but with humility comes wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.
7 When the wicked man dies,
his expectation comes to nothing,
and hope placed in wealth vanishes.
8 The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.
9 With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.
10 When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices,
and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.
11 A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man with understanding keeps silent."
Proverbs 11:2-12
Beloved, today we have been abundantly blessed, through the Holy Spirit, we are given this rich and marvelous text, from which it would serve us all well, to pay attention. Close attention, as I believe,
God, has an important message, for each of us, in this season.
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for gathering us together today
for the privilege of worshiping You and Your Word
I just pray for all those joining us here,
that we might be faithful to share the gospel with others
that we might be instruments of Your grace to bring about Your love
and peace in our world in the midst of all the chaos
that we might raise our children and grandchildren
in Your ways, to bring about a godly seed in the next generation
and we pray that Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven
In Jesus' name
Amen
Today's Message: Delivered or Destroyed
God, has an important message, for each of us, in this season.
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for gathering us together today
for the privilege of worshiping You and Your Word
I just pray for all those joining us here,
that we might be faithful to share the gospel with others
that we might be instruments of Your grace to bring about Your love
and peace in our world in the midst of all the chaos
that we might raise our children and grandchildren
in Your ways, to bring about a godly seed in the next generation
and we pray that Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven
In Jesus' name
Amen
Today's Message: Delivered or Destroyed
Good Morning Beloved,
Thank you all for joining us today
Open with me, if you would, your Bibles to the book of Proverbs, chapter 11. Today, we'll be examining this rich text that God has been so gracious to provide in His written Word, here in Proverbs chapter 11. Allow me to just read that you Proverbs chapter 11, verses 2-12, follow along with me.
"When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death. The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.
When the wicked man dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes.
The righteous one is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked one goes in. With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued. When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices, and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting. A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a man with understanding keeps silent."
The verses in our text today, contrast the long-term outcome of righteousness with that of wickedness. A righteous person will be secure in his or her walk, and conduct, but a person whose paths are crooked, an unregenerate, whose conduct is wicked, eventually will find him or her self in troubling situations, of their own making. Righteousness has power to deliver but the wicked, the wicked however, are bound to failure
Thank you all for joining us today
Open with me, if you would, your Bibles to the book of Proverbs, chapter 11. Today, we'll be examining this rich text that God has been so gracious to provide in His written Word, here in Proverbs chapter 11. Allow me to just read that you Proverbs chapter 11, verses 2-12, follow along with me.
"When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death. The righteousness of the blameless clears his path,
but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright rescues them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.
When the wicked man dies, his expectation comes to nothing, and hope placed in wealth vanishes.
The righteous one is rescued from trouble; in his place, the wicked one goes in. With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued. When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices, and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting. A city is built up by the blessing of the upright, but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked. Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a man with understanding keeps silent."
The verses in our text today, contrast the long-term outcome of righteousness with that of wickedness. A righteous person will be secure in his or her walk, and conduct, but a person whose paths are crooked, an unregenerate, whose conduct is wicked, eventually will find him or her self in troubling situations, of their own making. Righteousness has power to deliver but the wicked, the wicked however, are bound to failure
The text begins by referring to the value of righteousness in
guiding and protecting from hardships. Then it moves into what the end
results of choosing the path of righteousness verses the path of the
world will be. The righteous will be delivered but the wicked will be
destroyed. Beloved, we are all given the choice, will we choose to delivered, or choose to be destroyed. We must all choose for ourselves.
As we read in Joshua 24, "But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh."
Joshua 24:15
And in verse 23, we're told, "Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel."
As we read in Joshua 24, "But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh."
Joshua 24:15
And in verse 23, we're told, "Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel."
The upright, the righteous of God, stands in contrast to the ungodly or treacherous unregenerate. Integrity refers to moral wholeness, being without moral blemish. Integrity or righteousness is a most valuable guide in all perplexities. Matthew 6:22-24 says, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money."
Beloved, when integrity is a way of life, it guides and guards like a shepherd. Integrity says, "I come to You Lord today, not to get You to do what I say, but to hear and to do what You say."
Devious, is the contrasting characteristic. Devious, means deceitfulness; double-dealing. A skillful use of underhand tactics.The noun selep is used only here and in 15:4; "The tongue that heals is a tree of life,but a devious tongue breaks the spirit. The related verb slap which means "to pervert, subvert, or overturn." It is rendered "overthrows" in 13:6 and "frustrates" in 22:12.
A person’s conduct who is crooked is devious. The perverseness that rebels against righteousness is the wicked's own snare which will lead them to destruction. And so, verse 4 reveals that riches are unable to help us in facing disaster. "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."
The day of wrath stands for serious troubles or reversals, especially death. Most prefer riches to righteousness and place their faith in them. Riches are destitute of value in the day of wrath. You can’t take your riches with you after you die or on your way to captivity so they will no longer be able to aid, protect, or comfort you.
In contrast the just person will be delivered from trouble. Wealth cannot buy long life; only righteousness can aid in that
10:2.
And in 10:27, fearing the Lord is said to contribute to longevity.
Verse 5, again encourages the student to virtuous conduct. "The
righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, But the wicked will
fall by his own wickedness."
The image is that of going along a path without stumbling or falling.
Righteous living or living to become righteous or sanctified results in a
smooth or straight way, 3:5-6, a life with fewer obstacles and
troubles verse 11:8. Keeping your conscience and character pure enables you
to pursue your aims without stumbling or hindrances that impede and
misdirect. Wickedness though leads to a person’s downfall. The evil are
ensnared by their own desires and greed which causes them to stumble and
fall. A persons basic orientation will effect the way he or she turns
out and how they end up.
In verse 6, we encounter another benefit of righteous living which is deliverance or escape from troubles. "The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the treacherous will be caught be their own greed."
God’s providence sees to it that
there is a connection between deed and result. Evil deeds will cause a
downfall. The evil desires of an unfaithful, "treacherous," person get
him in trouble,we see that in verse 3. For he is trapped, for his desires are leading him into sin.
The straight forward straight through type of integrity delivers the
godly from the stares and dangers which are laid out for them.
Then verse 7 teaches us, that it is futile to forsake righteousness to gain power. "When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of strong men perishes." However, to a godless man possessions, pleasures, and power are his motivation and his hope, "the hope of strength". There is a sudden end to the expectations of those who are full of strength and build their prospects for life on it. All that the wicked put their hopes in, such as riches, will disappear. If not in life, most certainly in death. Death for the wicked puts an end to all he hoped to accomplish, 10:28. Neither his wealth, in verse 4, nor his power can divert death.
Death everywhere is a sad event. Even in a flower, a bird, or an animal it is a saddening sight. Death of a baby is tragic. The death of a righteous man is sad. But beloved, the death of the wicked is the saddest most tragic sight under the heavens. When the wicked man dies all hope of salvation and of transformation of character, also dies. When death strikes, and it will for us all, in its appointed time, Hebrews 9:27, ones opportunity for change and salvation are now forever lost. And all hope is then gone.
Beloved, what is dearer to a person's soul, than hope? Hope. Hope is dearer than life itself,
for ones life seems to be cursed without it. Hope lives in the soul, and by its hopes, it lives. The grim reaper kills the hope. He kills the hope of liberty, improvement, the hope of honor,
and the hope of happiness. And when they are gone, beloved, they are gone forever. For every "star of hope" quenched,
and the sky over the soul is black as midnight. An unrepentant man dies
and carries nothing away. There is no glory that will descend after him.
He goes to the generations of his fathers, and will never see light and
good again. All hope is gone!
Death will overcome God’s enemies. Wicked men rebel against God, battling with inhuman strength, but death is stronger. Death comes and puts an end to all the wicked life hope. Death’s cold touch freezes the heart, and stills and silences the pride of man for ever. The strong hope of the righteous however, lives beyond the grave. I Peter 1:3-4, "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." It is a living hope for it is founded in the Living God.
Then, verse 8, teaches us of the inevitability of retribution. "The righteous is delivered from trouble, but the wicked takes his place."
Then, as stated in verses 3, 5 and 6, righteous living helps to avert trouble, 2:13. The contrast is between one who is delivered while the other falls before the same danger. The just will be delivered only to be replaced by the wicked or the one who deserves to be punished. The evil person will fall into the pit they dug, or has been dug, for the righteous. Proverbs 26:27; Psalm 7:16.
Though divine justice only manifests itself in this world as a prelude and not completely and finally, God still sees to it that the righteous escape but the deceiving wicked don’t. God makes a way for the righteous even where there is no way. Now all men will have their troubles. "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards" Job 5:7. While the good and the bad have both trouble, our relationship with it is strikingly different, as indicated in this proverb.
The righteous are "going out of trouble." For, "The righteous is delivered out of trouble." The righteous have their troubles. Their troubles arising from physical sicknesses, mental difficulties, emotional anxieties, moral imperfections, social upheavals, slanders, and bereavements. But the glorious fact they are being "delivered out" of these troubles. They are emerging out of darkness into light, out of discord into harmony.
We are being delivered out of trouble now. There are many striking instances of deliverance on record. We see this happening when the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea. The Lord delivered them by parting the Red Sea—and then the Egyptians took their place in the Red Sea, in Exodus 14:28, 29. We see this happening when wicked Haman built a gallows to hang Mordecai on—only to end up hanging himself, Esther 7:10. We see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego spared in the fiery furnace while those who cast them in were consumed by the heat, Daniel 3:22. Abraham, Noah, Moses, Mordecai, Daniel. Every righteous man can refer to troubles from which he has been delivered, enemies that he has overcome, difficulties that he has surmounted, storms that he has left behind.
We will be delivered out of all trouble at death. With the last breath all our sorrows depart as a dream in the night. All the heavy load is left on this side of the Jordan. John in his vision saw the righteous who had "come out of great tribulation," clothed in white robes, and exulting in glorious bliss.
Take heart, you righteous ones! Yet a little while, and all your storms will be hushed-all your clouds will melt into the widest blue yonder.
I am obligated, bound by Almighty God, to point out here, the wicked, however, are GOING INTO TROUBLE. "but the wicked takes his place." Yes, they are in trouble now, but they are going deeper into it with every breath they take. Whether or not, they are aware, in this moment, their skies are growing darker, and the clouds heavier; they are forging thunder-bolts and nursing fierce storms. The trouble they are going into is unmitigated. Their lives are not mixed with blessings, in which lighten their load and relieve their gloom. The trouble they are going into, is one that will be unending, for their fate will be eternal. A fate, as we read in Mark 9:44 "where their worm does not die,and the fire is not quenched."
Verse 9 contrasts two more instructional statements. "With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
A godless person can defame another merely by what he says in Proverbs 10:18-19. Contrasted with a profane person, who is careless in what he says, is the righteous person who escapes through knowledge. The hostile purposes masked by the words of the mouth of the wicked are seen through by the righteous by virtue of the wisdom which God has taught them. This penetrating look is our means of deliverance.
In Closing....
David's struggle with, and triumph over a strong temptation to distrust God, and betake himself to indirect means for his own safety, in a time of danger. - Those that truly fear God and serve him, are welcome to put their trust in him. The psalmist, before he gives an account of his temptation to distrust God, records his resolution to trust in Him, as that by which he was resolved to live and die.
The believer, though not terrified by his enemies, may be tempted, by the fears of his friends, to desert his post, or neglect his work. They perceive his danger, but not his security; they give him counsel that savors of worldly policy, rather than of heavenly wisdom. The principles of religion are the foundations on which the faith and hope of the righteous are built. We are concerned to hold these fast against all temptations to unbelief; for believers would be undone, if they had not God to go to, God to trust in, and future bliss to hope for. The prosperity of wicked people in their wicked, evil ways, and the straits and distresses which the best men are sometimes brought into, tried David's faith.
Faith’s indignant repudiation of faint hearted counsel in the hour of danger.
Beloved, note the difference between the righteous and the wicked. See the righteous moving on, with his troubles receding like a cloud behind him, with sunshine breaking on his horizon. See the wicked advancing under a sky growing more and more dark and threatening. "Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house; we will serve the Lord."
Today, you are also given a choice. Choose this day, whom you will serve!
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Then verse 7 teaches us, that it is futile to forsake righteousness to gain power. "When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of strong men perishes." However, to a godless man possessions, pleasures, and power are his motivation and his hope, "the hope of strength". There is a sudden end to the expectations of those who are full of strength and build their prospects for life on it. All that the wicked put their hopes in, such as riches, will disappear. If not in life, most certainly in death. Death for the wicked puts an end to all he hoped to accomplish, 10:28. Neither his wealth, in verse 4, nor his power can divert death.
Death everywhere is a sad event. Even in a flower, a bird, or an animal it is a saddening sight. Death of a baby is tragic. The death of a righteous man is sad. But beloved, the death of the wicked is the saddest most tragic sight under the heavens. When the wicked man dies all hope of salvation and of transformation of character, also dies. When death strikes, and it will for us all, in its appointed time, Hebrews 9:27, ones opportunity for change and salvation are now forever lost. And all hope is then gone.
Death will overcome God’s enemies. Wicked men rebel against God, battling with inhuman strength, but death is stronger. Death comes and puts an end to all the wicked life hope. Death’s cold touch freezes the heart, and stills and silences the pride of man for ever. The strong hope of the righteous however, lives beyond the grave. I Peter 1:3-4, "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." It is a living hope for it is founded in the Living God.
Then, verse 8, teaches us of the inevitability of retribution. "The righteous is delivered from trouble, but the wicked takes his place."
Then, as stated in verses 3, 5 and 6, righteous living helps to avert trouble, 2:13. The contrast is between one who is delivered while the other falls before the same danger. The just will be delivered only to be replaced by the wicked or the one who deserves to be punished. The evil person will fall into the pit they dug, or has been dug, for the righteous. Proverbs 26:27; Psalm 7:16.
Though divine justice only manifests itself in this world as a prelude and not completely and finally, God still sees to it that the righteous escape but the deceiving wicked don’t. God makes a way for the righteous even where there is no way. Now all men will have their troubles. "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards" Job 5:7. While the good and the bad have both trouble, our relationship with it is strikingly different, as indicated in this proverb.
The righteous are "going out of trouble." For, "The righteous is delivered out of trouble." The righteous have their troubles. Their troubles arising from physical sicknesses, mental difficulties, emotional anxieties, moral imperfections, social upheavals, slanders, and bereavements. But the glorious fact they are being "delivered out" of these troubles. They are emerging out of darkness into light, out of discord into harmony.
We are being delivered out of trouble now. There are many striking instances of deliverance on record. We see this happening when the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea. The Lord delivered them by parting the Red Sea—and then the Egyptians took their place in the Red Sea, in Exodus 14:28, 29. We see this happening when wicked Haman built a gallows to hang Mordecai on—only to end up hanging himself, Esther 7:10. We see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego spared in the fiery furnace while those who cast them in were consumed by the heat, Daniel 3:22. Abraham, Noah, Moses, Mordecai, Daniel. Every righteous man can refer to troubles from which he has been delivered, enemies that he has overcome, difficulties that he has surmounted, storms that he has left behind.
We will be delivered out of all trouble at death. With the last breath all our sorrows depart as a dream in the night. All the heavy load is left on this side of the Jordan. John in his vision saw the righteous who had "come out of great tribulation," clothed in white robes, and exulting in glorious bliss.
Take heart, you righteous ones! Yet a little while, and all your storms will be hushed-all your clouds will melt into the widest blue yonder.
I am obligated, bound by Almighty God, to point out here, the wicked, however, are GOING INTO TROUBLE. "but the wicked takes his place." Yes, they are in trouble now, but they are going deeper into it with every breath they take. Whether or not, they are aware, in this moment, their skies are growing darker, and the clouds heavier; they are forging thunder-bolts and nursing fierce storms. The trouble they are going into is unmitigated. Their lives are not mixed with blessings, in which lighten their load and relieve their gloom. The trouble they are going into, is one that will be unending, for their fate will be eternal. A fate, as we read in Mark 9:44 "where their worm does not die,and the fire is not quenched."
Verse 9 contrasts two more instructional statements. "With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."
A godless person can defame another merely by what he says in Proverbs 10:18-19. Contrasted with a profane person, who is careless in what he says, is the righteous person who escapes through knowledge. The hostile purposes masked by the words of the mouth of the wicked are seen through by the righteous by virtue of the wisdom which God has taught them. This penetrating look is our means of deliverance.
In Closing....
David's struggle with, and triumph over a strong temptation to distrust God, and betake himself to indirect means for his own safety, in a time of danger. - Those that truly fear God and serve him, are welcome to put their trust in him. The psalmist, before he gives an account of his temptation to distrust God, records his resolution to trust in Him, as that by which he was resolved to live and die.
The believer, though not terrified by his enemies, may be tempted, by the fears of his friends, to desert his post, or neglect his work. They perceive his danger, but not his security; they give him counsel that savors of worldly policy, rather than of heavenly wisdom. The principles of religion are the foundations on which the faith and hope of the righteous are built. We are concerned to hold these fast against all temptations to unbelief; for believers would be undone, if they had not God to go to, God to trust in, and future bliss to hope for. The prosperity of wicked people in their wicked, evil ways, and the straits and distresses which the best men are sometimes brought into, tried David's faith.
Faith’s indignant repudiation of faint hearted counsel in the hour of danger.
Beloved, note the difference between the righteous and the wicked. See the righteous moving on, with his troubles receding like a cloud behind him, with sunshine breaking on his horizon. See the wicked advancing under a sky growing more and more dark and threatening. "Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house; we will serve the Lord."
Today, you are also given a choice. Choose this day, whom you will serve!
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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