Land Dwellers

For Friday, July 1, 2005
Proverbs 10:30

The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

"The land" is the Israelites' inheritance in the Promised Land. No other possession was dearer to an Israelite than his land, and the whole land of Israel was identified with the kingdom of God. Thus, the righteous will never be removed from the kingdom of God, but the wicked will not dwell in that kingdom.

Peter tells believers: "According to God's great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5). That is a fuller way of saying, "The righteous will never be removed." Jesus puts it this way: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1-3).

Christ, who has clothed us in his righteousness, will keep his promise. God, who has elected us and caused us to be born again to a living hope, will not let that hope be thwarted. We will not be moved because our stronghold is Jesus Christ, the Way of the Lord.

The Way of the Lord

For Thursday, June 30, 2005
Proverbs 10:29

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.

Consider this proverb from different levels. The writer most likely is thinking of the "way of the Lord" as following God's law. For the keeper of the law, such a way is a stronghold, a fortress against the wicked who seek the righteous' destruction, and from the efforts of the worldly to lead the righteous astray. Surely, the one who reads, medidates upon, and obeys the law finds strength and protection.

The evildoer, however, is brought to ruin by the law. It exposes his sin and magnifies his weakness. The entraps the wicked, so that, as noted in many other proverbs, his life comes to an end suddenly and violently.

For the Christian, who is found blameless in Christ, the law is also a stronghold, for it reveals the life that is pleasing to God. It shows the path of obedience that brings fruitfulness and peace. The law presents the life that withstands the afflictions and temptations of the world. For the person who rejects Christ, the law, again, reveals his selfish, wicked heart.

But moving to a higher level, Jesus makes clear that he is the way of the Lord. "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The law is a stronghold for those able to keep it; Jesus is the stronghold for all who will turn to him, confessing their inability to keep the law. Only in Christ can we apply the identification of "blameless." It is Christ alone who has fulfilled the law; it is to Christ, which the law is intended to drive us. The "Way of the Lord" is our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who delivers us and protects us.

For the evildoers who will not repent and turn to Christ as their stronghold, Christ is the revealer of their wicked hearts and will be their judge. On the last day when he returns in his glory, Christ will be the stronghold of the blameless who follow him, protecting them from punishment and delivering them into glory. Yet, he will be the judge and the advenger against the wicked.

As you face the challenges and temptations of the world today, pray to your Stronghold to keep you safe and to empower you to obey God's law.

Joyful Hope

For Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Proverbs 10:28

The hope of the righteous brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Here is Paul's commentary about the hope of the righteous: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:1-6).

Our hope is for the glory of God to be revealed in the return of Christ. We will behold our Lord in all of his glory; the glory of God will be the sun for us; and we ourselves will become glorious beings. Let this hope be your joy today.

How to Live Longer

For Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Proverbs 10:27

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.

I wonder if there is any life insurance company that uses this criteria in evaluating life expectancy. They do evaluate lifestyle. One who fears the Lord, diligently obeying his laws, should have better odds of living longer than the one whose wicked life invites danger and violence.

But the fear of the Lord entails more than an effort to not sin. One who fears the Lord delights in God; he finds peace and contentment through trusting God; he finds purpose in living. And as all medical experts know, the one who lives in contentment is more likely to live longer than the one who is anxious, always pursuing something more, and living on the edge.

So, living a good life promotes wellbeing, as does living a contented life. But the full truth of this proverb lies not in our effort to keep healthy, but in the work of God to give eternal life to his people who fear him. "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). Now that is prolonged life!

The Sluggard

For Monday, June 27, 2005
Proverbs 10:26

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.

As vinegar sets teeth on edge and smoke stings the eyes, in the same way the sluggard exasperates and irritates those who are depending on him. In this case, he is sent to carry out a work for another - perhaps delivering a message or an item; perhaps retrieving an item. Whatever the case, he wastes time and likely costs his employer money, maybe sqaundering an opportunity for his employer.

Most of the proverbs speak are directed towards the "wicked," "evildoers," and "fool." Even so, the sluggard can be as vexing a problem. A sluggard can be wicked and foolish, but often he appears to be a pleasant, care-free person who means no one any harm. But harm is exactly what he causes. The sluggard worker harms business, costing money, driving clients away, and fermenting resentment among his colleagues. The sluggard student is more taxing to the teacher than the disruptive student who will at least do his work. The very "good natured" attitude of the sluggard irritates all the more, because it reveals that he really does not care how his behavior affects others. Moreover, the sluggard is less likely to change. A wicked man is more likely to be convicted in his conscience and repent, than a sluggard is to change his lazy habits.

The tendency towards laziness can be found in all of us. Examine yourself about this. You may be a hard worker at some things, only to be a sluggard in other things that matter more. Do you work long hours, putting in extra time to get your work done? Good, but how much effort do you put into prayer? To reading and studying God's Word? Are you conscientious in getting a project completed? Fine, but how conscientious are you loving your neighbor? The sluggard's problem is not that he doesn't get anything done. He accomplishes what he wants to do - sleep and eat. His problem is not knowing what should be priorities. Our activeness and sluggardness reveal our priorities.