How to Read the Book of Proverbs Correctly: Who are the Righteous, Wicked, Wise and Foolish?

How to Read the Book of Proverbs Correctly: Who are the Righteous, Wicked, Wise and Foolish? 

“The wicked are overthrown [by their evil] and are no more, But the house of the [consistently] righteous will stand [securely].” (PROVERBS 12:7 AMP)

In the Books of Proverbs, the writer often refers to two groups of people: the righteous/upright/good, and the wicked/evil. 

Who are the righteous? Are they people who obey the Ten Commandments perfectly and don’t sin at all? 

No, in today’s context, the righteous are the believers who have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 
We are made righteous by receiving the gift of righteousness and we can receive it because of Jesus’ finished work at the cross. 
He received all our sins and we received all His righteousness.
On top of that, every sin of ours was already punished in His body at the cross, so the wages of sin are already paid for. 

Therefore we are called the righteous not by our works, but because we are justified by faith in Jesus.

Then who are the wicked? They are people who have not received Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Before we believed in Jesus, we were part of the “wicked” too.
Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 
On our own, no one has the ability to keep the Law. 
Have you lusted for someone in your heart before, or hated someone? 
Then you’ve committed the sins of adultery and murder already according to Jesus’ own words. 
We can only leave the “wicked” to join the “righteous” by believing in Jesus. 

So when you read the Book of Proverbs, You don’t have to feel condemned when you read about the “righteous” and feel like you can’t meet the standards that God has set. 
You are already righteous if you believe in Jesus. 

Instead of feeling condemned, rejoice because all the blessings for the righteous stated in this book are yours! 
All glory to Jesus - His grace qualifies us for the goodness that we don’t deserve on our own. 

​The Blessings Upon the Righteous and the Curses upon the Wicked

Here are some of the blessings which you enjoy as a righteous person. There are many more for you to discover in the Book of Proverbs! 

The righteous’ wealth is sanctified and blessed by God, whereas the wicked’s possessions are cursed. 

 “Great and priceless treasure is in the house of the [consistently] righteous one [who seeks godly instruction and grows in wisdom], But trouble is in the income of the wicked one [who rejects the laws of God].” (PROVERBS 15:6 AMP)

When the righteous pray, God hears and loves it! When the wicked pray, it is disgusting to God and the prayers go unanswered because they are not praying to the One true God. 

“The LORD is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them], But He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].” (PROVERBS 15:29 AMP)

The righteous enjoy divine protection from God.

“He guards the paths of justice; And He preserves the way of His saints (believers).”(PROVERBS 2:8 AMP)

The righteous have exclusive access to God’s wisdom which takes revelation from the Holy Spirit to understand. This wisdom helps to guide them on matters about their future (both short-term and long-term). 

“He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him]; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],” (PROVERBS 2:7 AMP)

The homes and families of the righteous are blessed whereas the homes and families of the wicked are cursed.

“The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just and righteous.” (PROVERBS 3:33 AMP)

The Lord will supply provision for the righteous, whereas the wicked may starve.

“The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger [God will meet all his needs], But He will reject and cast away the craving of the wicked.”(PROVERBS 10:3 AMP)

The righteous enjoy purposeful lives, whereas punishment awaits the wicked for all the sins they have committed.

“The wages of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God] is [a worthwhile, meaningful] life, The income of the wicked, punishment.” (PROVERBS10:16 AMP)

The righteous are granted their hearts’ desires whereas the wicked receive what they dread the most.

“What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.” (PROVERBS 10:24 AMP)

The righteous will always bounce back after facing adversity because they have a stable foundation in God, whereas the wicked are easily wiped out. 

“The [consistently] righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.” (PROVERBS 10:30 AMP)

The righteous bring God’s favor and are a blessing to others wherever they go, whereas the wicked cause destruction wherever they go.

“By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted, But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.” (PROVERBS 11:11 AMP)

The righteous have the grace to be good leaders whereas the wicked corrupt others.

“The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (PROVERBS 12:26 AMP)

Prosperity pursues the righteous and they are able to leave an inheritance to their descendants due to their abundance. 
On the other hand, the wealth of the wicked will eventually go to the righteous. God will ensure that the resources end up where they can be a blessing to others. 

“Adversity pursues sinners, But the [consistently] upright will be rewarded with prosperity. A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.” (PROVERBS 13:21-22AMP)

The above are some of the wonderful blessings that the righteous enjoy. They are already yours to take in Christ. 
Believe in God’s promises and you shall receive and experience them in your life. 

Can a Believer be a Fool?

​There’s two other groups of people that the Book of Proverbs makes frequent references to: the wise and the foolish/scoffer. 

I believe that it is possible for a believer to be a fool.
If that believer refuses to accept correction and shuts his or her ears to God’s word and wisdom, then that believer is a fool. 

Fools will suffer unnecessarily and live a defeated life as a believer because of their unwillingness to learn from God.

“He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.”(PROVERBS 13:20 AMP)

For example: the Book of Proverbs talks about the diligent man and the lazy man. 
It is possible for a believer to be a lazy person if he or she does not receive the wisdom to be diligent from the Lord. 

“Poor is he who works with a negligent and idle hand, But the hand of the diligent makes him rich. He who gathers during summer and takes advantage of his opportunities is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps during harvest and ignores the moment of opportunity is a son who acts shamefully.” (PROVERBS 10:4-5 AMP)

The Book of Proverbs says that the consequences of laziness are missed opportunities and poverty. 
It is possible for a believer to live this type of defeated life if he or she is a fool. 

“I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man lacking understanding and common sense; And, behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, And nettles were covering its surface, And its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I considered it well; I looked and received instruction. “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest [and daydream],” Then your poverty will come as a robber, And your want like an armed man.” (PROVERBS 24:30-34 AMP)

That’s why it’s so important to read and meditate on the word of God, and especially the Book of Proverbs, because it has the power to transform us from defeated fools to wise, victorious believers!

I believe that Wisdom represents Jesus who was originally the Word before He took on the likeness of man. That’s the true identity of Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. When you read this book with the new revelation that Wisdom is Jesus, you will notice that everything takes on a new level of meaning. Hallelujah!

The mysterious identity of “Wisdom” revealed ​

​In the Book of Proverbs, Wisdom is personified as a woman. The Book of Proverbs was written under the Old Covenant.
So in the light of the New Testament, who is Wisdom really representing? 

““The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.” (Proverbs 8:22-31 NKJV)

The passage above says that Wisdom was established from the beginning even before the world was created.
It also refers to Wisdom as “a master craftsman”. 

“In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ( Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.” (JOHN 1:1-3AMP)

The Gospel of John reveals to us that Jesus was there with God in the beginning, in eternity. 
It also shows us that everything was created through Jesus. 

The passage also states that Wisdom was daily God’s delight. Do those words remind you of anything? 

“After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus), and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”” (MATTHEW 3:16-17 AMP)

The only Person whom God audibly affirmed as being His delight is Jesus. 

I believe that Wisdom represents Jesus who was originally the Word before He took on the likeness of man. That’s the true identity of Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs.
When you read this book with the new revelation that Wisdom is Jesus, you will notice that everything takes on a new level of meaning. Hallelujah! 

Closing Prayer:
Dear Abba Father, teach us by Your Holy Spirit how to read Your word and to see Jesus in it. Impart to us the wisdom from the Book of Proverbs and let us enjoy deep revelations from it. Help us to know in our hearts that all the blessings of the righteous are ours by grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen! ​

Pinterest Pinnable Image. Pin this to share with your loved ones what the blessings of the righteous are. Believe and receive them in your life in Jesus' name!

​What's your favorite takeaway from this devotional? Share them with me in the comments below! 

Remember, if you enjoyed this Bible study on the Book of Proverbs, you can also check out my Patreon for more exclusive eBooks, Bible studies and devotionals that are not posted anywhere else.

Read also: A Year of Bible Study on the Book of Proverbs - The Hesed Wisdom Challenge

Want to receive Jesus into your life, be saved from your sins and inherit unmerited favor and eternal life as a child of God?
Go this link and simply pray the prayer aloud!

Welcome to God's big, happy family - You are now a child of God!

Be blessed and walk in divine favor,
Milton Goh
----------------------------------------------
Follow me on Instagram @miltongohblog
Connect with me on FaceBook here.
Watch my videos on YouTube here.

​Patron Credits: Thank you Terence Koh for supporting our blog as a "Superabundant Grace" tier patron. We appreciate your blessings!