Tag: Inspiration

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.

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…