Proverbs – Day 24
Scripture: Proverbs 24
Saying 20
Do not envy the wicked,
do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.
Saying 21
By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.
Saying 22
The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.
Saying 23
Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 24
Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.
Saying 25
If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Saying 26
Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 27
Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Saying 28
Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.
Saying 29
Do not fret because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Saying 30
Fear the Lord and the king, my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:
Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.
An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—
would you use your lips to mislead?
Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
Devotional:
On September 11, 2001, the world watched in horror as terrorists killed over 2,700 innocent people in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Years later, parties and cheering erupted all over the U.S. when it was announced that a military operation had found and killed the leader responsible for the attack. Perhaps these revelers would have felt less justified if they had understood Solomon’s words in Proverbs 24:
“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them. Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.” (v. 17-20)
How we respond when wrongdoers are brought to justice will be shaped by and impact our relationship with God. On the one extreme, we can become a vigilante, carrying out our own form of justice a la Batman. On the other end of the spectrum, we can take on a victim mentality and feel like justice is a myth. Or we can read Scripture where it says “Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.” (Prov 20:22) Put another way, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Rom 12:17-19)
Once we trust that God is just and will restore justice – in His own time and way – we can take the next step and follow Paul’s words (quoting Proverbs): “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” (Prov 25:21-22, Rom 12:20)
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. … The chain reaction of evil—hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars—must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.” – Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love
Key Verse:
“Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble.” ~ Proverbs 24:17
Questions:
- What is your first reaction when you hear that a wrongdoer has been brought to justice?
- If there is someone you consider your enemy, how might you show kindness to them in order to “heap burning coals on his head”?
