DCLM Daily Manna Monday 6 February 2023
TOPIC: Bitter End of Unrighteousness
Text: Proverbs 11:1-9 (KJV)
11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
KEY VERSE
“The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.”
(Proverbs 11:6)
In most societies, righteous people are generally considered unwise, unenlightened and unintelligent and are therefore usually despised, contemptuously treated and described in a disparaging manner. They feel righteousness is far from prosperity and earthly success. In any case, unrighteousness may bring earthly prosperity and baseless success, but at the end, there are regret, sorrow and pain. Righteousness brings lasting peace, eternal joy and favour with God.
The passage under consideration contrasts the righteous with the unrighteous. God detest unrighteousness in every way. The unrighteous use dishonest weights for quick prosperity. When wealth comes, they manifest pride, pomposity and haughtiness. They fail to realise that their transient wealth will never deliver them in the day of trouble. When they die, their expectations will perish.
Troubles comes to both the righteous and unrighteous, but deliverance from harm is the result of walking according to the will of God. Those who continually walk in unrighteousness will end in regret and destruction.
Those who work for the destruction of others through malice, slander and libel will fall into mischief, but the righteous will escape all their antics and slanderous activities. The truth is that, God does not delight in the death or destruction of the wicked but that they come to embrace the light of the gospel through repentance unto God and faith towards Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Sin may taste sweet initially but it is eternally bitter.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 20-21
