One can readily see that there are two imperatives and the ground or basis of these imperatives:
- Fret not,
- Be not envious,
- For the evil man has no future.
“Do not fret (tiṭar) means to not get burnt up emotionally. . . the anger is not directed against anyone but is felt as an internal agitation, a fretting, connected with envy that might occasion choosing evil to satisfy one’s passions” 1] In other words, the primary concern is envying the wicked which brings upon an internal agitation. A burning envy of the wicked is foolish for the reasons given. No sensible person will waste their time coveting someone whose success is short-lived. “If the wicked have no future, if their lamp is put out (13:9; 20:20; cf. Isa. 43:17), why exert ourselves?”[2]
Combined with the previous couplet in vv17-18, isn’t it possible that how we respond to either the failures or the success of the wicked tells us much about our own hearts. The former reflects an arrogant heart of gloating whereas the heart of those who despair over the success of the wicked is a heart of unbelief. John Newton is quoted as saying, “Everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds.” The Apostle Paul testified, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12–13, ESV)
The popular hymn commends us to the Lord, who is our
portion:
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
There is a ‘temporariness’
to the successes of the wicked. The
righteous have a better hope. “Contrast these two truly clear verses:
“If you find it [wisdom], there will be a future,
and your hope
will not be cut off.” (v 14)
“… for the evil
man has no future;
the lamp of the
wicked will be put out.” (v 20)[3]
The providence of God is to be trusted. “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”[4] “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them.”[5] Dr. David Jeremiah wrote:
“One day in the not-to-distant future we’re going to learn about the world’s first trillionaire. Elon Musk is about a third of the way there. Imagine the headlines that will accompany the announcement of one single person, whoever he or she is, who gains a net worth of a trillion dollars!
That person
will be penniless and poverty-stricken compared to the child of God who trusts
the Lord for all the provisions of life.”[6]
[1] Waltke, B. K. (2005). The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 15–31 (pp.
285–286). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[3] Nielson, K. (2020). Proverbs for You (C. Laferton, Ed.; p. 187).
The Good Book Company.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Ps
84:11). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Je
32:40). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[6] https://www.davidjeremiah.ca/magazine/daily-devotional?showsignup=true
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