Proverbs 13:9, God’s Light or Man’s Lamps?

July 4, Proverbs 13:9

Matt. 25:1-13 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (Jn. 9:5).

God’s Light or Man’s Lamps?

Here is a familiar Scripture image that represents light as essential to the well-being of life. The light of the righteous is contrasted with the lamp of the wicked. Sometimes they are synonymous, but a distinction clearly is meant.

1. The light of the righteous rejoices, flashes, while the lamp of the wicked will splutter and fail. a. Heaven-Sent Raptures: The light of the righteous is from above (Jn. 3:3). It is not of man’s making. It comes from the Father of lights with whom is no shadow cast by turning. The Sun rejoices as a strong man to run a race (Ps. 19:4-5). He is, as it were, conscious of his power and speed, but all his traveling doesn’t weary him. All his shining doesn’t diminish his brightness. At the end he is as mighty as at the start. So is the light of the righteous; it cannot be exhausted. The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Pr. 4:18). b. Earth-Bound Rockets: In contrast, the light of the wicked is from a lamp of his own making. God exposed Israel’s sin. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled (Isa. 50:10). So the wicked lights his lamp, but at any moment it may be snuffed out. c. Heavenly – Earthly Results: God’s blessing is always with the True Light. Jesus was that Light, and His followers are to let [their] light so shine before men. The light of the righteous produces raptures that never end. The light of the wicked is doomed. It shall be put out, never to be rekindled. His rejoicing is, at best, transient. The rockets he sends into the sky fall back to earth as so much “space junk”! All this cleverness is wasted because it is without a true moral basis; it is of the earth, earthy! Thus Isaiah ends, Ye shall lie down in sorrow (50:10).

2. All men, exercise the same three elements – faith, hope, and love. a. God’s Brightness: The righteous rejoice in a faith that fills their soul, and unites them with the living God and all the faithful on earth. They rejoice in hope of the brightest future, even that blessed hope that outshines the sun. They rejoice in a love because of Him who first loved them, and in whose service there is fullness of joy. b. Man’s Blackness: The wicked, too have faith, but it is in false gods of this world and must fail. Their hope is a house build on sand and the storm o destiny will destroy it. Their love is set on corruptible things, and all that is corrupt will be consumed by the fire of eternal justice. c. Heaven’s Blessedness: For the righteous, it will mean entering into the everlasting brightness of that City where the glory of God and the Lamb [are] the light thereof (Rev. 21:23). It is an eternal light, an inextinguishable sun. As for the wicked, the breath of the Almighty will put out their flickering lamp. It shed no light into their soul. They shall go to the generation of [their fathers; they shall never see light (Ps. 49:19).

Thought: “Dare to do right; and walk in the light.”

Prayer: Lord, that I may shine more brightly in this world of darkness.