“When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.” Proverbs 28:12
Devotional Thought For The Day
This is an observation likely to be made only by those who are righteous and who are concerned about good, decency, morality, justice, fairness, and the common good. The wicked are concerned almost exclusively about feeding their own sinful, wicked, perverse, and perhaps violent appetites and have little thought for the effect this has on their victims and other vulnerable people. The only aspect of this that the wicked are concerned about is how to ferret out those who are hiding so that they might continue to have a population to victimize. Of course, when the righteous triumph the wicked are put on the run and into hiding, for decent people are concerned with righting injustice and ridding the community from the threats of the wicked. So this proverb clearly reveals the inexorable and intractable strife and conflict between good and evil which all of human history chronicles.
There have been times in American history when people have had to “hide themselves.” The era of the American Revolution was one of those times, when English rule rapaciously taxed and afflicted the lives of the American colonists. No doubt the Native Americans felt the same when the “European” American immigrants began expanding westward without regard for their rights and prerogatives, and often without mercy or decency. There have been lawless times and places in America when decent people were so vulnerable to the wicked that great care and caution had to be taken to avoid being victimized. Perhaps there are areas in our country even today where this is the case – in certain inner city areas, and certain very rural areas. There have also been times in American history when the righteous triumphed, when decency and good were lauded and the wicked were put on the run. It is always a challenge and a matter of courage on the part of the righteous to rise and triumph rather than capitulating to evil and allowing the wicked to predominate. We have to wonder, in these current times, just how far the current boldness of the evil will go before the decent are completely marginalized or a backlash begins – abortionists, homosexuals, pornographers and the sex trade, drug addicts, gangs of all ilks, those seeking to destroy the concept of marriage and family, and we should also add conscienceless wealthy people and corporations.
Without Christianity there is far more of this in societies of men, but even without “revealed” knowledge of right and wrong, secular philosophers and societies have achieved some semblance of the wisdom of law and order. However, such rule must always be imposed from the outside on those who have no inner renewal of heart, and this is always quite tenuous and vulnerable, and even among Christians the fallen nature must be controlled and reined in by law. So even among those who know God’s love and mercy, and have the regenerating leaven of God’s love at work in their hearts, it requires a conscious and constant effort to adhere to and support the reign of goodness, righteousness, and justice. But if Christians falter and fail to be strong advocates and supporters of decency, it is far more likely that the wicked will be emboldened and will continue to push and shove until people have to hide themselves to avoid victimization. History reveals over and over again that human beings are not capable of holding the line against evil and wickedness on our own; we require the help, blessing, power, and providence of God. So just for the temporal good of mankind we who are the church must redouble our efforts to bring the wisdom of God’s love to our fellowmen. The principle good is eternal, but the temporal good cannot be overlooked either. Where the life of the church is in decline, the whole decency of society is endangered.
We may not like politics, and the conflict of arguing against the wicked immoralities that seek to become the status quo [and then afflict and persecute what is good and decent, driving people into hiding], but this is the most civil and decent way to promote the triumph of right and justice. Let us pray God for His strength and help, and let us do His bidding of bringing His light to others. Let us consider how we are going to gather our strength and fortitude for this increasing conflict. We can begin by supporting and upholding those who are already under attack and assault, and by banding more closely with those willing to take up the fight with us. Much is at stake – for our children, grandchildren, fellow citizens, our nation, and for the world at large. Let us pray that God grant us more opportunity for great glorying in the triumph of righteousness.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You know the great shame of our selfishness and wickedness, how willing we are to feed ourselves at the expense and suffering of others. You also know the tragic outcome of the triumph of wickedness, the unimaginable suffering and grief of human violence, crime, and war. Help us to see the importance of our own small role in this great cosmic conflict, and grant us the decency and courage to take Your side. May Your redeeming love fill us with love and fervor for others, that we do all that we can to make the good triumph. Have mercy, and supply what is needed beyond our strength. Amen.