The Righteous Rises

“For a just man falls seven times and rises up again.”

This verse is an encouragement to me. The “just” man in Proverbs is speaking of the man who walks in wisdom, always carrying out what the Lord is leading him to do. This is not a man who is deservedly righteous by his works, efforts, or deeds; no, on the contrary, this is a man who is righteous because of his faith in the God of all ages. He has been made righteous. Righteousness has been imparted to him. Because of this, comes righteous actions and choices in life (practical wisdom). 

{Proverbs 24:16}

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Guarantee:  Falling is Definite

Brace for the inevitable; it’s coming.

Falls in life will come. They are unavoidable. A fall could come in an array of various forms. Sometimes they come like a linebacker blindsiding a quarterback. Sometimes they come in ways that should have been predictable. Falls come in trials, struggles, sins, temptations, death, loss, pain, and a host of other choices, circumstances, and situations. The question is not, “Will they come?” Rather, the question to be asked is, “When will the next blow come in again?”

This truth, though possibly depressing to some, is a truth that we should rest in. We can find solace in the fact that this is reality. We can accept this as a guarantee and live in light of the amazing reality that God has provided the grace that is sufficient for any attack and fall that we face. This brings solace and peace into the heart of that one who is following Christ and submitted to the hand of God in their lives, for the holy God of Heaven and Earth is … good.

{Proverbs 24:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9; James 1:2, 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6}

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Finished:  Falls Can Be Defeating

Down for the count—is that you?

Are you ready to throw in the towel? Have you quit mentally, and are you just going through the motions physically? Are you emotionally drowning and exhausted? Are you warring spiritually within while masquerading your religious façade for all to see? Even in the reality that was spoken of in section one of this post, there is another truth in this verse that can initially be discouraging. The verse states that a person may “fall seven times.” This is terminology that the author is using to illustrate being finished.

Done.

No more.

The fall was fully defeating this time. The number seven is often representative of the idea that something is complete or full circle. The concept here is that this person that Proverbs is speaking of has experienced a life of fall after fall. They have been knocked down time after time. You would look at them and mark them as having a “hard life.” They are those among us who think, “I don’t know how you do it and keep going.” We only see this though because of the last part of the verse that I want to discuss today… 

{Proverbs 24:16}

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Resolve:  Falls Build Determination

Resolve, a word of rarity.

Fortitude, equal in its exoticness.

Perseverance, a long-lost art. 

Determination, where are you?   

The just man is described as taking a very specific course of action. He always gets back up. Even when the falls and adversity come seven times over, he does not give up. This man, this kind of person can experience fall after fall, trial after trial, failure after failure, and sometimes even something that seems to fully defeat him. Often, he recognizes himself as his own worst enemy. Yet, every time, they get back up. As if he is in a boxing ring and strikes are barraging in from every angle *left jab, right jab, left hook*; *left jab, uppercut, left hook*. Over and over, the strikes rain, he goes to the ground in seeming defeat…

Then…

Rises. 

Again.

Ready for the next round.

Wanting to? No; but willing to? Certainly.

Why?

Because he is a just man. Inside of him dwells a Spirit that provides him with strength, perseverance, endurance, fortitude, character, consistency, and a motivation to never go down because of the One he is serving. You see, those that are righteous, and living for the Lord by His power never give up. They fight, and they claw. They may be defeated, they may be left for dead, they may have their lives threatened, they may be thrown in prison, they may lose their health, they may fall into deep sin, they may be exhausted, they may be at their wit’s end; but the RIGHTEOUS falls seven times over, and always rises back up!

{Proverbs 24:16; Matthew 5:10}

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I encourage you to look at the lives of so many heroes of our faith that have gone before us, and you will find the trend of this verse in their lives and stories. Here is a shortlist for you to ponder:

• Joseph
  • Betrayed
  • Pit
  • Slavery
  • Prison
  • Forgotten
  • But he kept getting back up.

• Moses
  • Kills a man
  • Flees
  • Lives with little purpose
  • Is too scared to talk to Pharaoh
  • Wanders in the wilderness
  • Loses his temper
  • Doesn’t get to ever go into the promised land
  • But he kept getting back up

• Joshua
  • Battle after battle
  • Victories and losses
  • But he kept getting back up

• David
  • Is neglected by his family
  • Doubted by his country
  • Hunted by his king
  • Falls into sexual sin
  • Has another man killed
  • Betrayed by his son
  • His family pretty much falls apart
  • But he kept getting back up

• Solomon
  • Lives a life of failures 
  • Lives a life running from God
  • Lives a life serving himself
  • But he kept getting back up

• Daniel
  • Pulled from his home
  • Forced to conform to a pagan culture
  • Told to not pray anymore
  • Thrown in a lion’s den
  • Serves under three different kings
  • But he kept getting back up

• Peter
  • Walks on water and takes his eyes off of Jesus
  • Sees the Transfiguration and gets correct by the Father
  • Denies Christ three times
  • Is thrown in prison
  • But he kept getting back up

• Paul
  • Is blinded on the road to Damascus
  • Has to prove himself to the believers in the churches
  • Is beaten
  • Thrown out of cities
  • Left for death
  • But he kept getting back up
• Jesus
  • Here is our ultimate example
  • He took on flesh
  • Was tempted in all ways of sin
  • Was rejected
  • Betrayed
  • Denied
  • Scourged
  • Mocked
  • Beaten
  • Crucified
  • BUT HE GOT UP AGAIN

I exhort you, look unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your faith as your ultimate example. Thank you for reading. I love you all, and God is good.

Until we write again…..

                                    In, for, and because of Christ,

                                                               V.S. See

not giving up, perseverance, pressing on, rising, tenacity