Proverbs is the book of wisdom. Remember, the word wisdom in Hebrew means skill. Whenever we have wisdom we are able to live our lives skillfully. The book of Hebrews is God teaching us how to live our lives skillfully! We need the wisdom of God to live and effective Christian life. I need the wisdom of God just to make it through the day as these days on earth are very trouble and full of storms.
Proverbs 11:1–8 describes the righteous life of a wise man in contrast to the corrupt life of a wicked man. The righteous person is honest and is delivered from trouble, whereas the wicked person is dishonest, crooked, lustful, and without hope.
Proverbs 11:1-8 King James Version
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
In the days of king Solomon, they used a weighted scale in their commerce system. The Lord wanted fair dealings and not fraudulent ones. Cheating on the scales had become a common practice and this is why king Solomon address is it here in Scripture. God has always called us to live life Honestly.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
All men and women have their faults. When we become puffed up and pride enters we should brace for the fall! This is a person who sees no need for God in his life. His overconfidence boils over into self-indulgent living and egotism. The ones that are lovely usually have a lot of wisdom. They know when to be quiet and they know when to speak. The righteous person is honest and is delivered from trouble
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
This reliance on living with integrity keeps the morally upright person on the right path. This helps them avoids much of the trouble which sin brings. Moral wholeness, such as that which comes from honoring God, leads to green pastures and protects from hazardous bypaths (Psalm 23:1–4). However, the dishonest person is ruined by their own deceitfulness. The wicked person is dishonest, crooked, lustful, and without hope.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
No one can buy his way into heaven. Wealth is useless when God directs His wrath at unbelievers. Modern English proverbs such as “you can’t take it with you” convey only part of the problem. Those who rely on money, instead of God, will not only lose their wealth in eternity, they’ll lose everything.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Jesus said His sheep—those who are true believers—know His voice and follow Him. They take the same road He takes (John 10:4). Truly righteous people walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). They walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1). They walk in love (Ephesians 5:1), and they walk carefully (Ephesians 5:15).
By contrast, the wicked conduct themselves in a way that is right in their own eyes, but wrong in the Lord’s eyes (Proverbs 14:12). They pursue evil, and they are at enmity with God.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
A righteous person escapes from trouble and death. Trouble cannot trap him or defeat him. Leading a godly life means not engaging in the crooked, deceptive sins which lead to natural consequences.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
According to this verse, the wicked person has no hope of surviving death. Death ends his quest for wealth, and his hope of becoming rich dies with him. Worse, the evil person plunges into an eternity without hope or redemption (John 3:36).
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
This is the Scripture we will camp out in for awhile today!
Proverbs 11:8 (New International Version) “The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.”
Kong Solomon contrasts the way righteous and wicked people deal with life’s troubles. This uses the typical style of a “proverb,” which is a common sense statement. Here, the typical pattern is that a moral life generally keeps a person out of trouble, while a sinful life often brings on terrible consequences. Obedience to God’s commands, in particular (Proverbs 1:7), helps a godly person avoid danger. Those who ignore this wisdom move straight towards their own ruin.
Proverbs 21:18, says “that the wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous.”
We are fully aware that this scripture does not say that the just will never have any problems. In fact, Scripture says that it will rain on the just and the unjust.
Psalm 34:6-7 (King James Version)
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Scripture gives example after example of how God‘s chosen cried out and he delivered them. In the space below, I have provided several examples for you to look up.
Example 1: In Scripture, we find that Egypt enslaved the Israelites and Egypt mocked their God! However, Egypt became ravished and were destroyed. Remember, their armies being consumed in the Red Sea?
Example 2: In Scripture, we also find in an ancient Babylon Haman plotting against Mordecai. Mordecai built gallows to hang Haman on, but we read he was hung there instead! (Ester 7:10)
Example 3: The people conspired against Daniel, because they were jealous of him. In Daniel 6:16, we find that they threw him into the lion’s den only to find him alive the next morning. Then, they were tossed to those lions where their bodies were devoured by the lions.
Example 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s best soldiers were incinerated when throwing the Hebrew’s into the fire. While, they walked without being burned. (Daniel 3:19)
Example 5: Saul sought David’s life yet God brought the Philistines against Saul. Finally, Saul was killed and David was spared.
Example 6: our lord and savior Jesus Christ was unfairly crucified; however, Christ arose from the dead! We read in Revelation 14: 11-13
“11 And the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever received the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. And the smoke of their torment sendeth.”
A wicked lifestyle leads to trouble. By defiling the body with drugs and illicit sex, a person experiences poor health. By committing crime, a person courts trouble with the law, and is likely to end up behind bars. By violating God’s command not to commit adultery, a person will encounter marital problems and may experience public disgrace. It is always wise to obey God and live under the smile of His approval.
We are never righteous in or of yourself! It does not dwell within us naturally! The indwelling of righteousness only comes as a result of imputed righteousness! In other words, the righteousness I have was put on my account simply because I believe. I believe that Jesus Christ died for me on the cross of calvary! That means my sins were placed on him. The penalty of sin (death) was bore for me. Moreover, my sinfulness was placed upon him, and his righteousness placed upon me.Thus, we have the ability to walk righteously before God.
Woe to those who die in their sins. Woe to those who die without Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Studying the scripture in a more personal level brought me to Revelation chapter 14. In the space below, I have provided it for you.
So, the following scripture is true. Those that have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior have won the victory, and those who will not God will also receive their just reward.
