He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Wisdom’s Great Gain: The Gift Of Righteousness
(Part #1): Proverbs 11:5-6
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.
EXPOSITION:
In
this section of chapter 11 we find proverbs that speak of another display of wisdom
that shows great gain…. righteous living.
For
us to come to a sound understanding of these verses, we must come to a basic
understanding of the term “righteousness” in these 4 verses. In these verses, the term “righteousness” is
used twice and the word “righteous” is used once. All of these terms come from the same root
word. This root word carries with it the
ideas of “cleansed” or “cleared”, to be “right”, “just”, or “lawful”.
To
summarize all of this: “righteousness”
is the state of being cleansed from sin (disobedience),
making a person right (just) in the
sight of God.
Why
is this gift of God described as a result of the application of wisdom to our
lives? We are clearly told in Scripture
that this gift of righteous only comes through the application of God’s Word to
our life. It is in His Word we are told
of the need to repent and believe the gospel message. It is through these graces of God that
righteousness flows.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there
shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of
sin. But now the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets; Even the righteousness of
God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:20-22)
5) The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the
wicked shall fall by his own
wickedness.
Note several truths we can learn from this proverb…
For
the perfect:
1. “the perfect” - Those who without spot in God’s
sight are those who have been cleansed of their sin by God. They are considered “perfect” NOT because they
do not commit sin, but it is because the sin they have committed has been
cleansed by God through the shed blood of Christ.
2. “the righteousness” - It is this cleansing that results in God’s
acceptance of him. God has graced him
with cleansing. In spite of the sin he
committed, and continues to commit, he is now accepted and looked upon as
perfect by God.
3. “shall direct his way” – This cleansing by
God and His acceptance of the sinner graces the cleansed one with the ability
to recognize and live according to the desires of God. It is in this sense that the righteousness of
the perfect directs the path of life that he takes. Prior to his cleansing, he did not desire,
nor was he able to fulfill the desires of God for his life. It is only after the receipt of righteousness
(cleansing and acceptance by God) that he is able to obey Him.
For
the wicked:
1. “the wicked” – those who are guilty and
condemned in God’s sight.
2. “shall fall” – those who have never received God’s
righteousness through Christ’s death shall be overthrown and devastated as they
must face the eternal judgment of their sins.
3. “his own wickedness” – the judgment that will
fall upon him is based upon his willful disobedience against God. Keep in mind,
it is “his own” wickedness. In other words, he is the one that is totally responsible
for the judgment he faces because he has chosen to disobey.
“In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in]
the pathway [thereof there is] no death.” (Proverbs 12:28)
“The heathen are sunk down in the pit [that]
they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known [by] the
judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own
hands. Higgaion. Selah.” (Psalms 9:15-16)
The
theme of responsibility for coming judgment is continued in the next proverb…
6) The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but
transgressors shall be taken in [their
own] naughtiness.
1. the cleansing and acceptance by God, shown by
those living lives of obedience to Him, will take away any judgment for their
sin.
2.
those who have crossed over the line of
God’s law and seen as guilty in His sight, will be caught “red-handed” in the
commission of their perverse, twisted acts of sin. Being caught “red-handed” leaves no excuse for
nor doubt of their guilt and deserving of judgment.
“Behold, here I [am]:
witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I
taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I
oppressed? or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes
therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither
hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.” (1 Samuel 12:3-4)
“His mischief shall return upon his own head,
and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” (Psalms 7:16)
SUMMARY:
In
these proverbs we have seen that:
1.
those who have been cleansed and justified by God can understand His will and
desire to obey Him. They are removed
from the condemnation of their sin and the eternal judgment reserved for the
guilty.
2.
those who are guilty of sin and condemned in God’s sight, have chosen the path of
sin upon which they have traveled. They
have eternal judgment awaiting them of which there will be no excuse.
The
section on the gift of righteousness will continue in the next devotional (vs
7-8).
May
we all choose to speak words of wisdom, knowing that they will result in
blessings to both the speaker and the hearers.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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