Category: Bible

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.

We Knew Not

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Proverbs 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? 

This verse destroys the excuse: “I did not know.” A person may deceive other people, but he cannot deceive God. God sees what we know, what we do, what we refuse to do, and the motives behind our actions.

“Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?” God searches and examines the heart. Three works of God: [1] God searches the heart. He knows our thoughts, motives, desires, and intentions. “For the righteous Lord trieth the hearts and reins” (Ps. 7:9). Jeremiah 17:10 similarly declares that God searches the heart and tests the inward parts to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Nothing is hidden from Him. [2] God keeps the soul. God is the guardian of those who belong to Him. Psalm 121 repeatedly emphasises that the Lord keeps His people, while 1Peter 1:5 speaks of believers being “kept by the power of God through faith.” God knows the condition of our lives because we are never outside His sight. [3] God judges the works of man. God will ultimately bring every person’s works into judgment. This truth is repeated throughout Scripture (Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11–15; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 16:27).

God judges not merely outward appearances but the heart and motives behind what we do.

‘Shall not he render to every man according to his works?’ There is accountability before God. We may escape human justice, hide information from others, or convince ourselves that our actions do not matter, but we cannot escape God’s knowledge or judgment. This gives great comfort to the innocent and a solemn warning to those who deliberately refuse to do what is right.

To Deliver Them – Part 2

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Proverbs 24:11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain

We are not responsible for solving every problem we encounter. God has not called us to carry every burden, but He has called us to respond when a burden genuinely falls within our responsibility.

There are also situations where intervening personally could expose us to serious consequences, escalate conflict, or place us in the middle of matters that do not belong to us. In such cases, prayer and appropriate assistance through lawful or responsible channels may be wiser than personally taking control.

The principle is therefore one of righteous responsibility balanced with godly boundaries: do not ignore genuine injustice when you are in a position to help, but neither assume responsibility for situations that God has not placed in your hands. Seek God’s wisdom before acting, pray for those involved, and do what is right without unnecessarily entangling yourself in the consequences of other people’s choices.

To Deliver Them – Part 1

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Proverbs 24:11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain

Scripture now addresses the responsibility to protect innocent people who are in danger. The picture is of people being taken away toward death while someone who can intervene chooses not to do so. The principle is broader than one specific situation: when we have a legitimate opportunity and responsibility to protect the innocent, we should not deliberately remain silent or inactive.

This applies particularly to injustice, oppression, false accusations, abuse of authority, and situations where innocent people are being harmed. Indifference toward injustice can itself become a form of wrongdoing.

However, this verse should not be interpreted as a command to interfere in every situation we hear about or to involve ourselves in matters that do not belong to us. Scripture also teaches the importance of minding our own affairs and avoiding unnecessary interference in the lives of others (1Thess. 4:11; 2Thess. 3:11; 1Pet. 4:15).

There is an important difference between protecting the innocent when we have a genuine responsibility to act and meddling in matters that are not ours to control.

Sometimes the wisest response is to intervene appropriately; at other times, the wisest response is to pray, seek godly counsel, and leave the matter in God’s hands rather than inserting ourselves into another person’s affairs.

To be continued…

In the Day of Adversity – Part 2

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Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 

Scripture is not saying that a godly person will never become discouraged. Even faithful servants of God experienced fear, discouragement, and moments of weakness. The issue is not whether we become discouraged, but whether we remain there or rise again in faith and obedience.

Four Biblical examples of failure in adversity: [1] Jacob (Gen. 42:36). When Jacob believed that Joseph and then Benjamin might be lost, his response was: “All these things are against me.” His grief caused him to interpret circumstances through despair. [2] David (1Sam. 27:1). David became so discouraged while fleeing Saul that he said: “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.” Yet God had repeatedly protected him. His adversity temporarily weakened his faith. [3] Elijah (1Kin. 19:3-4). After his great victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah became afraid of Jezebel and fled for his life. He became so discouraged that he asked God to take his life. Even a faithful servant can become overwhelmed under prolonged pressure. [4] Jonah (Jonah 4:1-11). Jonah became angry when God showed mercy to Nineveh. His circumstances exposed selfishness and a lack of spiritual perspective.

These examples do not teach that God’s servants never become discouraged. Rather, they show that adversity exposes weaknesses that need to be strengthened by faith. The answer to adversity is not despair but renewed dependence upon God.

In the Day of Adversity – Part 1

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Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 

This verse addresses how a person’s spiritual strength is revealed when he faces adversity. It is relatively easy to appear strong when everything is going well, but difficult circumstances can reveal whether a person has developed the faith, wisdom, courage, and perseverance necessary to stand firm.

The “day of adversity” can refer to various difficult circumstances of life, such as persecution, disappointment, family difficulties, loss, opposition, or severe temptation. Some hardships arise simply because we live in a fallen world, while others may result from the wrong choices we have made. Sickness, financial hardship, broken relationships, and other painful consequences can sometimes be the result of sin, disobedience, foolish decisions, or neglect of God’s principles. These consequences should not be understood as God “testing” us by causing us to suffer.

Scripture teaches that we reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-8), and that our words also have consequences, for “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (18:20-21). What we continually sow through our actions and words can profoundly shape the course of our lives (Jas. 3:5-6).

At the same time, God can use even the consequences of our own actions to bring us to repentance, correction, and greater wisdom. He does not need to cause the trouble in order to teach us through it.

Scripture shows that when adversity comes, whatever its source, our response reveals the strength of our character and our dependence upon God. A person who immediately gives up, abandons faith, or turns to sinful solutions demonstrates that his strength is weak. The wise person instead seeks God, acknowledges his failures where necessary, accepts responsibility for his actions, and continues to do what is right.

To be continued…

The Scorner is an Abomination – Part 3

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Proverbs 24:9b …and the scorner is an abomination to men. 

The scorner must humble himself before he can learn: “When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge” (21:11). The wise person learns through instruction; the scorner often learns only through consequences.

God Himself opposes the proud: “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly” (3:34). This is perhaps the most serious warning. The scorner may mock God, His Word, His people, or His standards, but God is not mocked. Pride places a person in opposition to God, while humility opens the way to grace.

An important distinction exists between a fool and a scorner. The simple may not know better and can still be taught. The fool rejects wisdom and instruction. The scorner goes further; he mocks and ridicules wisdom itself and often attempts to make others despise it as well.

This is why Proverbs treats the scorner as particularly dangerous. A person who says, “I don’t know,” can be taught. A person who says, “I don’t want to know,” is harder to reach. But the scorner says, in effect, “What you believe is foolish, and I will ridicule it.”

The Scorner is an Abomination – Part 2

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Proverbs 24:9b …and the scorner is an abomination to men. 

A scorner rejects correction: “A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise” (15:12). A scorner does not welcome someone who points out his error. Instead of considering correction, he resents the person giving it. Consequently, he avoids wise people because he does not want to hear anything that challenges his behaviour.

A scorner refuses wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (9:10). Proverbs contrasts wisdom with the scorner’s attitude. Wisdom begins with humility before God, while the scorner’s pride makes him unwilling to submit to God’s authority.

A scorner can influence others toward evil: “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease” (22:10). A scorner does not usually keep his attitude to himself. His mocking, criticism, and rebellious spirit can spread conflict throughout a family, workplace, or community. Removing such influence can remove a great deal of strife.

Scorning can make a person increasingly hardened: “Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools” (19:29). Repeated rejection of correction eventually brings consequences. The scorner may believe that he is mocking others, but ultimately he is placing himself under God’s judgment.

To be continued…