PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“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” (Proverbs 24:15-16 KJV).

The thing that the lost cannot understand is the presence of God’s mercy. It is just as available to them as it is to the ones they seek to overthrow—but their darkened mind and soul cannot conceive, do not desire it, and utterly abhor it. Their great pleasure is the world, sin, and the destruction of God’s people.

TODAY’S VERSE:

There are some in this world that have no greater purpose than to make shipwreck the life of a young believer. The wicked are described as lying in wait for the righteous, seeking his ruination. “The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him” (Psalms 37:32 KJV).

Who qualifies for the title “wicked man” used here? Every persecutor of the righteous would be included in what is said here. So, this passage is not speaking of the highwayman hiding in the brush awaiting a man to rob, but the reprobate seeking to ensnare a child of God. An “angel of light,” a “false prophet,” an evil, evil person. Paul spoke of these, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32 KJV).

Their goal is the utter destruction of the believer, but they are ignorant of one very crucial fact, and that is: “a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” What a promise! What an assurance! Yes, the tempting angel of the Devil may indeed succeed in tripping up a saint, but that saint has access to God’s continuing mercy:

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23 KJV).

The righteous will have many trials, but he will prevail through the special help of God. Notice these interesting verses: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalms 34:19 KJV); “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalms 37:24 KJV); “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:8 KJV); “He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee” (Job 5:19 KJV).

In other words, as our expressions go, “you can’t keep a good man down;” he may be “down”, but he isn’t “out”. But notice that when the wicked fall, he is not promised to come back, for he has no personal God to whom to look for restoration.

Yes, the wicked shall fall into mischief; or "evil"; into the evil of sin, and there lie and wallow in it, as the swine in the mire, and never rise out of it; and into the evil of punishment, into hell itself, from whence there will be no deliverance; and oftentimes they fall into mischief in this world, into trouble and distress, into poverty and want, in which they live and die, and never recover out of it; to which agrees what follows. And their only joyful memory throughout eternity will be that they may some Christian to stumble.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let's read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let's keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.

For more books on all topics of the Bible, visit my web site at:

BAPTIST BIBLE BELIEVERS WEBSITE

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.