Rejoicing In The Word For Ladies – A Faithful Harvest (December 2023)

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” Gen. 8:22. Isn’t it an interesting thought that the seasons that bring so much change and variety to our life and experiences on earth are at the same time a reminder and representation of our unchanging, ever-faithful God?! Something about the fall season establishes to the heart of man God’s faithfulness. Perhaps because it is the harvest season- the season of reaping and receiving the promise of reward. I was reading in Proverbs 10 this month and found a cornucopia of promises to the righteous:

1. “Righteousness delivereth from death” (v. 2) In this case, death refers to the expected end of the wicked. The end of the righteous one’s life is the continued presence of the Savior!
2. “The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish” (v. 3) The Lord is in the business of caring for His people! (Matthew 6)
3. “Blessings are upon the head of the just” (v. 6) This reminds me of 1 Tim. 4:8b, which tells us that “godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” Blessings now and blessings later!
4. “The memory of the just is blessed” (v. 7) How true this is! The names of many saints come to mind at the reading of this verse.
5. “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life” (v. 11) “The tongue of the just is as choice silver” (v. 20) “The lips of the righteous feed many” (v. 21) “The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom” (v. 31) “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable” (v. 32) It seems we do more sowing and reaping with our mouths than our hands! This may explain Proverbs 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
6. “The labour of the righteous tendeth to life” (v. 16) The righteous man or woman expects a happy harvest, unlike the fruit of the wicked.
7. “The desire of the righteous shall be granted” (v. 24) When it comes to our spiritual longings (“as the hart panteth after the water brooks”), and our desire to “grow in grace,” God promises in Psalm 37:4: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
8. “The righteous is an everlasting foundation” (v. 25) This is a promise of eternal security.
9. “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness” (v. 28) Here is a promise of joy to the just.
10. “The righteous shall never be removed” (v. 30) This is a promise of eternal stability. Or as Jude says it, “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling.”

“For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus Christ) are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2 Cor. 1:20)

What a wonderful opportunity to meditate on the promises of God to the righteous and just! ~V.K.S.