Proverbs 24:19-22 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 24:19-22, which read,

v. 19, 20 - Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked; for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

This has been a common instruction from the Lord about our response to the apparent temporary benefits of following evil and wicked practices.  Proverbs 3:31 says, "Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways."  Proverbs 23:17 says, "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always."  Also, the first verse of this chapter says, "Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;..."  It must be a common practice to see the advancement that those who are not following after God are making as success personally and professionally and envy what they have.  Remember you are gauging it off of what is important to the world and not what is important to God.

The lamp is a word picture of life.  Job 3:20 says, "Why is light given to him who suffers, and life to the bitter of soul,..."  We all have a lamp or light which is our life from God.  We are all created in and as the image of God.  Those who do not follow after Him will not have a future with Him and not enjoy His light for eternity.  This is one of the "no mores" of heaven.  There will be no more need for the light of the sun because the light of the S-O-N will be all that we need.  Remember to keep your eyes on what God's says is important and lasting and that the Creator of all is speaking to us about the future of evil ways and those who follow after them.

v. 21, 22 - My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those who are given to change, for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?

The "fear of the Lord" is a common theme all through the book of Proverbs but here is also added the "fear of the king," lower case "k."  The king represents those God has put in place to govern over us.  We are to respect them.  They are also to be held to do what governing bodies are in place by God to do and that is to reward the right and punish the wrong.  We could be and many have been under governments that have flipped this over and other righteous governments have had to come in and correct the order.  There is a moral code within us that we fight against but it is there by God and out of His love to draw us to Him.  

A citizen who is a Christian gives respect to God and to those who govern over them.  Peter draws from this verse when he says in 1 Peter 1:17 and 2:17, "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;...Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."  Those who seek to change or rebel against authority will have uncertainty as a part of their lives and we who are wise and following after God are to stand clear of them and their ways.  

Evil is appealing otherwise we wouldn't be drawn to it.  Evil has an end and this is what we need to be reminded of.  Those associated with evil will suffer for it but those who follow after the Lord will experience all the opposites of these 4 verses today.  There will be a future with the Lord.  There will be a light experience which is the light from the S-O-N and eternal life with Him.  There will be peace and also a future to be known.  Following the wisdom of the Lord is also appealing if we fix our eyes upon it.  Let us pray.

"Lord, our eyes get diverted at times.  We take in too much from the world and its seemingly harmless benefits for the here and now but may we not get sucked in to this seemingly temporary fix.  May we long for the eternal glory of You and being in Your presence and experiencing what You have provided for those who follow after You.  May we renew our minds this morning of You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam 
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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