth up again.” The righteous person may experience failure, disappointment, persecution, loss, hardship, or setbacks. But he does not remain down.

To be continued…

There Shall Be A Reward

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Proverbs 24:13-14 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. 

Scripture returns from warning about evil and judgment to the value of wisdom. Wisdom is not merely useful for earthly circumstances; it nourishes and strengthens the soul. Just as honey is sweet and nourishing to the body, wisdom is nourishing to the soul.

‘The knowledge of wisdom.’ Knowing God’s truth and learning to live according to it brings spiritual strength, discernment, stability, hope, and a right perspective on life.

Wisdom is therefore not simply information stored in the mind. It becomes spiritual nourishment when it is believed and practised.

‘Thy expectation shall not be cut off.’ The righteous person’s hope ultimately rests in God. Earthly circumstances may disappoint us, but the believer’s ultimate expectation is secure because God’s promises cannot fail. This connects with Proverbs 23:18: “For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

The world may take away possessions, opportunities, health, or earthly security, but it cannot take away the believer’s eternal hope in Christ.