Man falleth seven times, and riseth up again (Proverbs 24:16~20)

Man falleth seven times, and riseth up again (Proverbs 24:16~20) 16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. 19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked: 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Intro)

1. Please guess who this person is.

He was born in poor family and barely made out of elementary school; he failed his business and exam to become a lawyer. At age of 26 his lover died by some kind of illness. After that he kept on thinking about about suicide. He lost elections for senator two times and he lost election for vice president at his age 47. However he became president of USA at his age of 52 and he is the most respected president through out US history.

This story is about Abraham Lincoln. His life was failure after failure. He failed 27 times but at 28^th time he became president of United States. Previous failures were became his foundation for his success.

 

2. In today’s text Proverbs 24: 16 says “man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.”

The roly poly is a toy that always comes back to its original position. We fail so many times in our life time, but whenever we fall, God rise us again.

 

A) Good people also fall sometimes

1. There are three types of people; one who never fall, on whom always get up, and one who cannot get up when they fall. Of course it would be nice to never fall down but even good people fall sometimes. Definition of Good people is “²⁸ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Roman 3:28

Good people rarely fall down because they are cautious about their steps. However, bible tells us they also fall sometimes for example like David, and Abraham.

2. When good people fall it hurts more because they did not see it coming. But the Bible says they will get up eventually.

B) Good people will always rise up again.

Psalm 37:24~26 says

²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

God helps them when they fall, even if they die they will go to heaven which is another way to rise up.

C) Good people rise up because they beat evil by good.

 1. Verse 17 says「Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth」Of course spiritually you can feel joy because of glory of God when He defeats evil but personally you should not rejoice when your enemy has fall. You should feel bad, Let us see how David felt when his enemy was fall. Psalm 35:13-14 says “¹³ But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

¹⁴ I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.” You should hate evil but not the person.

 2. Also good people should not get jealous on evil people’s successes.

3. 2 Corinthian 4:8-9 says “⁸ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

⁹ Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

4. There is a short story which goes like this

One day an injured eagle went to the top of a cliff think jump off from the cliff and kills himself.  At that moment alpha eagle came in front of him and asked him “why do you try to kill yourself?” Then the alpha eagle spread his wings and tell him to see his wings, there were so many injured marks on him and said “This is only the scratches that appears my inside is worse, however I fly higher whenever I get injury because eagles without a scar is eagles who died right after they were born. Now let us fly higher together.”

 

5. According to the farmers of an orchard, they always say the fruit with scar is sweeter and taste better. Like this, God makes us more valuable beings through hardships.

 

6. Most great people throughout history have experiences of overcome some king of hardships, for example like Beethoven who became one of the greatest artists of history.  There are many others who had similar stories. 

 7. When American people send letter, they put an ｅxpressions at the end of letter they are “on the winning side or in the side of victory” the first person who did this was famous general Oliver chromewell of England. When there was a civil war in England, he always wrote that ｅxpression at the end of the letter. Military staffs who read his letter thought they will win the war because their general wrote the ｅxpression all the time, and that belief spread through England and He won the war. 

 Through the hardship, people getting stronger. Through the hardship of cross, we can be saved. Hardships are not meaningless. So, please be brave when the hardship hits you.

Conclusion)

Remember! Not just you but everyone is in hard time overcoming hardships, so you are not alone. Confess it with your faith. Know that our God is with you and will use you by make you stronger through hardships.

By todays Bible text, I hope and pray you all to spread your wings and fly high with Jesus.