Proverbs 11:8,  The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

This proverb reminds us that both the righteous and the wicked may be encompassed by trouble.

The word trouble can be used in the noun or verb form.

It may be a condition that you are in or it may be an action that is put upon you.

A child gets into trouble and because of that his father may trouble him or her.

In this proverb the word trouble is a noun which means affliction, calamity, inconvenience, annoyance, uneasiness, or vexation.

One thing that is true about all of us is that we are visited by trouble on a regular basis for trouble belongs to the common man.

Every day we are faced with trouble but as a Christian every day we should be learning how to deal with trouble for God expects His children to grow in their dealings with trouble.

Eliphaz the Temanite in his sermon to Job brought forth this truth in:

Job 5:6,7,  Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; ⁷Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

The first thing a baby faces when Mother’s birth pangs begin is trouble.

If the unborn baby could talk, you would hear, Oh, Oh, I’m in big trouble.

He would say: Just as I was getting comfortable, now this.

I guess I better start getting used to trouble for trouble is a life long condition.

We are indeed literally born unto trouble are we not?.

One of the sayings of Dr. Bob Jones Sr. to which I was introduced by Dr. Hobbs early in my Christian walk was:

And many times that heavy burden will be in the form of trouble.

So trouble is not a stranger to either the righteous or the wicked but when and why the trouble comes and the result of the trouble, differs between the righteous and the wicked.

The righteous have been told to expect adversity and trouble.

See I Corinthians 10:13,  There hath no temptation (adversity) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So when trouble comes you know it will be bearable.

Our Lord Jesus was fully acquainted with grief and suffered greatly and should we expect anything different if we obey His command to Follow me?

Remember the word that he said unto us in: John 15:20, ... The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Asaph in the 73rd Psalm gives us light as to the difference of trouble by the righteous and by the wicked.

Asaph's reaction when he saw the prosperity of the wicked was of of envy.

He compared the condition caused by envy to feet that no longer supported him, feet that were causing him to slip from his faith in God.

Asaph's envious eyes magnified anything on which they gazed.

Not knowing that everything envied is larger than life.

Why is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence?

But Asaph saw that the prosperous had no heavy burdens that brought on death.

He saw them free from the troubles that other men would bear.

He saw them compassed about with pride in their material goods.

He heard them speak wickedly and loftily against the heavens.

He heard them challenge God to know them and their wicked ways.

The wicked by their life, seemed to say to God "What are you going to do about it?"

Asaph wrestled with this question and asked why he should do right.

But he went into the sanctuary of God and he learned that his problem of envy was based on a timing problem.

Asaph’s view was too close to his own time.

Asaph looked not at the end when all was done but he looked at the now and now.

We have a problem with that, don't we?

Envious eyes conflict with eyes of faith.

But Asaph went to the sanctuary of God and his eyes were opened when he looked at their end and he saw that God had set them in slippery places.

His eyes were opened and he saw that God had cast them down into destruction.

He saw that God had brought them into desolation and in a moment they were utterly consumed with terrors.

When his eyes were opened by the word of God he saw the prosperous wicked after they had passed this vale of tears.

He saw the prosperous wicked after they had left this life of ease and plenty.

He saw the change that took place in a moment as they entered the place of the doomed and were utterly consumed with terrors.

He saw that the wicked first may have good things but that's all they have.

But the remembrance of these good things will embitter their misery and heighten the fire where they are tormented.

He saw the wicked never coming out of trouble!

He saw the wicked with no relief from trouble.

That is what our proverb says.

It says that the righteous is delivered.

It says that the wicked comes in the place of the righteous to receive trouble.

As Proverbs 21:18 says,  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

There is deliverance to the righteous but there is no deliverance to the wicked!

It all has to do with timing!

It all has to do with long range sight.

It all has to do with faith in God and his working in the life of the righteous.

God gives us glimpses of this in the Old Testament stories about the righteous and the wicked.

How quickly that wicked Haman fell from the favor of the king when God's people were delivered from the decree of death that he had devised.

How quickly had Haman's countenance changed when Esther said,

What terrifying thoughts must have gone though his mind as he heard the king's decree to hang him on the gallows that he had prepared for righteous Mordecai?

Did he ever consider that his actions against God's people would result in his ten sons also hanging on the same gallows?

It is an amazing thing to see in this life how the Mighty fall from high places to places of disgrace and destruction.

It was just a few days previous that Haman recounted to his wife and friends the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

And on top of all that he reveled in the fact that he had been invited to dine at the banquet of Queen Esther.

But Haman in his rejoicing and revelry did not consider in his plan to destroy the Jews, God’s overruling plan to deliver the Jews and as part of this deliverance Haman was to be destroyed in their stead.

Haman was a man who sowed trouble and because of that, was predestinated to reap trouble but not only trouble but great trouble for God’s word tells us if you sow the wind you will reap the whirlwind.

Sow one kernel of corn and you get a multitude of kernels.

Again from God’s word we are reminded of the flame of fire that slew those that cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace?

Who were delivered from the flames, the righteous or the wicked?

My Bible records that these three faithful men came out of the midst of the fire upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

Were not the righteous delivered out of trouble, and the wicked came in their stead.

Were not the wicked a ransom for the righteous?

Righteous Daniel, What have you to say about your night with the lions?

Did you find comfort sleeping on their nice soft mane?

Were you delivered and did your tormentors come in your stead?

My Bible says that Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

But Daniel, once you came out of the den those lions became hungry, their roars were urgent for now they had a mission from their maker.

And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

Why were those lions so selective?

Why did Daniel escape their sharp bite?

Had they only an appetite for the wicked?

But no appetite for the righteous?

Well, Daniel believed his God commanded the lions.

They were under his sovereign care.

If his God choose to feed the lions with Daniel that would be all right with Daniel but if he choose to use the lions as a pillow that would be all right too!

Either way Daniel would have been delivered.

Isn’t it wonderful that all is well for the Christian.

God is still on the throne, a mighty God is He!

The wicked first have good things but then they have eternal trouble.

The righteous first have their evil things but then they have eternal good things.

The wicked's remembrance of the good things simply heightens their misery.

But the remembrance of the troubled days of the righteous fills them with satisfaction, as they enter into their rest in the arms of God.

Remember the certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, which was laid at the gate of the rich man.

That beggar died and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried.

The beggar was delivered and the rich man came in his stead.

The rich man was brought into desolation and in a moment he was utterly consumed with terrors.

In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments and he had conversation with Abraham who was comforting Lazarus in his bosom.

Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

What words are the words, Remember! Remember to those in hell!

Remember the good things that you took as yours not acknowledging that God had given them to your care.

Remember the opportunity you were given to worship God and to serve him in truth.

What a punishment it is to remember throughout eternity the lost opportunities of life!

But Lazarus the righteous will also remember from what he was delivered.

He will remember the marvelous grace of his loving Lord as he rests in his Shepherd’s arms throughout eternity.

Proverbs 11:8,  The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

This proverb reminds us that both the righteous and the wicked have trouble.

Trouble is not a stranger to either one but when and why the trouble comes and the result of the trouble, differs between the righteous and the wicked.

The righteous have been told to expect adversity and trouble.

Our Lord suffered greatly and should we expect anything different if we are his followers?

Remember the word that he said unto us in: John 15:20 ... The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Asaph in the 73rd Psalm gives us light as to the difference of trouble by the righteous and by the wicked.

Asaph's reaction when he saw the prosperity of the wicked was of of envy.

He compared the condition caused by envy to feet that no longer supported him, feet that were causing him to slip from his faith in God.

Asaph's envious eyes magnified anything on which they gazed.

Not knowing that everything envied is larger than life.

He saw that the prosperous had no heavy burdens that brought on death.

He saw them free from the troubles that other men would bear.

He saw them compassed about with pride in their material goods.

He heard them speak wickedly and loftily against the heavens.

He heard them challenge God to know them and their wicked ways.

What are you going to do about it, God? the wicked said.

Asaph wrestled with this question and asked why he should do right.

But he went into the sanctuary of God and he learned that his problem of envy was based on a timing problem.

Asaph looked too close to his own time.

Asaph looked not at the end when all was done but he looked at the now and now.

We have a problem with that, don't we?

Envious eyes conflict with eyes of faith.

But Asaph was in the sanctuary of God and his eyes were opened when he looked at their end and he saw that God had set them in slippery places.

He saw that God had cast them down into destruction.

He saw that God had brought them into desolation and in a moment they were utterly consumed with terrors.

He saw the prosperous wicked after they had passed this vail of tears.

He saw the prosperous wicked after they had left this life of ease and plenty.

He saw the change that took place in a moment as they entered the place of the doomed and were utterly consumed with terrors.

He saw that the wicked first have good things but that's all they have.

But the remembrance of these good things will embitter their misery and heighten the fire where they are tormented.

He saw the wicked never coming out of trouble! No relief from trouble.

That is what our proverb says.

It says that the righteous is delivered.

It says that the wicked comes in the place of the righteous to receive trouble.

As Proverbs 21:18 says,  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

There is deliverance to the righteous but there is no deliverance to the wicked!

It all has to do with timing!

It all has to do with long range sight.

It all has to do with faith in God and his working in the life of the righteous.

God gives us glimpses of this in the Old Testament stories about the righteous and the wicked.

How quickly that wicked Haman fell from favor of the king when God's people were delivered from the decree of death that he had devised.

How quickly had Haman's countenance changed when Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.

What thoughts went though his mind as he heard the king's decree to hang him on the gallows that he had prepared for righteous Mordecai?

Did he ever consider that his actions against God's people would result in his ten sons also hanging on the same gallows?

What of the flame of fire that slew those that cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace?

Who were delivered from the flames, the righteous or the wicked?

My Bible records that these three faithful men came out of the midst of the fire upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

Were not the righteous delivered out of trouble, and the wicked came in their stead.

Were not the wicked a ransom for the righteous?

Righteous Daniel, What have you to say about your night with the lions?

Did you find comfort sleeping on their nice soft mane?

Were you delivered and did your tormentors come in your stead?

My Bible says that Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

But Daniel, those lions were hungry, their roars were urgent!

Why were those lions so selective?

Why did Daniel escape their sharp bite?

Had they only an appetite for the wicked?

But no appetite for the righteous?

Well, Daniel believed his God commanded the lions.

They were under his sovereign care.

If his God choose to feed the lions with Daniel that would be all right with Daniel but if he choose to use the lions as a pillow that would be all right too!

Either way Daniel would have been delivered.

The wicked first have good things but then they have eternal trouble.

The righteous first have their evil things but then they have eternal good things.

The wicked's remembrance of the good things simply heightens their misery.

But the remembrance of the troubled days of the righteous fills them with satisfaction, as they enter into their rest in the arms of their God.

Remember the certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, which was laid at the gate of the rich man.

That beggar died and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried.

The beggar was delivered and the rich man came in his stead.

The rich man was brought into desolation and in a moment he was utterly consumed with terrors.

In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments and he had conversation with Abraham who was comforting Lazarus in his bosom.

Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

What a word to those in hell. Remember!

Remember the good things that you took as yours not acknowledging that God had given them to your care.

Remember the opportunity you were given to worship God and to serve him in truth.

What a punishment that is to remember throughout eternity the lost opportunities of life!

But Lazarus the righteous will also remember from what he was delivered from.

He will remember the marvelous grace of his loving Lord as he rests in his arms throughout eternity.