Thursday, November 20, 2008

November 21

Nov 21 - Today from Proverbs 21 we look at verse 18
"The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright."

At first reading, this verse seems a bit difficult to comprehend. The study Bible I use has a reference by the verse that points to verse eight of chapter eleven, which states, "The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead." This helps to bring some clarity to the composition of the thought, but what does it mean?
First, we must always remember that the book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom, not of promises. Wisdom is loosely defined as 'life the way God meant it to be' and can point to promises, but life in this temporal world is not the way God meant it to be. This particular proverb points to promise. It is an encouragement - a call to patience and perseverance - pointing to the Blessed Hope. In the context of the fullness of God's Word, the righteous will indeed be ultimately and fully rescued from all trouble - but not necessarily in this life. Jesus gives us a promise concerning troubles; He promised that we would have them! "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Jesus points to the blessed hope. He has overcome the world. "Yet at present we do not see everything subject to Him." (Hebrews 2:8). The wicked still appear to carry out their evil exploitations with impunity while many righteous suffer. We can loose heart when we look with temporal eyes. ". . . now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6, 7). God has given us eternal eyes through His Spirit. Jesus absolutely will return, and will have His reward with Him; eternal life, without troubles. What about the wicked? "They will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (1 Peter 4:5). They may have gone to the grave with impunity, but they will not enter eternity with it.
Peter's first epistle was written to the church undergoing severe persecution. He never told them that if they had enough faith, they would rise above it. He told them if they would be faithful to Christ, their faith would be tested and refined by the persecutions. His instruction to them was to live as God intended them to live, exercising wisdom even in the midst of severe troubles:
"Prepare your mind for action; be self-controlled; set your hopes on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1:13)
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." (2:12)
"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." (2:16)
"Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (3:14, 15)
"Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins." (4:7, 8)
"Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (4:10)
These are the imperatives to believers undergoing deep troubles. . . or even light troubles. This is how His church should behave in any and all circumstances - it's life the way God meant it to be.

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