The Righteous will not Famish -A Proverb A Day 002

*A video/audio version of this is available and is at the end of this article.

Pro 10:3  The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 

Welcome to a Proverb a Day to keep the stupid at bay! This proverb contrasts two different responses from Jehovah as a result of two different types of people: righteous and wicked. The active participant is God himself: He will respond differently to us depending on our relationship with Him. So while the subject of the proverb is God, the application is found in the object: being righteous or wicked. 

Let’s break this down. Being righteous or wicked is defined by relationship with God. To be righteous is to be doing right by God’s standard, not anyone else’s. To be wicked is to rebel against His Law. Indeed, when we consider that by the Law, all have sinned. We can only find redemption through Christ – so then not only do we find righteousness by obedience to God, we also find redemption and restoration through Him alone. 

This proverb is not merely to do with righteous and wicked. There are two outcomes – the righteous soul will not famish. Or more simply, hunger. The wicked will find his substance cast away. (Depending on your translation, it may also read ‘desire’ instead) While these are different words – hunger and desire – they are related, for hunger is a form of desire. We can conclude then that the comparison is between the desire of the righteous and the wicked. The difference is between fulfillment – one is promised to be filled. The other is promised to be cast away. 

It’s worthwhile to mention the importance of not only reading Scripture, but understanding Scripture in the light of all Scripture. One could read this verse in isolation and think, The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to suffer hunger. Yet is that what we see in life? Do we not see the wicked succeed in their desires? If we are not careful, we can read something in Scripture that Scripture isn’t actually saying. Let’s address these two concepts so we can properly understand what the proverb is saying. 

The soul of the righteous will not famish. This promise does NOT exclude suffering. Neither does it mean the righteous will never experience hunger. The story of Job teaches us this lesson. What is promised is that such suffering and hunger that may be experienced in life by the righteous is temporary. God will not leave them to hunger. This concept is found in Psalms 16:10 – thou (God) wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. The soul of the Holy One was in hell, but it wasn’t staying there. Jesus teaches this concept in his sermon on the mount: blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Mat 5:6) Notice? They are hungry, but they will be filled. The hunger is temporary – the end reward is satiation. 

The desire of the wicked shall be cast away. One could look at many examples through history of wicked men who apparently have all they desire. Is the proverb false? Hardly. Scripture itself acknowledges the apparent success of wicked people. Psalms 73:3 tells us of the prosperity of the wicked. Jeremiah laments that the ‘way of the wicked prospers’. (Jer 12:1) But what is the end of all this? Revelation tells us that all will be judged by their deeds and rewarded accordingly. The wicked may prosper in this life, but God has sworn that He will cast their desire aside – or in simple comparison – their end is hunger. 

The current state of a person’s situation doesn’t determine whether they are righteous or wicked. It’s their obedience to the commandments of the Lord – their relationship with Him. One may be righteous and find themselves suffering – famishing. Indeed! They may find themselves in hades. But the promise of God to the righteous is that they will not remain there. He will not allow their soul to famish. It is unacceptable to Him. On the flip side – the wicked may find themselves fully satisfied – this too is unacceptable to the Lord. He will cast it aside. They will not remain satisfied – they will find themselves wanting. This proverb is encapsulated in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man finds himself in life fully satisfied beyond measure, while Lazarus has nothing but crumbs. In eternity, however, the places are reversed – “but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”  

When all is said and done, righteousness profits much. Wickedness profits nothing. God has predetermined how he will respond to both the righteous and the wicked. The outcome is guaranteed and clear. It has been stated many times for our benefit. How God responds to us depends upon the path we choose. Before us is the choice of blessing or curse – life or death. For blessing and life, let us take heed to the commandments of our God – for He will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish.