Proverbs 11:19-21 (ESV)
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live. Yet Scripture makes clear that apart from Christ, none of us is truly righteous. Romans 3:9-12 explains that both Jews and Greeks, indeed all humanity, stand guilty under sin. Left to ourselves, every one of us falls short of God’s perfect standard and stands condemned before a holy and eternal God. But God graciously opens the eyes of sinners to see this reality and to recognize that their only hope is found in Jesus Christ, the one who was fully God and fully man, who lived the righteous life we could never live and bore the punishment for sin on behalf of the redeemed upon the cross. When we repent of our sins and place our trust in Christ, we are counted righteous before God.
In contrast, Proverbs warns about the one who “pursues evil.” The Hebrew word translated “pursues” is radaph, meaning to chase after or hunt down. It is the same word used in Psalm 23:6 when David says that goodness and mercy shall “follow” him all the days of his life. Just as God’s covenant love relentlessly pursues his people, the wicked person eagerly chases opportunities for sin and self gratification. And as a result, those who refuse to repent and place their trust in Christ will die spiritually and eternally, shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, just as 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 warns.
Solomon also contrasts the “crooked heart” with “blameless ways.” One is an abomination to the Lord, while the other is his delight. God knows every hidden motive and every secret desire. Apart from his saving work, our hearts are crooked and bent toward sin. Yet Ezekiel 36:26-27 promises that God gives his people new hearts and a new spirit, transforming them by his Spirit and causing them to walk in obedience to him.
Verse 21 begins with an interesting expression translated “Be assured.” In Hebrew, the phrase literally reads “hand to hand.” Many believe it refers to a handshake or the certainty of a binding agreement. In other words, this outcome is absolutely certain. The evil person will not go unpunished. But the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. This does not mean that children are automatically saved because of believing parents, but it does remind us that righteousness leaves a legacy.
Oh, how desperately we all need mercy and grace if we are to stand guiltless before him. Sadly, many people believe they are “good enough” to enter heaven on the basis of their own morality. Yet the Scripture teaches that God’s standard is not relative goodness, but perfect righteousness. Pray today that God would help you see clearly how deeply you need his grace. And if you are in Christ, rejoice that God now sees you clothed in the spotless righteousness of his Son.