No disaster overcomes the righteous,
but the wicked are full of misery.
Proverbs 12:21
Observation: There are several proverbs that provide a sentiment or teaching similar to this one, which can be summarized as this ... good, righteous, faithful, and obedient people are blessed and do not suffer, however those who are evil, deceitful, sinful, and wicked are cursed. Interestingly, this became consistent with how the Jews taught about hardship and sin, even going so far as declaring that those born with ailments such as deformity or blindness had somehow sinned - them or their parents - and anyone who experienced unfortunate losses in life must have committed unknown sin.
The issue is that this issue is so complex that it cannot be so black-and-white, and even the author of this proverb (Solomon) knew that when he also wrote Ecclesiastes stating that there was no consistency between righteous behavior and quality of life.
We know we all sin and have wickedness within us. Many of us believe in Jesus, worship the Lord, and seek the word of the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. Others just live within their wickedness and even celebrate it. And the connections between difficult life-events and worldly riches are unobvious at best. If that is true, and the other teachings of Solomon, Moses, Jesus, Paul, and others are also the God-inspired truth, how do we reconcile this proverb and the others like it?
We do so by understanding the eternal picture of the Lord, and in that picture we understand that the conditions of this world are extremely temporary, and the measures of this world are extremely limited. Most "disaster" and "misery" on earth lasts for a short time, and involves comparisons to more favorable worldly conditions. None of those worldly conditions can compare the eternal, kingdom perspective, where the goodness that comes upon the faithful is so extremely good, and the misery that will befall the wicked disbelievers is beyond description and understanding.
Application: I am in a time of disaster, but even now I don't really see it that way as the Lord has given me both his spiritual comfort and a level of earthly security through his blessings. That said, I am NOT righteous. I fall short of that mark daily. I deserve to be "full of misery", and I might end up feeling that way in months to come.
In all of this, these are all just worldly perspectives. I want a kingdom perspective, and from that point of view I am blessed, and there are no disasters on my horizon as that future involves heaven, wading in the river that flows from the throne, in the light of the Lord himself, bathing in his love, while we sing 'holy, holy, holy is the Lord' with all our hearts.
Prayer: Lord, I know I am unworthy of your blessings and love, and I should be condemned to suffering. You have made a way for me and others, and I thank you so much for that. I will and do look to you every day for my daily bread, for my strength, for my joy, for my portion, and for my love. Amen.
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