Proverbs 10:24 says, “What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.”
But what if your desire is for the salvation of a sinful spouse, child, or close friend who doesn’t want it? What if the desire of the righteous is mercy, grace, and redemption for the wicked? When we ache for a good desire, will God reward us with an evil outcome?
Proverbs is a book of axioms. An axiom is a principle that is “generally” true. So using the rules of interpretation for that type of literature, we don’t “expect” Proverbs 10:24 to cover 100 percent of all real life situations.
Since the first principle of interpretation is that “Scripture interprets Scripture,” what other Scripture helps us interpret Proverbs 10:24?
If we go up a level or two in the scheme of God’s will, “other” verses tell us: God takes no delight in the death of the wicked. He does not willingly bring grief and affliction.
God our Savior wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. He is not willing that any would perish but that all would come to repentance. He loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to save men from their sins.
We do not know for sure what will happen to the soul of the person we love, but God is good.
So, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). In the secret chamber of His will, we can trust Him to do the righteous thing.
Until every church disciples every man …
Patrick Morley is the founder of Man in the Mirror Ministries. For the original article, visit patrickmorley.com.
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