August 15 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Proverbs 14:11-35:

¹¹The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
¹²There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
¹³Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
¹⁴The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
¹⁵The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
¹⁶A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
¹⁷He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
¹⁸The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
¹⁹The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
²⁰The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
²¹He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
²²Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
²³In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
²⁵A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
²⁶In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
²⁸In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
²⁹He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
³⁰A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
³¹He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
³²The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
³³Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
³⁴Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
³⁵The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Devotional

"It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment." What then? The Bible tells us very plainly what the lot of the wicked shall be in the hereafter, as well as the lot of the righteous. The judgment will be a righteous judgment, because Jesus Christ is the righteous Judge. "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." The wicked is driven away in his wickedness. The verdict of the Judge is: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." These shall go away into everlasting punishment.

The righteous has hope in his death. Notice, the Bible con­trasts, not the wicked and the good (none is good, save One, that is, God); but the wicked and the righteous, those who are righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. They need not fear death, nor the judgment. They have hope. Christ is their hope. Job said in his affliction: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him, " and "I know that my Redeemer liveth." David said: "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." Again he says: "Mark the perfect man, and be­hold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." Paul put his trust in God, who raises the dead. He knew that he would be present with the Lord after his death. He boldly asserts: "Hence­forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness," and also for all that love the appearing of the Lord. The righteous shall go into life eternal.

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life; that He has conquered death and has brought life and immortality to light. While we sojourn here on earth, help us to watch and pray, to endure affliction, if need be; to fight the fight of faith, and to obtain the victory through him who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Heb. 9:27; 2 Tim. 4:8; Matt. 13:49, 50; 25:41, 46; Luke 18:19; 1 Tim. 1:1; John 13:15; 19:25; Ps. 23:4; 37:37; 2 Cor. 1:9; 5:8; 2 Tim. 4:8; Matt. 25:46.

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