Proverbs 24:10-12:
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11 jRescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man according to his work?
I have thought about these verses often—at first not really understanding them—but as life gave me more experiences, these “mystery verses” have become clearer. This devotional, like the last one, will be challenging. In context, Verse 10 references a time of trial: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Adversity is defined as anguish or affliction, and faint is to become weak, to walk away, or to leave alone. The verse references those times we should have stood up and said something or should have taken action on someone’s behalf, but we didn’t. I believe we all share those regrets. There is a saying—not a proverb—that states: “Unless you stand for something, you will fall for everything.” Wefall or faint because our strength (character) is weak. We are too worried about what others will say or will think of us, or we are too occupied with our own agenda to step out and do the right thing. There are days of adversity that befall all of us, and these days measure our character, whether we live out our faith or personal belief, or we buckle under the pressure. Natural disasters, such as the ones that occurred in Oklahoma, are one example of adversity. Fortunately, in these extreme cases, the best of who we are appears, as we give ourselves to help others. Verse 10 addresses this.
Verse 11 speaks of those falsely accused and sentenced to death because of a crime they did not commit: “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” We know the truth and we fail to speak out (forbear), allowing the innocent to suffer. One reason this verse is difficult for me is because my experience in these situations is extremely limited. The closest I came were the years I taught in prison ministries. I was very foreign to that environment, but I determined that God had my back and that I was going to do my best to teach these men the gospel. It went well, and after my third year, I felt a couple of them could take over the study. In addition to prison ministries, we find many examples outside those walls where injustices are being perpetrated. Let’s look at a situation where a coworker is unjustly accused of something that someone else did, and we remain silent. What about when one of our classmates is being derided, and even if we do not participate, we do not attempt to stop it. Character and strength is measured in times like these, and often the reason we don’t speak up is because of our own insecurities or fears that we will become the next target or become cast out from the group. The last part of Verse 11 gives caution to these thoughts.
Verse 12 speaks of the decision we must make regarding whether we conform to the group or societal norms, or whether we speak out because our conscience answers to God: “If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” No one can answer for the conscience of another, but God who sees will render to each man and woman the “harvest” of the deeds done and the words spoken. God help us to value Biblical truth in an age where everything but Biblical truth is believed. May we live in such a way that our life becomes the scriptures that people read, and in so reading, may find a desire in themselves to know more.
Father God,
The salmon swim against the currents, and in so doing only the strong spawn; birds take off against the wind, and in so doing reach the heights; and for faith to be fortified, it too must be forged in times of trial and difficulty. Help us to do the right thing in those moments when our character is tested, and help us to seek to be honoring to You. At times, opportunities come only once. Enable us to be the difference—to be Christ to that person. Thank you and Amen.
Dios lo Bendiga – Arthur