Don't misunderstand the message...look at the whole picture!

Probing Proverbs 11:8 The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

As we approach this Proverb we need to keep before us that since life is never ending, this Proverb is true, if only in one aspect, but sometimes in both. The principle taught here is very simple, those that live close to God are delivered from trouble and that trouble lands on top of the wicked instead.

The reason we would have a problem with this principle is due to the difference between that which is “temporal” versus that which is “eternal.” These are the two aspects I mentioned before.

When we consider this life only, this Proverb might appear untrue. we all know godly individuals that have suffered greatly in this life, and we all know of very wicked people that live an easy life, long and full of comfort and even die quietly in bed. So it seems the principle does not work. However, God always views things from the eternal perspective, so the temporal is just a part of the whole picture.

We can glean some important truths here though concerning the temporal aspect and then we will look at the eternal one.

First, we must always remember that everyone, godly and ungodly, will have troubles in this life. Life happens to everyone, and if I have to go through trouble, I would rather go through trouble being close to God. He may choose to allow me to experience all of the trouble, it is clear He does that, just look at His martyrs! However, if I have to experience it, I would rather have God guiding and comforting me during that time, and, if there is any chance of being delivered from trouble, God is the most powerful to do it.

Second, at times the trouble for the godly is being caused by the ungodly. This is when a great danger I call the “Haman principle” can happen. For two months in 2011 I shared Devos from the book of Esther, it is there that I describe in detail how the “Haman principle” happens, what it does to those that are being trapped by it and what the final outcome is. In short, the very evil Haman intended for Mordecai fell on him, or to put it more specifically, Haman fell from the very gallows he had built for Mordecai. This is a truth we need to pay attention to. When we behave ungodly and plan to hurt someone, God may allow the very trouble we have planned to become our trouble. I have witnessed children of God become so bitter and unforgiving, that they try to destroy the reputation of another person, only to have the very gossip they began to entrap them! 

Sadly, the greatest truth from this Proverb is found in the eternal aspect. I say sadly, not because I am sympathetic to evil, I am not. I just feel heartbroken when I consider how much God desires to share His life with all and lead them to a godly existence, but many refuse that opportunity. No matter how easy the temporal part of life is, it is far too short to mean anything in the light of eternity. When we see godly people suffer and evil people prosper we will be tempted to think like the Psalmist:

Psalm 73:2–5 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Psalm 73:12–14 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning.

I know I have felt these things at times; it is part of being a fallen human. However, the Holy Spirit has always counseled me back to the truth from His Word. Take Psalm 73 and turn it around to 37 and there is a shocking reality that all should note: 

Psalm 37:12–13 The wicked plots against the righteous And gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, For He sees his day is coming.

What a sobering truth! In the end only those that have been declared godly through the shed blood of Jesus Christ will be delivered from a terrible judgment. This is not popular to teach, but that does not change the reality! All those close to God will escape the trouble of eternal judgment, and it will fall only on those that chose to live a life separate from God! 

Meditation: What about us? Do we live like Christ encouraged? Loving even our enemy? What is the balance required to hate evil, but love evildoers! Do you see yourself above others, or do you know that you are capable of any evil also?