Welcome to Wisdom Today with Bill Kelley. Today we will be going over Proverb 21. I will then key in on verse 7: The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice. We are going to look at the example of a wicked person found in the Bible. He is Haman - who can be found in the book of Esther. Beginning in Chapter 3, verses 1 & 2, we find out the Haman has just been promoted by the king, and that he is basking in the fact that he has been placed in a very high place of authority. Everyone begins to bow down and - pretty much - worship him, but Mordecai, the Jew, does not bow down to him. Point 1 I would like to make is do not take offense. Friends, if you get promoted, I am here to tell you that not everyone will rejoice. I will go over two scriptures for you: Luke 6:27 - tells us to love our enemies; do good to those that hate you. Not only will not everyone rejoice with you, but some people will hate the fact that you were promoted. Another scripture is Isaiah 41:10. This verse tells you that God is with you - and if He is the only one that is with you, that is OK! the Bible tells us that promotion is from above. God was involved with your getting the promotion. Point #2 I would like to make is do not judge. Haman judged Mordecai simply because he would not bow before him. He planned on killing Mordecai - but, not only does he plan on killing Mordecai, he arranges with the king to have the entire Jewish population annihilated on a certain date! Boy, talk about taking offense. As I continue reading in Chapter 6 of Esther, the king finds out that, sometime in the past, Mordecai actually was involved in saving the king's life - so he wishes to honor him. Haman is instructed to lead Mordecai around the entire town and honoring Mordecai. There is such irony in this story! Point #3 is that your plans may end up turning on you. I go over Proverbs 26-27: Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. This is what happens to Haman. As we conclude the story in Chapter of 8 in Esther, Haman actually is hanged on the gallows that he had prepared to have Mordecai hung on.
