Proverbs 10:29-30

The way of the Lord is like a stronghold for the upright,
but it is destruction to evildoers.
The righteous will never be moved,
but the wicked will not inhabit the land.

While I was in the Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale, we sang the Hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It was a powerful arrangement of a powerful song. I love the words:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

I especially love the part about abiding in our own strength. Even in our best efforts, our strength is nothing. If the right Man isn’t on our side, Christ himself, we would not win the battle.

It fits so well with today’s Proverb. The way of the Lord is a stronghold, a fortress for the upright – but it is destruction for the wicked. When the wicked are faced with the ways of the Lord they will be destroyed. The righteous will not have to retreat in battle, and the wicked will not overtake the righteous. It may seem at times that we are losing ground, but in the grand scheme of things, the righteous will always win.

Take comfort in this hymn. It is rich in truth from God’s word.