The wicked is a ransom for the righteous and the faithless for the upright. Proverbs 21:18, TLV
The Next Step in our Journey with Proverbs 21… A while back, I “unpacked” in my blog (Wisdom’s Journey: Proverbs 21:16-19), how we look at a verse we feel led to dig into. It was a bit lengthy, but the long and short of it is, context.
Anytime there is a passage we don’t quite understand, we must look at it within the whole of Scripture — not just the pericope* or chapter or book, all of the Bible. I was raised Lutheran, and loved Catechism with our pastor when I was in eighth grade. He would tell our class repeatedly, “Scripture interprets Scripture.”
If we believe we have an interpretation of a particular passage, but it doesn’t jive with the whole of the Bible, then it’s not the correct understanding. There’s something more we need to investigate.
A Couple Examples
With today’s proverb, we see it has confirmation in other passages.
I found others, but in that process, I discovered — as is the case, especially in Proverbs — this verse has several interpretations:
- The evil plot that is set for the righteous person, the wicked person must endure it instead.
- When challenges befall the righteous, God may intervene through a faithless person to help the righteous person overcome it.
In case #1, the book of Esther speaks of Haman who built a gallows to execute Mordecai (Esther 5:9-14), but God intervened and Haman was executed on that very gallows (Esther 7:9-10).
In case #2, in the book of Daniel, the kings of Babylon were powerful, but fickle in their understanding of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Jewish people had been captured and made slaves, yet they had influence within the kings’ court. Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus were influenced by Daniel. But it was a long process.
Those within the courts of these kings were not happy with Daniel’s influence and, in the early years, they sought to kill Daniel and his countrymen who served with him. When these challenges arose, God intervened, and He had the faithless person execute those who tried to kill Daniel and friends.
So, what is our takeaway? What do we walk away with?
First, God took all of us on a journey to understand this passage by showing us other passages — other Biblical stories — that confirmed this verse. Did He show you other passages and stories?
Second, this is one of those passages that remind us, God sees all. Sometimes the very plot designed to harm us is foiled by the ones who meant to harm us. I like that idea. I’d like it better that no evil plot was designed for me at all, but if that happens, I must believe that God has a grander plan that I don’t see. Like when I was held up at gunpoint or when someone decided to help themselves to my checking account or when someone sought to disparage my reputation.
And that’s where faith comes in. The same faith that Esther had when she stepped before the king to plead for her people and said, “If I die, I die.” (Esther 4:16). The same faith that Daniel had when he refused to stop praying and worshiping the one true God, even though he was being thrown into the lion’s den (Daniel 6).
Or the faith that says, “Your will be done, my Father.”
Think More About It
What is your takeaway from this devotion? How has investigating scripture helped you in your walk and daily life?
Until tomorrow, may we walk in the faith of our Biblical fathers, my friends.
Trust in ADONAI [the LORD] and do good.
Dwell in the land, feed on faithfulness.
Delight yourself in ADONAI,
and He will give you the requests of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4, TLV
As we pray this passage for Israel—and others we love—let’s dwell where we are in faithfulness. Amen? God bless you!
*from the Greek: a set of verses that forms one coherent unit or thought. Used by translators of the Holy Scriptures. Generally, a heading is placed before it.
