The Righteous Fall But Rise

Proverbs 24:15-16 Lay not wait, O WICKED {rāšāʿ} man, against the dwelling of the RIGHTEOUS {ṣadîq}; spoil {šāḏaḏ} not his resting place: 16 For a JUST {ṣadîq} man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the WICKED {rāšāʿ} shall fall into mischief.

Word Study: God addresses the wicked here with a warning. The warning is that God Himself looks after the RIGHTEOUS or the JUST person, but the WICKED will fall and stay fallen. Let’s look at a few of these words in their original text. Let’s start with the words RIGHTEOUS and JUST. This is the same word in the Hebrew, the word ṣadîq (pro. tsad-deek’) which means “the lawful or right walking, the one justified and vindicated by God”.

The Righteous or Just Are Declared So By God Based On Faith In Christ

When a person repents and receives God as Lord and Savior, as Abraham did, the Bible says:

Genesis 15:6 {Abraham} believed in the LORD; and He COUNTED IT {ḥāšaḇ} to him FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

This scripture is quoted numerous times throughout the Bible. In

Romans 4:3-8 (NKJV) For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but BELIEVES ON HIM WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY, HIS FAITH IS ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom GOD IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD SHALL NOT IMPUTE SIN.”

The RIGHTEOUS person is the one who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who has unconditionally surrendered to God and have placed themselves fully in His hands. God IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS, that is, He considers we are a righteous because we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The person who says “I am good enough for God’s presence” is usurping the authority of God. Only God can impute righteousness. Only God can declare us right in His eyes.

It is presumptuous and impetuous to say “this is what God likes or endorses”. God sets the standards. God declares the right and the wrong. No one can BE righteous in their own power. We must trust in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote as an ex-Pharisee with impeccable credentials:

Philippians 3:4-9 (LSB) although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I FAR MORE: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, THOSE THINGS I HAVE COUNTED AS LOSS FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, NOT HAVING A RIGHTEOUSNESS OF MY OWN which is from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS FROM GOD UPON FAITH

A person is RIGHTEOUS because that person came to God BROKEN, REPENTED, and cast themselves on the Gospel of salvation. A person is righteous because they do as God says, and trust in Jesus, committing their lives to Him. A person is righteous when they realize that “there is salvation in no one else: for there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN TO US WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED” (Acts 4:12). When you “call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus (Genesis 4:26; Romans 10:13) then you SHALL BE SAVED”.

The “WICKED” (Hebrew rāšāʿ, pro. raw-shaw’) is the person who has rejected repentance and faith in the Lord. This person is hostile to God and the Gospel, and stands condemned before God. Though Lot had compromised with the city of Sodom, Lot was still considered “righteous” and the Sodomites “wicked” (Genesis 18:23; 2 Peter 2:7-8).

What is the characteristic of the RIGHTEOUS
Or JUST person?

a JUST {ṣadîq} [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again

First, the JUST person (the word “man” is not in the original text) will fall at times. The Bible does not say that person “may” fall, but “FALLETH”. No Christian is perfect while in this life. Search the Scriptures, and you will see many examples of believers who fell:

Noah was just (Genesis 6:9) but became drunken (Genesis 9:20-21)
Abraham was just (Romans 4:3) but lied (Genesis 12:10-20)
and went in to Hagar (Genesis 16)
Elijah withstood a mob of false prophets at Mount Carmel, then
fell into depression and suicidal thought (1 Kings 19:4)
David was just (Acts 13:22) but committed adultery
& murder (2 Samuel 11)
Solomon was just (2 Samuel 12:24) but fell into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-10)
Jonah was just but ran from God’s call (Jonah 1:1-3)
Hezekiah was just (2 Kings 18:5) but became proud (2 Kings 20:12-19)

Our God is all knowing (omniscient). When He calls a person to salvation, and that person repents and receives Him as Lord and Savior, God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 147:5). He knows that His child by faith is not perfect, and knows that we will misstep.

a JUST {ṣadîq} [man] falleth SEVEN TIMES

Explain “Seven”: This doesn’t mean we will fall JUST 7 times. The number “SEVEN” is the number of God. Our God created all things, then rested on the SEVENTH day. God is in the making of the just or righteous person. It is God the Holy Spirit Who causes us to be regenerated or born again (John 3:3, 5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18; Titus 3:5). Once saved, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 1:13). The righteous person is PURCHASED of God, POSSESSED of God, PURGED of God, and PROMISED of God. The righteous person, saved by faith Christ, will fall. But that person …

riseth up again

The righteous person is the Child of God, the Son of Light. The Prophet said:

Micah 7:8-9 (NKJV) Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; WHEN I FALL, I WILL ARISE; When I sit in darkness, The LORD WILL BE A LIGHT TO ME. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. HE WILL BRING ME FORTH TO THE LIGHT; I WILL SEE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The Righteous is God’s prized possession. Though we fall, we WILL rise. Again the Scripture says:

Psalm 37:23-24 Though he FALL, he SHALL NOT BE UTTERLY CAST DOWN: for the LORD UPHOLDETH HIM WITH HIS HAND.

Psalm 145:14 The LORD UPHOLDETH ALL THAT FALL, and RAISETH UP all those that be bowed down.

The Wicked Fall, But Do Not Rise.
They Sink To Deeper Evil.

But what of the wicked, those who do not believe on the Lord Jesus? We are told:

Proverbs 24:16 … but the WICKED {rāšāʿ} SHALL FALL into MISCHIEF {raʿ}.

Word Study: The word rendered “MISCHIEF” is the Hebrew raʿ, which means “something malignant, bad, injurious, distressful, evil, wrong”. The righteous will fall, but God will lift them up afterwards. The wicked will fall into a pit and stay there. They have no power to rise out of the darkness, for they have rejected the very Source of Light, the Lord Jesus.

Proverbs 24:8-9 He that DEVISETH {ḥāšaḇ, to account or impute} TO DO EVIL shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

Word Study: The word “DEVISETH” is a very interesting word. It is the same word we saw a little while ago when talking about Abraham’s righteousness:

Genesis 15:6 Abraham believed in the LORD; and GOD COUNTED IT {ḥāšaḇ} to him for righteousness.

When we trust in the Lord and give our lives to Him, He COUNTS IT or RECKONS IT as righteousness. But the wicked, rejecting God, instead seek out ways to ATTRIBUTE EVIL to others. They plot. They plan. They sneak about, seeking to cast down the Kingdom of God. You see this in the mass gatherings of the lost, seeking to bring others into the darkness. You see this in “Gay Pride” parades. You see this in “mostly peaceful protests” that burn down businesses.

God looks at our faith in Him and gives us righteousness. The unbeliever looks at our faith in God and tries to impute evil to us, to upend the Kingdom of God.

The devil and the darkness will tempt us to evil rather than the good. They plant “thoughts of foolishness” which is sin. The devil and his agents are continually seeking to destroy Christ’s Kingdom and Christ’s Church. These people mock the Way of Christ. “THE SCORNER IS AN ABOMINATION TO MEN”. They lead the other lost farther away from salvation.

Proverbs 24:10 If thou FAINT IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY, thy strength is small.

The righteous are to remember that we will be attacked – even in the midst of the congregation of the righteous. Yet when we fall, we do not FAINT. We keep our eyes on the Lord Who saved us. Those who FAINT, Who want to quit when adversity comes, are relying not on God but on themselves. We who are righteous by faith in Christ should be fully resting in our God. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I CALL UPON YOU, for You answer me.

Our faith is not in ourselves, but in God Who saved us. Jesus said:

John 16:33 (ESV) I have said these things to you, that IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.

My commentary notes:

“Everyone, including believers, encounters adversity. Adversity is a normal part of life. For the Christian, adversity can be a good thing. James writes, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). His words were addressed to Hebrew Christians who were experiencing intense persecution. But why should adversity cause Christians to rejoice? James also gives the answer: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). Further, steadfastness can make believers spiritually mature and “complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). The apostle Peter also wrote to persecuted Hebrew Christians about the value of adversity. He said trials prove the genuineness of one’s faith (1 Peter 1:3–9). Believers under pressure of adversity are encouraged to steel themselves and trust in Christ’s power (Hebrews 12:12–13)…

God Expects The Righteous To Stay Gospel Focused,
To Keep On Telling Others Of Jesus

Proverbs 24:11-12 If thou forbear to deliver them that are DRAWN UNTO DEATH, and those that are READY TO BE SLAIN; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, WE KNEW IT NOT; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS?

The unbeliever is someone who is “DRAWN UNTO DEATH”. The Bible says:

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is so sad that many who profess to be “believers” and the “righteous” refuse to reach out to the lost and tell them of the Savior. There are opportunities that God gives us to witness to the lost. We have experienced loved ones in the hospital. Have you asked that loved on about their relationship to Jesus? Have you prayed for them in Jesus’ name? Some professors of Christ say “WE KNEW IT NOT”, that is, “We really didn’t know if they were saved or not. We turned a blind eye to their need”. But God is the One Who ponders the heart. God is the One Who watches over our souls. He knows what we did, and did not, do. God will “RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS”. To those who have received Christ as Lord and Savior, God will give them life – eternal life – and reward for living for Him. But to those who reject Christ, they also will receive according to their works. The Scripture says:

Romans 2:6-11 (NKJV) who “will render to each one ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient CONTINUANCE IN DOING GOOD SEEK FOR GLORY, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are SELF SEEKING AND DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH, but OBEY UNRIGHTEOUSNESS – INDIGNATION AND WRATH, 9 TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH, on every soul of man WHO DOES EVIL, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who WORKS WHAT IS GOOD, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For THERE IS NO PARTIALITY WITH GOD.

The righteous will fall, but will rise again. The unrighteous will fall, and will not rise. They will stay in sin, and one day gain the fruit of their godless labor in the eternal judgment of God.

The Righteous Love The Word Of God
(Even On Wednesday)

Proverbs 24:13-14 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 So shall the KNOWLEDGE OF WISDOM be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then THERE SHALL BE A REWARD, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

As honey is good because it is sweet, and honeycomb even better, so is the Word of God. God has provided us with pleasurable things, like honey and honeycomb. God wants the righteous to have good things. When God took Israel to the Promised Land, He said:

Exodus 3:8 (ESV) I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

God gives us good things, and gives us trials. The greatest thing God gives us is His Word, the Holy Bible. The righteous cherish the Word of God.

It is the Word of God that saves us, and promises us that, though we fall, God will raise us up. The Christ follower is not to be as the wicked. We are told:

Proverbs 24:17-18 REJOICE NOT when thine ENEMY FALLETH, and LET NOT THINE HEART BE GLAD WHEN HE STUMBLETH: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

There is a psychological term for gloating and celebrating the fall of an enemy – schadenfreude. The word means “to take pleasure in another person’s misfortune, to be glad, amused, or satisfied when another person falls”. God rebuked the Edomites for gloating over Judah’s suffering:

Obadiah 1:12 Thou shouldest not have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction…

The Lord wants us who are righteous by faith to lead others to Christ, to be light in the midst of darkness. Our response when an enemy attacks needs to be like that of the Apostle Paul who wrote:

2 Timothy 4:14-15 (NKJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. MAY THE LORD REPAY HIM ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

When our enemies fall, we should not rejoice, but redouble our efforts to lead them to Christ. Paul went on to say:

2 Timothy 4:17-18 (NKJV) But the LORD STOOD WITH ME AND STRENGTHENED ME, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And THE LORD WILL DELIVER ME FROM EVERY EVIL WORK AND PRESERVE ME for His heavenly kingdom. To Him [be] glory forever and ever. Amen!

There is a payday coming someday – but we who are righteous want to see no one go to eternal damnation. We should not rejoice when an enemy falls, but continue to serve the Lord with all our hearts.

Proverbs 24:19-20 FRET NOT thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked: 20 For there shall be NO REWARD TO THE EVIL MAN; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Do not FRET because of the wicked. Do not be ENVIOUS of those who do wrong. In the end, those who live wickedly will be punished. They may be rich temporally, but damned eternally. Their CANDLE, that is, their strange fire WILL BE PUT OUT in time. But let us cling to the Gospel, to continue to tell others about the faithfulness of God. The Apostle wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (ESV) Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, WHICH YOU RECEIVED, IN WHICH YOU STAND, and by which YOU ARE BEING SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FAST TO THE WORD I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Those who reject the Gospel and the Word of God will find their candle blown out. That fleeting light they cling to shall be put out by their very breath. But those who have trusted in Christ will continue onward forever. That’s where I want to be – with Jesus. Not just in eternity, but now on this earth.

Amen.