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How God Deals with Us

Proverbs 10:29 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²⁹The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.

The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the blameless: Here, the way (דֶּרֶךְ derek) of Jehovah is how God deals with mankind and not the course of life that we should follow. God’s dealings with humans means safety and protection, a place of refuge for the blameless. The Hebrew word rendered stronghold (מָעוֹז maoz) refers to a strongly fortified defensive military structure that offers safety and protection, a place of refuge. Blameless: (תֹּם tom) means “perfect, blameless, sincerity, entire, whole, complete, and full.” Of course, Noah, Jacob, and Job were not literally perfect. When used in relation to imperfect humans, the terms are relative, not absolute. However, if we are fully committed to following a life course based on God’s will and purposes, fully living by his laws, and repent when we fall short, he will credit us with righteousness.

but destruction to evildoers: The contrasting parallel here is between stronghold and destruction and between blameless and evildoers. The way of Jehovah is destruction to evildoers. The way of Jehovah’s dealings with humans, in this case, evildoers, is destruction. The evildoers refuse to live a way of life that aligns them with the Word of God and with God’s personality, standards, ways, which is rebellion, the rejection of God’s sovereignty.