Proverbs 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
‘The way of the LORD is strength to the upright.’ The righteous are constantly renewed in strength (2Cor. 4:16), but sudden destruction will come to the wicked (29:1). The outward man is slowly dying through trials and sufferings, but the inward man is being renewed daily.
Many complain that the way of the Lord was not equal and just, for how could a righteous man who had lived in righteousness many years become a sinner again and die because of sin? Why should he not continue to live if he had lived more in righteousness than in sin? Why would he not be rewarded for his many righteous deeds? Why should he die for committing only one sin? God took issue with this kind of reasoning and plainly revealed the fact that sin is sin wherever it is found and in whomsoever it is found. It is a deadly thing that will damn the soul. One sin is sufficient to kill; he who sins incurs the death penalty regardless of all else in his life; and one sin will damn a righteous man as quickly as a wicked man. Every soul that sins will die; but no one needs to die through sin, for all are privileged to be made alive again upon meeting certain conditions of getting rid of sin. The sole responsibility of death or life is with the individual, not with God; He only blesses or curses all alike upon meeting the conditions of life or death. Here, God maintained His ways are equal because He deals with all alike, without respect of persons. The ways of man are unequal because of expecting justice when injustice has been done, expecting righteousness when sin has been committed, and expecting life when one kills himself by sin.
‘But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.’ Four examples of sudden destruction: are Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:1-38). Pharoah and his army (Ex. 14:19-31). Saul (1Chr. 10:13-14). Jeroboam (1Kin. 14:7-11).
Living the Word 