In chapter 10, we see what I call, "The Delayed Results of Wickedness." How many times have we, as Christians, watched the wicked of the world continue in their wickedness, only to never suffer any consequences? I'll admit, it can be frustrating at times. Just as the prophet Jeremiah asked a couple of times, I sometimes ask, "Why do the wicked prosper?" But we must always remember that God is in control, and we are working on laying up and receiving rewards in heaven, and not accolades here on earth. We see in this chapter some delayed results of wickedness:
10:3,7 - There will be a LOSS of SUBSTANCE - You have to build something up before it can be cast away. The Lord is allowing the wicked to build up what they have (their possessions and their name/reputation), only to take it all away in the end.
10:9 - They no longer will be LIVING in STEALTH - There are those that secretly pervert, or make crooked, the path of their life. They do not follow God's straight and narrow way like the Christian who walks uprightly. And as they continue down this path with no repercussions, they think everything is okay. But there is coming a day when all things will be made known and their wickedness be made public.
10:16 - Their work will be LOST to SIN - It is interesting to note that everything that the wicked work so hard to get will be the source of their great loss one day. As we see in verse 25, if you sow in the wind, you one day will reap the whirlwind.
10:27 - Their LIFE will be SHORT - Everything will be going according to the plan of the wicked, then - WHAM - their life will be suddenly pulled out from under them and cut short. Their downfall will be quick and sudden.
10:28-31 - They will LOSE their STRENGTH and SOUND - The wicked do not mind flaunting all they have, and telling Christians how ignorant and backwards they think they are. In doing so, they often become very oppressive of born-again believers. But to truth is, one day they will lose their strength and lose their tongue and will have nothing to brag or boast about.
Let's not envy the wicked, seeing that the Lord is keeping score and one day soon will right all wrongs. BTW - If it were not for the grace of God, we would all be cast into the lot of the wicked!
My most favorite verse of this chapter is 10:22. "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it." I thank God for his many, many blessings.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a Proverb per day!
ReplyDeleteSince we're talking favorite verses, my favorite in this chapter is 10:19:
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise."
I wish I could act all spiritual and say that I live this verse better than anyone, but the reason I know it so well is because God's used it on me quite a few times. It runs hand in hand with the "even a fool is counted wise when she keeps his mouth shut" verse.:)
Keep up the great writing Bro. Brad.
You've covered this chapter well. I really don't have a favorite verse in this one as I do so many of the others. But I like that Solomon confirms here, a third of the way through the book, that he is the author.
ReplyDeleteV. 21a "The lips of the righteous feed many" - makes me ask the question - how many have I fed?
ReplyDeleteI would have to say in agreement with the first visitor above that verse 22 is the one that impacts me the most. When I seek the Lord and His hand of blessing is on my life, there will be no regrets or sorrows out of that. I can look back at His blessings with satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteThis verse also sticks out:
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Love will hide the sins I have turned from - they will no longer be hanging over me or weighing me down like a heavy burden, because the Lord's love has covered them!