Proverbs 12:26 & 28, On Which Road Are You?
June 22, Proverbs 12:26 & 28
Matt. 7:13-14; Luke 16:19-31 “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness” (Jn. 8:12).
On Which Road Are You?
2. The Supreme Way is the Trusted Way. In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death (v.28). There are three Hebrew words in this verse each meaning way or path. We could say, “In the way of righteousness is life, and the route of that road is not death!” It does not, like the path of the wicked, lead astray. Jesus said to his disciples in those dark hours before Calvary: If it were not so I would have told you. David Livingstone, in a time of severe testing, claimed that verse as a promise made by Jesus, and then added in his diary: “This is the word of a gentleman of the most strict and sacred honour; and that’s an end of it.” The Way of the righteous may be rough at times, but it is always the right way, the supreme way, the well-secured way for God’s pilgrims.
a. A Rebuttal: In some points the life of the righteous and his neighbour (v.26) may resemble one another, for all men sin! The difference between them, it is loudly claimed, is only a matter of degree. His neighbour may merely be guilty of more sins than the other. Does this mean the righteous are not, in fact, more excellent than the wicked? Let us consider a few points in reply. i. When the truly righteous man sins he abhors it, but the wicked man feels no such hatred. The one cannot tolerate sin, while the other can and does! The sinner purposes to do wrong, but the righteous does not. ii. A Christian finds no happiness in sin. The opposite is the case for the wicked. They delight in what the Word of God and conscience condemns. iii. The righteous man strives for holiness. There is no life without some dark spots, but the habitual course of his conduct is to please God, but the wicked mocks at a holy life. The righteous is habitually right, though occasionally does wrong; the other is habitually wrong, even if sometimes he does right! iv. The righteous man repents of sin through Jesus Christ, and diligently seeks victory over all sin. Wicked men glibly acknowledge their sins, but there is no repentance, no calling on Christ, no desire for deliverance! The obligation, then, of the righteous is to so live before his neighbour so that his light will shine before men (Matt. 5:16).
b. A Reward: “In the way of righteousness is life” (v.28). This goes beyond the Superb Way! It is the God-marked and blood-bought way from death unto life. Death cannot enter here. It is the path on which God’s character is the supreme attraction, where the believer’s life is hid with Christ in God. All the affections of the righteous run after Him as rivers run to the sea. They joy in His favour as they anticipate the fullness of eternal joy. They seek to experience and express His love. He is the supreme Object before their eyes (Heb. 12:1-2), filling their horizon as they seek to make His will and way supreme (Jn. 6:28-29; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 6:6). This is the way that brightens all the scenes through which believers pass, and nothing can deprive him of that life which is in Christ.
Thought: “Salvation is a happy security and a secure happiness” (William Jenkyn).
Prayer: “Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be” (Murray M’Cheyne).