Many Contrasts with One Point

Let’s read Proverbs 10:22-32 below:

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.  23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.  24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.  25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.  26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.  27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.  28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.  29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.  30 The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.  31  The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.  32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

These verses contain so many contrasts between the righteous and the wicked.  The areas of life which are covered include blessing, attitude, strength, lifespan, hope, words and lips.  These short little proverbs illustrate the general principle that being righteous is better than being wicked.  As we read these verses, we ought not to try to think of all the exceptions to the general principles that we read, but instead we should be thankful for the benefits that are available to us through a relationship with the living God.

Let’s focus on verse 30 for just a second.  One of the qualities of the righteous is stability.  We will not be “moved”.  Yet the wicked will not inhabit the earth.  The righteous need not fear because God is on his/her side.  We need not be afraid.  We serve a God who cannot be moved.  We serve a God who is the “solid rock”.  Even at a time when meteors are hitting the earth, we should not be afraid.

In wisdom,
Eric