‘the path of the righteous is like the dawning light
that shines more and more until the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is like darkness.
They don’t know what they stumble over.’
(Proverbs 4:18-19)
This text sums up (and contrasts) two ways of life, or paths, which it refers to as the ‘way of the wicked’ and ‘the path of the righteous’. It concludes a longer statement on the subject that runs from ‘Listen…’(Proverbs 4:10ff.) a few verses earlier, which in turn forms part of a whole series of similar reflections on life, presented as wisdom conveyed from a father to son. So we’d do well to ‘listen’(Proverbs 1:8ff.) too.
First this ‘way of the wicked’. The rest of scripture makes clear this isn’t simply a choice to be avoided, rather the default path of us ‘all’(Romans 5:12) – our inherent inclination to ‘wickedness’(Genesis 6:5) and ‘“evil”’(Genesis 8:21), described here as ‘like darkness’, and elsewhere even ‘“thick darkness”’(Isaiah 60:2). This universal malaise stems from our being ‘darkened’(Ephesians 4:18; Romans 1:21ff.) at the core, and ‘blinded’(2 Corinthians 4:4) spiritually, such that we can’t even perceive our plight. Not surprisingly, therefore, we’re inclined to ‘stumble’ as individuals and societies and ‘don’t know’ why, as this text puts it.
However, there’s this alternative ‘path of the righteous’, which is ‘like the dawning light’, initially at least. As with the darkness, this is a spiritual light, and obviously very much associated with God in scripture: ‘God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all’(1 John 1:5). He’s the source of all true spiritual light that dawns then ‘shines in the darkness’(John 1:5), expressed initially though the Old Testament ‘lamp shining in a dark place’(2 Peter 1:19, cf. Psalm 119:105, 19:8 etc.), then especially through Jesus the ‘“light of the world”’(John 8:12) who came to bring ‘“sight to the blind”’(Luke 4:18) spiritually – His physical healings being ‘“signs”’(John 9:16) pointing to this, aside from expressing the light of His godly righteous ‘compassion’(Matthew 20:34) more generally. So, when the risen Jesus commissioned Paul to spread this light further, even towards us, He said: ‘“‘I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light’”’(Acts 26:17-18).
However, our personal dawns are only the beginning, seeing ‘the light of the Good News’(2 Corinthians 4:4) and being delivered ‘out of the power of darkness’(Colossians 1:13) ‘into His marvellous light’(1 Peter 2:9). We’re then to actually be this ‘“light”’(Matthew 5:14ff.), as we ‘walk in the light’(1 John 1:7) and shine ‘as lights in the world’(Philippians 2:15). That will involve things like displaying the righteous compassion of Jesus mentioned above: ‘you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…’(Ephesians 5:8), on this ‘path of the righteous’, now fully revealed to us by Jesus ‘“the way… truth, and life”’(John 14:6) in this sense too – a life of ‘goodness… righteousness and truth’(Ephesians 5:9, cf. Matthew 5:16).
Importantly, we should note that after these initial steps we’re to shine ‘more and more’, i.e. grow/brighten spiritually. This will involve seeing more clearly and reflecting what we see, i.e. ‘with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror… transformed into the same image… even as from the Lord, the Spirit’(2 Corinthians 3:18). So we should be ‘praying’(Colossians 1:9ff.) that our ‘walk’(Colossians 1:10) might lead us ever deeper into His light, alongside diligently applying ourselves to ‘all things that pertain to life and godliness’(2 Peter 1:3ff.) so as not to flicker and ‘stumble’(2 Peter 1:10).
However, in truth we’ll only ever see ‘dimly’(1 Corinthians 13:12) whilst here, even though ‘the darkness is passing away and the true light already shines’(1 John 2:8); and we still ‘stumble’(James 3:2) and ‘“sin”’(Proverbs 20:9, cf. 1 John 1:7-9), even though emerging from the darkness to shine ever more brightly. Nevertheless, we’re to ‘press on’(Philippians 3:12, cf. Micah 7:8), confident that God ‘will complete’(Philippians 1:6) what He’s ignited in us.
The ultimate realisation of this will be the ‘perfect day’ referred to here, when we’ll see God ‘face to face’(1 Corinthians 13:12) and ‘“the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father”’(Matthew 13:43, cf. Exodus 34:29-35), perfectly reflecting His ‘“everlasting light”’(Isaiah 60:19, cf. Revelation 21:23) ‘“forever”’(Daniel 12:3; Revelation 22:5)!
However, we must heed the implied warning here too, about darkness. Jesus made this clear, for example before His comments above: ‘“The Son of Man will send… angels… they will gather out of His Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, and… cast them into”’(Matthew 13:41-42) ‘“‘the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’”’(Matthew 25:30ff.) ‘the lake of fire’(Revelation 20:14ff.) forever!
Please feel free to share this via social media etc.
(or anywhere else)
by copying/pasting its URL link: https://etheldreda.net/proverbs_4_18-19/
&
if you’re on social media,
please do make
contact.
(This website currently does not have social media share buttons, to avoid using cookies – see Privacy Policy.)