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CHAPTER 10 INTRODUCTION

In Proverbs chapter 10, King Solomon helps us understand how a genuine worshiper of God may walk on the path of righteousness? What are the benefits of doing so? How will our walking with God be of benefit to others as well? He gives us the answers with the contrast of the righteous and the wicked. As we work our way through Proverbs chapter 10, you will notice Solomon uses the expression “righteous one(s)” fourteen times.

“I have been young, and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread,” said the psalmist King David in his old age. (Psalm 37:25) Our heavenly Father loves the righteous and sincerely cares for each of them. In his Word, the Bible, he urges his genuine worshipers to, “Seek Jehovah, all you humble of the land, who carry out his judgment; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be concealed on the day of the anger of Jehovah.” – Zephaniah 2:3.

Righteous; upright; just: (צֶדֶק tsedeq; ) refers to one who is in a righteous standing before God, who is characterized by righteous actions and morals in accordance with God’s moral standards. What does this mean? The person adheres to God’s standards, His moral code. He does what is required according to this moral standard. (Ps 7:9) He is honest, fair, and truthful in his actions, which are correct according to God’s standards. He is not deviant in any way (Lev. 19:36). He is able to make a moral judgment when deciding what is right and wrong, without prejudice. – Gen. 18:23-24; Deut. 16:20; Prov. 3:33; Zeph. 2:3; James 3:18.

In Proverbs chapter 10, we have wise King Solomon under inspiration encouraging the genuine followers to conform to God’s will, as he makes clear the spiritual blessings for doing so. In the first half of chapter 10, verses 1-14, we see that those who have a righteous standing before God will be blessed with spiritual food, the satisfaction of hard work, and a good relationship between God and those obeying his moral standards.

“Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds,” declared Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah also said: “The path of the righteous is uprightness; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.” (Isaiah 3:10; 26:7) Undoubtedly, if our behaviors and actions are to produce good results, we must, therefore, do what is right in the eyes of God.

How is it that a genuine worshiper of God may walk on the path of righteousness? What are the benefits of doing so? How will our walking with God be of benefit to others as well?

In the Bible, the expression “to walk” (הָלַךְ halak) is figurative and illustrative and can mean to follow a certain course of action, as “Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9; 5:22) Those who walk with God follow the life course outlined by God’s Word and will find his favor, that is, be pleasing to him. Pursuing such a life course makes you different from most unbelievers. The Greek New Testament uses the same illustrative expression, contrasting two different courses of action sought by one before and after becoming a servant of God. (Eph. 2:2, 10; 4:17; 5:2) Walking with God is a manner of life that is required of his servants; it affects our conduct and behavior.

Walk: (הָלַךְ halak) in integrity (תֹּם tom), a state of blamelessness being free of guilt. (Prov. 2:7; 19:1) In the Bible, the expression “to walk” is figurative and illustrative and can mean to follow a certain course of action, as “Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9; 5:22) Those who walk with God follow the life course outlined by God’s Word and will find his favor, that is, be pleasing to him. Pursuing such a life course makes you different from most unbelievers. The Greek New Testament uses the same illustrative expression, contrasting two different courses of action sought by one before and after becoming a servant of God. (Eph. 2:2, 10; 4:17; 5:2) Similarly, “running” is also used to symbolize a course of action. (1 Pet. 4:4) God tells us that the prophets in Judah “ran” though he did not send them, yet they took the prophetic course and prophesied falsely. (Jer. 23:21) Paul gives us a visual picture of the Christian course in terms of “running.” He compares it to a race that a person must run while also obeying the rules of the race if they are to win the prize. – 1 Cor. 9:24; Gal. 2:2; 5:7.

The way (אֹרַח orach) is a course of conduct, and righteousness (צְדָקָה tsedaqah) adheres to the moral standard that God gave us, namely, our conscience and the Word of God. This is what justice and a godly life require.