The desire of the righteous is only good.
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
Message: My desire
Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.
What the Lord is Saying: The contrast between the righteous and the wicked continue. As I am reading and thinking about the righteous person I see a person that is God-fearing and seeks to do good throughout life. This is a person that wants to live in accordance to God's will. It is a life that is lived reflecting God's character and reflecting His commandments. It is knowing what to do and then also doing it. As I read and study the Bible and read of the different individuals lives, the common thread are those that trust God, believe God is real, understand that God must be in our lives and that now for us living on this earth, we are to walk in the way of God and the way His Son Jesus prescribed. At this time of Proverbs, the name of Jesus was not clear, but His mission and the providence of covering sin was known. Sin was a reality and in the life of those with God sin can only be cleansed by way of blood. And yet our lives must be lived in the best way possible. A Christian wants therefore to align their life with God's purposes which will then result in outcomes that are beneficial and constructive.
Thus, at this time, the mission is the same in the life of the righteous person during Old Testament times or the time of Solomon (930 BC) as it is in the time of Christ (1,000 years later) with the mission about living in a righteous way, trusting God, walking in His ways, looking to him for guidance and direction, trusting in Him. The transaction of covering sin was found in the temple, annually, through an offering offered by the priest. This was needed annually. But later when Jesus came sin would be covered once for all.
For this lesson and this Proverb today the focus seems to be on desire. The righteous are those that do good. The God-fearing person is good as God's commandments and ways are being followed. But the focus here for me is primarily on desire. The righteous person following God has a desire to pursue righteous living and in return good. Desire is my inner longing. It is my aspiration.
The Hebrew word here is transliterated from the Hebrew into the English letters as ta'avah. This Hebrew words derived from the word avah which means to incline toward. Desire is appetite. It is longing, craving. Thus, desire can be that which we seek. As such, to bridge these ideas is to say that in life I am to crave or desire or incline myself towards and seek after righteous ways. I have a choice each day in my activities.
The contrasting word here is the expectation of the wicked. It might seems harsh but the wicked are those that are not of God. It seems like today in our world, we typecast most people as being good and among all of those good people, some are really spiritual, some have a belief in God, but some are not believing in God but still wanting to live good lives. It is only a small minority in life that we would call wicked and yet it seems possible in life or in the eyes of God that the number of people that belong in the wicked realm is perhaps much more. The people that really are defining each day and decision about God and choosing things that please him in their actions at all times seems to be less and less. I mean, I suppose it is hard to say but just listening to all of these people in the court room and hearing their excuses and desire to get out of service, just seems like many of those are not going to church. In other words, the wicked here are probably made up of a lot of people we would not necessarily brand as wicked. But in God's eyes they are wicked.
Do the wicked expect wrath? Is that what this verse is saying? Other translations have the word as hope instead of expectation. Maybe this is a simple contrast in those following God have good and those not following God will receive wrath. This is the outcome we believe are for those that do not follow God. I have read in other places that the only way a person comes to the knowledge of God is by God's mercy. So there are many that do not receive that mercy and clearly are in the way of the wicked.
This week I have been serving on a jury and it has been unsettling at times to see people shuffle in out a court and see the outcomes that are resulting in their decisions. It is hard to see that way of life in many ways. I am wondering if they have these desires for good or for wrath. There is always hope people can turn and be reformed. But for many simply being caught in that situation is not a good sign. In life, we are not simply to seek after that which is good. The writer here never seems to be saying only this, rather the writer is extolling the person that is righteous or seeking after the ways of God. This is the person we are to emulate. We first must be this person and then seek after good and not evil. Don't return to the old man that is spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Prayer: God, you are to be praised. And you are to be feared. Your ways are not man's ways. I pray and hope that man would embrace You as God and Lord. It is hard to see and watch other outcomes in life. Of those that are choosing not You. Many are trying to live their life without you at the forefront. You are not simply a force, but life in abundance. You are the fullness of all. Help me to help others know you and see you as Lord. Show me how I can move myself towards those that do not know You or need to know You. And as I live, let my desire then always be towards that which is good.
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