You will read many biblical proverbs repeating, in one way or another, the assertion of this proverb: “No harm befalls the righteous” (12:21). Likewise, the psalmist says, “If you make the Most High your dwelling…then no harm will befall you” (Psalm 91:9,10). When harm comes to a person, therefore, many people assume that they must have sinned in some way. This was the assumption of Job’s foolish advisers and God expressly rejects that notion. Job himself said, “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upwards”. And Jesus also said, “In this world you will have trouble”. So, what exactly is the proverb promising here? The key here is to understand what counts as ‘harm’ in this life of inevitable trouble. The purpose of life is to fulfil God’s purpose. To be harmed, therefore, means that God’s purpose for us is thwarted. The promise of this proverb is that, if you entrust your life to God, then, no matter what troubles come upon you, God’s purpose for you will not be thwarted. However long or short your life, your destiny in Christ will be secure. God did not want the world to become a place of suffering and death; the collective sin of humankind brought that about. And while God lets these consequences take their course, he is fulfilling his perfect purpose amid all the turmoil. The turmoil of this world, in fact, reminds us of the necessity of God’s redemptive purpose. Know then that with God you are always secure. You are safe in his purpose.
Thank God for keeping your destiny secure.
Read Proverbs 12:17-28
