Righteous Living

Proverbs 13:6 says, "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner." We begin by looking at a few key words as defined by the original Hebrew language: "Righteousness" ( v. 6a) refers to a desire to do right, or upright living. It has to do with living rightly before God. As such "righteousness" (v. 6a), as well as throughout Proverbs, is portrayed as a friend. "Wickedness" (v. 6b), on the other hand, is seen as an enemy. Wickedness seeks to hurt us, while righteousness helps.

"Guards" (v. 6a) has to do with protecting or preserving. "Blameless" (v. 6a) is the word for "integrity," and refers to moral wholeness, or the idea of being without moral blemish. "Overthrows" (v. 6b) means "to turn upside down" or "to overthrow." "Overthrow" is the best translation here.

"Wickedness" (v. 6b) is the opposite of "righteousness" (v. 6a), and refers to anything but living an upright life before God. Rather, it refers directly to a life in rebellion against God. "Sinners" (v. 6b) is obvious, referring to all who are godless.

Note again Proverbs 13:6, "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner." When you have an honest desire to do right and walk in the way of righteousness, your blameless life of integrity will guard you or keep you from fatal mistakes. God watches over the righteous and protects you along life's way.

The wicked, on the other hand, have no such protection from God. The sinner who lives a life of godlessness, from which the love for sin comes forth, will be overthrown or brought down to destruction. The sin with which they rebel against God becomes the snare that catches them and brings them down.

Only a righteous, blameless life will be guarded and blessed by God. Let Jesus help you live uprightly begore God and you will find blessing and strength for the day. Amen.

God's Unfailing Love

Psalm 13, a short psalm of just six verses, was probably written during those tough years of exile when Saul and his army pursued David, seeking his life. David fled before Saul, even confessing to his friend Jonathan, Saul's son, "there is but a step between me and death" (1 Sam. 20:3b). David seems to question why God wasn't judging Saul for doing evil, and yet David, while doing good, felt abandoned by the Lord.

The psalm begins with an oh so familiar line: "How long?" (Psalm 13:1a). "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?" (vv. 1-2). How often we too question the Lord: "Why Lord? Why me? Why has this calamity come upon me?"

Such questions are perfectly good to ask when your heart is right with God. The martyred saints in heaven even ask a similar question: "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'" (Rev. 6:10). Like David, when trouble arises and we pray for help, but it seems that no help comes, we feel as though our God has deserted us. Simply put, we feel abandoned. We feel like God no longer looks upon us with favor.

David tried devising various schemes to help him overcome the enemy, but all were to no avail. None of them satisfied him. After some time of great struggle, David learned to trust God in all circumstances, and he declared: "My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me" (Psalm 31:15).

We, too, need to quit scheming and trying to devise our own way forward. We, too, need to learn the same lesson David learned and trust the Lord and rely on Him in all circumstances in life. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Not only did David seek peace within, that he would trust God in all things, but he also prayed for protection from his enemies. He made three requests: (1) "Consider" (Psalm 13:3a) or "Look on me" (NIV); (2) "hear me" (v. 3a) or "answer" (NIV); and (3) "Enlighten my eyes" (v. 3b) or "Give light to my eyes" (NIV). Feeling abandoned, as though God hid His face from him, David prayed that God would again turn His face toward him, fix His eyes on him, and examine him closely. He prayed that the Lord would answer by sending encouragement to him. He prayed for spiritual insight, as well as physical and mental strength and energy. In similar circumstances we should pray in like manner.

Remember, throughout this whole time David daily faced the possibility of death: "Lest I sleep the sleep of death" (v. 3c). David's main concern was the glory of God. David was chosen by God and anointed king, so if he failed God would be ridiculed, "and my enemy will say, 'I have overcome him,' and my foes will rejoice when I fall" (v. 4, NIV). "Fall" (v. 4c, NIV) or "moved" (NKJV) means “to waver, to be agitated, to totter and shake” (Wiersbe, W. W. [2004], Be Worshipful [1st ed., 57], Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries). If David were to waver, the people of Israel might think God was incapable of fulfilling His promises.

So David confirmed his faith: "But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation" (v. 5). "But" (v. 5a) introduces a transition. Instead of fear, David exuded faith. Instead of questioning, David was claiming God's promises. "Mercy" (v. 5a) could be translated "steadfast love" (ESV) or "unfailing love" (NIV). God's unfailing love was all that David needed. It led to rejoicing in his "heart" for "salvation" (v. 5b).

It also put a song of praise on his lips: "I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me" (v. 6). "Bountifully" (v. 6b) refers to God's goodness or His generosity in dealing with His people in grace. The NIV says literally, "for he has been good to me" (v. 6b). David's circumstances were the same but he wasn't. God had changed him. When he stopped focusing on his inward feelings and his outward foes, and began to trust the Lord and to look to Him by faith, the Lord took hold of him and changed him.

The message should be clear. Stop focusing on your inward feelings and your outward foes. Rather, look to the Lord by faith and put your trust in Him. The Lord will take hold of you and change you. He will bless you bountifully in His grace and He will make you more like Jesus. Amen.