Wisdom from Proverbs #1

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  Proverbs 16:7  NASB

I’ve read this verse any number of times, and each time I’m comforted by the thought that the LORD rewards with peace those who walk in His ways.

This morning as I read it, I noticed a few things in addition to the more obvious.

This verse does NOT promise us that we will HAVE no enemies.

It does not say that our enemies will not give us troubles.

It does not say that our enemies will necessarily decide to like us.

It does say that God is on the side of those who walk in His ways and will stop the enemies from their evil intent against us.

It is a temptation for us, as Christians, to compromise with the world system, which the Bible says is ruled (until Jesus returns to set up His kingdom) by the enemy of our souls.

But the one who is our enemy because of our walk with God will not be appeased by anything less than our rejection of God and our surrender to the ways of this world, which is perishing.

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.'”  Acts 5:29 ESV

God is FOR us!  Whom should we fear?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  Romans 8:31  NASB

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

If we reverence the LORD and walk in His ways, we need not fear the enemy! For the LORD, who is always with us, will come to our aid with great strength!

Let’s trust God, surrender to Him, and walk in His ways from this day forward! Okay?

What about you?  Do you find comfort in this verse?  What does it bring to mind when you read it?