Posted on 07/10/2022 11:42:32 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness” (Proverbs 11:5-6 KJV).
“The righteousness of the perfect,” in the Old Testament sense, a man that was perfect was a man that followed the Law, kept the feasts, and everything that God askes him to do. When he broke the law, he sacrificed for it—he wasn’t sinless—but he followed the precepts faithfully. Paul said, in this respect, that he was blameless as touching the Law—he kept it—and when he didn’t, he sacrificed in order to get forgiveness.
A person wasn’t sinless back then, or today, it is just that they strive to do right, and when they don’t do right, they do what is required. In the Old Testament, sacrifice; in the New Testament, confession and cleansing by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Confession to God through Jesus Christ, not through some man.
“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way,” to keep him out of trouble, “but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness,” he is constantly looking for trouble. He does not have righteousness in his heart, and I frankly do not understand it. I know why we don’t do right, we are sinners, but I don’t understand a person that doesn’t want to do right. Now I realize that even when you want to do right, you don’t always do right; Paul said, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Romans 7:15-20 KJV).
I realize that we are still in the flesh and we still sin, we rebel against God and do wrong; but like David wanted to do right. Daniel wanted to do right. He would not defile himself with the kings’ meat. I believe when you just want to do right, you’ll be a whole lot better off and deliverance is to them that have a right heart and a right attitude. “. . . but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness,” he doesn’t want to do right, he is just looking for some thing that is just not right.
Verses 3, 5, and 6 all run together. They all basically say the same thing over and over—repetition—Proverbs most used teaching method.
“. . . but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness,” like Haman in the Book of Esther. He just got mad at Mordecai, because Mordecai wouldn’t bow down to him. Haman’s heart was all wrong toward him, so he determined that he was going to kill Mordecai. He built gallows for the purpose and Haman was the one that ended up swinging on it.
“. . . but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness,” you take Ahab. He plotted along with his wife Jezebel to get Naboth’s vineyard—and when he finally got it—and got rid of Naboth the joy and satisfaction of his acquisition didn’t last very long, because right around the corner came the prophet Elijah who put it on him pretty bad and told him that his days were numbered. He predicted the deaths of Ahab and Jezebel, which came to pass. Within ten minutes, Ahab was in sackcloth and ashes—repenting. He was taken in his own naughtiness. That little plot of ground—that vineyard—he wanted was his undoing.
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:
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.