The Righteous

Dear class,

The readings in proverbs 10-12 share the common thread of the righteous. In them we see that:

Pro 10:3 - The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
God will not forsake the righteous in his needs. Indeed as Jesus exhorted us in Mat 6:25-34, God takes care of His creations! Fret not brethren! God will take care of us.

Pro 10:11 - The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
The righteous themselves are a blessing to the people around them. Job is a classic example. It is also through the mouths of the righteous preaching the good Word that souls will be saved. We should be using our influence through Christ to bring joy and blessings to the people around us, that God be glorified (Mat 5:16)

Pro 10:16 - The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
The godly works of the righteous makes his election sure! Not that works in themselves save (c.f. Eph 2:8-10) but the manifestation of obedience, without which one cannot be saved (Rom 6:16; 2Th 1:8). Wherefore James reminded us to demonstrate our faith through works, the latter which without, leaves the former dead! (Jam 2:20,26)
How are we labouring in His vineyard? How have we lived our lives as His workmanship created unto good works? (Eph 2:10)

Pro 10:21 - The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
This passage refers more to the spiritual needs. Indeed, as pointed out, it is through the mouths of the saints that the saving gospel is proclaimed. (Rom 10:13-15) We do God a great disservice by withholding the Messsage! From another angle, one of the roles of the eldership is to feed the flock (Act 20:28). Certainly, a God fearing church leadership is essential to the spiritual nourishment and survival of the local congregation.

Pro 10:24 - The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
The righteous can be assured of God's blessings! Not to say that we will get what we WANT, but most assuredly what God knows we NEED! The "desire" here must be taken in the context that the righteous would only desire what God desires! And certainly, as Jesus taught, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled! (Mat 5:6)

Pro 10:25 -  As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
And what a foundation is that upon - the very Son of God Himself! The righteous will stand firm because he has learnt to build himself upon the solid rock of Christ. No other foundation can there be if man is to appear righteous and stedfast before God. No other foundation is able to give the righteous the stability in all disturbances thrown at us. No other foundation is from everlasting to everlasting!

Pro 10:28 - The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Paul wrote "For we are saved by hope..." (Rom 8:24) The hope of eternal life! Certainly, all those who would be righteous in Christ would as Paul, look forward to the blessed hope of glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (2Ti 4:8) with joy.

Pro 10:30 - The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
That is as long as one remain faithful, our estate shall never depart from us. Jesus Himself has prepared a place for us in heaven (Jhn 14:2,3). The righteous will have their part in the book of life and they shall be joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17).

Pro 10:32 - The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Indeed, as children of God, we are shun corrupt communication but speak that which edifies and ministers grace to the hearer (Eph 4:29; Col 4:6)! Be reminded brethren! It's so easy for us to loose control of our tongues. Truly as James put it, he who perfectly controls the tongue is the perfect man (Jam 3:2)! Let us be diligent to season our speech with salt and speak that which is acceptable to God.

Pro 11:8 - The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
God is faithful! He will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able and would provide a way to the righteous (1Co 10:13). At the end of the day, just as Job came to realise, God has the best interests of the righteous in Him and we should tale comfort in that (c.f. Rom 8:28).

Pro 11:10 - When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
Sometimes when we read of the bible speaking of trials and persecution, we seem to get the impression Christians are a bunch of hated people! But in truth, just as Jesus has shown, it is possible to be in favor with God and men (Luk 2:52, but note the exact order!) The world in general recognises the good that righteousness brings! Indeed as the proverb writer would go on to say "righteousness exalts a nation" (Pro 14:34). Let us be encouraged and not be weary in well doing (Gal 6:9,10).

Pro 11:21 - Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
Obviously, every generation is responsible for his actions (c.f. Eze 18:20). Yet, the righteous more often than not, pave a much better way for their descendants to follow in and make them less likely to fall. In the age of the Kings we see how the children of David had "roll over" benefits (c.f. 1Ki 11:12; 2Ki 8:19, etc), yet it did not remove the fact that the beneficiaries had a personal responsibility to make right, just having the benefit of delayed consequences.

Pro 11:23 - The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
The desire of the truly righteous is what God would desire! Though in context, when we read the 2nd part of the verse that gives the contrast, we can see "desire" as the reward, the outcome. God is generous to those who love Him. And certainly the righteous have the assurance of that heavenly inheritance that ultimately awaits them.

Pro 11:28 - He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
A sobering reminder to us, especially in our affluent society. Far too often, success is looked upon in materialistic terms. Paul too exhorts the rich not the trust in uncertain riches but lay up in good works (1Ti 6:17-19). That is where our true riches lie. That is where the righteous shall blossom and bear fruit. (Mat 6:19-21;Jhn 15:2-5)

Pro 11:30 - The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Paul said it all in Rom10:13-15
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Let us be wise soul winners!

Pro 11:31 - Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Our Lord has promised us both physical and spiritual blessings. When taken in another angle, when the righteous are "recompensed" for their sins, it is God's way of chastisement that they might go back on track. We think of spiritual greats like David who have been brought low yet the mercy of the Lord enabled him to hold up his head high again.

Pro 12:3 - A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Again, with his foundation upon Chirst, indeed the righteous have no need to worry about instability. The root is where a plant gets it's structural support as well through which, nourishment. So shall Christ be to us that we be not wavering and always well fed!

Pro 12:5 - The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
"right" here more in the sense of being just as in a well mete out judgement. Where there is without bias or ulterior motive. Such is what we should have if we allow the Word to guide us in our thinking.

Pro 12:7 - The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
Ultimately, only those rooted in the firm foundation of Christ would be able to stand up in the face of the final judgment.

Pro 12:10 - A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
A righteous man will take care of God's blessings to him! Even livestock, with whom God has given us dominium over deserves respect and should not be exploited. Unfortunately, these times, humans will not only exploit animals but even their own kind.

Pro 12:12 - The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
A fitting companion to pro 11:28, in Christ shall the righteous be bountiful! As Jesus spoke of the good soil that gives increase even a hundred fold! (Mat 13:8)

Pro 12:26 - The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
This verse doesn't suggest a superiority over another but the "excellent" here alludes to the idea of seeking out or spy. It suggest being circumspect and treading with caution. Certainly, in the light of the perverse world we are in, danger lurks in every corner. The righteous would do well to be sober and vigilant (1Pe 5:8), never going about in uncontrolled wantoness, never allowing the devil to lay hold on us.

Let us all strive to be right in the sight of God.

in Him
Paul


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But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ~ Colossians 2:6-8

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. ~ Colossians 4:6