Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 28:1, 4, 12, 15, 28 ESV

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Wicked: morally wrong, an actively bad person, condemned, guilty, ungodly - Stong’s Exhaustive Concordance

In chapter 28, the writer gives us five views of the wicked person. Each one fits the definition above.

Proverbs 28:1 – The conscience of the wicked is active. He is self condemned and he always faces unwanted detection with its accompanying punishment.

.Proverbs 28:4 – The activity of the wicked is antithetical to the Law and he is recognized for his deeds. His praise and companions will come from those like him.

Proverbs 28:12 – The triumph of the wicked is at the expense of the righteousness. The triumph of the righteous in the same token will be to God’s glory and the wicked’s loss.

Proverbs 28:15 – The success of the wicked bodes ill for the poor. The poor are the weak. The wicked take advantage of those who are easiest to overcome. The illustrations of this in our time are too numerous to need stating.

Proverbs 28:28 – The success and the failure of the wicked will directly affect the righteous. This world is one of integration. There are no communes to separate and live apart from the world. Therefore the wheat and the tares grow together.

How can this somewhat comprehensive view of the wicked be applied?

1. The wise person knows to never trust the wicked.

2. No matter what his protestations may be, the wicked man never has the best interest of the poor at heart.

3. The opposition of the righteous toward the conduct of the wicked is a Divine requirement.

And as sure as there is a woe to the wicked it will be well for the righteous.