Study Audio Download

Pro 11:4-12 “Righteousness delivereth from death”

[Study Aired February 27, 2025]

Pro 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Pro 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Pro 11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
Pro 11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
Pro 11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
Pro 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Pro 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
Pro 11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Pro 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

In this section of chapter eleven we will explore the meaning of what true riches are in God’s mind and how He is bringing His children to have a great appreciation for the joy that has been set before us (Heb 12:2-3) so that we don’t set our affections on the temporal things of the earth that are passing (Heb 11:26, Gal 5:24, Col 3:2-3).

Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

The only way that an appreciation for things of the spirit can grow in us, is by the Lord delivering us from the deceitfulness of our flesh [Jer 17:9], that naturally wants the riches of this world, the immediate and deceitful bowl of pottage that represents “the flesh with the affections and lusts”(Gen 25:34) that will rob us of an eternal reward described in the following verses, (Mat 11:11, Php 3:8, Mat 10:28-31).

Lay hold of eternal life:

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. [luk 17:20]

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:[Eph 3:10] for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [to continue to have the mind of Christ, is to win Christ (1Ti 6:12, 1Ti 6:19, Joh 17:2-3, Joh 3:15, Joh 6:45, Joh 6:68)

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:68 When Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Be content – Be stedfast:

If the Lord is working with us in this life, as our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), we will be learning to be content whether we have a little or a lot (Php 4:11-13) seeing our hearts will not, by God’s grace, be set on the temporal, but rather on the things above which will give us the hope and vision we need to stedfastly endure until the end of this life (Act 7:55-56, Joh 17:3).

Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven (Heb 3:14-15, Heb 6:19, 1Co 15:58, 1Pe 5:9, Heb 2:2), and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [Joh 17:3, Heb 12:2]

Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;[Rev 3:3, Rev 3:11]
Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith [1Jn 5:4, 1Jn 5:14, Eph 6:16, Col 3:14, 1Co 13:2-3], knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Pro 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

This opening proverb reminds us that our riches, which are analogous of our righteousnesses (Php 3:9), amount to nothing when God’s judgements come into our lives “in the day of wrath“. It will only be by the righteousness of Christ that we will sell all that we have and come and follow Christ who alone can “delivereth from death” (Mat 19:20-26).

Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.(Php 3:9)
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.(Php 3:9)
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. [Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36, Joh 14:6]

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [“righteousness delivereth from death“]

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. [“righteousness delivereth from death“]

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [“righteousness delivereth from death“]

Pro 11:5 The righteousness of the perfect^H8549 shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

We follow each other as we follow Christ (1Co 11:1) who makes it possible for us to live lives that are led by God’s spirit (Rom 8:14) that “shall direct his way”. The perfect^H8549 way or better way or more excellent way (1Co 12:31) is shown in (1Co 13:1-13), and that way is only made possible with the life of Christ within us (Rom 5:5, Col 1:27). That spirit within us bears witness that we can take on these qualities described in the word “perfect^H8549” hat describe our Lord and Saviour, and the new man within us (Rom 8:9).

“Perfect” H8549 tâmı̂ym taw-meem’
From H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth: – without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole. [Rom 8:1, Rom 8:9, Rom 8:14]. Total KJV occurrences: 91

Pro 11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

God delivers us from our own selves everyday as we die daily (1Co 15:31), and he uses “the righteousness of the upright” to accomplish this (1Ti 4:14-16, Mat 4:19), which is His righteousness that we can only be drawn to as our Father drags us unto Christ in each other (Joh 6:44).

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them:(Joh 8:31-32) for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

We are drawn to Christ in ourselves (Joh 6:44, Col 1:27) as well as in each other as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, not neglecting so great a salvation (Heb 2:3). Our being drawn to Christ within and without ourselves is what God is accomplishing within His workmanship, “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” which is to give us the kingdom (Php 2:12-13, Joh 4:14, Luk 12:32).

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

It is the ‘kind of first fruits’ of God’s creation who are the first to come to acknowledge that there is no good thing is this flesh and so this section of the proverb, “but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness”, is written to remind us of the fact that we must be “taken in their own naughtiness” and will suffer in this life through judgement so that we will continue to cease from sinning (Tit 2:12-13, 1Pe 4:1).

Pro 11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

The wicked man in each of us must die, and Lord willing we will see our false aspirations torn down and destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming into our heavens as we die daily (2Th 2:2-5).

The opposite of the hope of glory within us (Col 1:27) is the hope that our carnal minds hold out that we can somehow glorify God by our own might and power, like the disciples who fished all day to learn this powerful lesson of where our power comes from (Joh 21:5-11).

Joh 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. [our efforts produce no spiritual meat, only God can give this increase (1Co 3:6)]
Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

We live by every word of God and “the hope of unjust men perisheth” is something that must be lived in the elect’s lives in order to learn that only Christ’s righteousness within us will preserve us. “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find“, and all else will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming into our heavens to cleanse us from our own iniquitous, self-righteous ways that cast the net all the day long on the left side of the ship, until the Lord comes along and tells us to do otherwise (Eze 33:13).

Eze 33:13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

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

God is dealing with the sins of the Amorites in the elect’s life today, which is what “the righteous is delivered out of trouble” tells us. He is setting us free from sin, an aorist event that is unfolding in our lives, and so “the wicked cometh in his stead” is a reminder that we are not ‘once saved always saved’, but rather little and by little the Lord is giving us victory over the beasts of the land (Exo 23:30) or “the wicked that cometh in his stead” in this instance. God’s people will continue to overcome through His power within us that gives us nourishing victories (Num 14:9) as we battle the many giants that have been written in our books to overcome until we go unto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32).

Pro 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

It’s easy for the flesh to think of some other hypocrite other than our own flesh, as was demonstrated in king David’s life, when he could easily see who the unjust person was in the story that the prophet Nathan brought to him, but was speaking about David who was ‘the man’ (2Sa 12:7).

In this story, David represents all the characters in this proverb (Pro 11:9) just as we do. Our hypocritical flesh has to be brought to a point, Lord willing, where we confess our iniquities (1Jn 1:9), and that event of forgiveness will happen if we are given to not despise God’s goodness (Rom 2:4) that came by way of Nathan the prophet, showing us that it is “through knowledge shall the just be delivered” as the Lord leads us unto repentance and blesses us so that the sword of his word does not depart from our house, as it makes war against our old man with a spiritually sharper than any two edged sword (Heb 4:12), typified by the sword of war that will not depart from David’s house going forward (2Sa 12:10, Psa 32:2).

Pro 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting^H7440.

The city in this proverb represents the church where we rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice for the wonderful works that God is doing unto the sons of men (Psa 107:15), causing the man of sin to perish within me and bringing about great rejoicing for the new man that is being formed (Luk 15:7). When the wicked man within me perishes, it happens as a result of my being brought to acknowledge that he resides in me and must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into the temple, bringing great rejoicing for the new man for whom “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 2:4, Rom 8:28-31).

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

“Shouting” H7440 רִנָּה rinnâh rin-naw’
From H7442; properly a creaking (or shrill sound), that is, shout (of joy or grief): – cry, gladness, joy (Psa 30:5,), proclamation, rejoicing (Psa 126:6), shouting, sing (-ing), triumph. Total KJV occurrences: 33

Pro 11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown^H2040 by the mouth of the wicked.

“No man ever hated his own flesh” (Eph 5:29-30) is a proverb in itself that reminds us that with God’s spirit within us we can acknowledge that we are a many membered body, who are one bread and one spirit, and so when we bless one person in the body, the whole church that is represented by a city is exalted, “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted“.

Conversely when we don’t guard out thoughts and actions we can negatively affect the church, as it is “overthrown by the mouth of the wicked” within us (Mar 9:42, Heb 12:15).

Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

“Overthrown” H2040 הָרַס hâras haw-ras’
A primitive root; to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy: – beat down, break (down, through), destroy (Psa 28:5), overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down, X utterly. Total KJV occurrences: 43

The goal we are working toward is to not offend or cause our brother to stumble (1Co 8:13), and we can rest assured that although God’s elect will be guilty of being “the mouth of the wicked” that overthrows the church, in the end if we are God’s children that spirit of disobedience will be burnt out of us and we will learn to walk in harmony with the rest of the body parts that make up the bride of Christ. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church in other words, and those gates are as much within each of us as they are in Babylon, that we will overcome by the gift God’s grace and the faith of Christ in our lives (Mat 16:18, Gen 4:7, Eph 2:8).

Pro 11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Another way of saying “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour” is that without Christ [our wisdom] in our lives who softens our hearts and deepens His love within us (Rom 5:5-6), we would be easily sifted by the devil (Luk 22:31) and iniquity would abound in our heavens causing us to despise our neighbour as God’s love waxes cold within us (Mat 24:12-13).

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

It is solely because of Christ within as our hope of glory that we can be men and woman of “understanding” who know how to hold our peace, and acknowledge that it is Christ who is growing us in that ability to be more than conquerors through him, our great King of “Peace” typified by the name Melchisedec.

Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 
Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

The title of our study, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death”, reminds us that today is a day of living and abiding in bodies of death, or the shadow of the valley of death as it’s called (Psa 23:4-5), and it is only by the righteousness of Christ that we will be delivered from our own self-important flesh that thinks it’s rich and increased with goods (Rev 3:17) when in fact it cannot inherit the kingdom of God unless, Lord willing, it is being destroyed today of these negative attributes “in the day of wrath”.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: