"The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but He casteth away the substance of the wicked."
Proverbs 10:3
“The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish.”
The people being spoken of here are those who have been made righteous by the grace of God. It is “God’s favor” that delivers them from death. And all that we are and have, come from His good hand. This does not mean that the believer never faces hard times. But we know He is there with us caring for us in those difficult times.
David’s testimony in his old age was this,
“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
“The righteous have God for their feeder; and because of his infinite bounty, they can never famish for want of the bread of life”[1] (Clarke).
It is not that God’s child always has everything he/she wants, and that he/she is never hungry, many Bible stories show us that. But God is the one who provides for His child. He provides for our soul’s highest hunger.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
“But he casteth away the substance of the wicked.”
God’s treatment of the wicked is so very different than how He treats His child. The wicked often has plenty, but he/she can never find the satisfaction in what they own. When they try to fill up the void in their life with stuff rather than with Jesus. This craving leads them on an ever more intensive quest for more, with the same end results – no satisfaction!
“Casteth away” – “Better, ‘overturns, disappoints the strong desire of the wicked.’ Tantalus-like, they never get the enjoyment they thirst after”[2] (Barnes).
“The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want” (Proverbs 30:25).
Believers, we are satisfied with what the Lord provides for us. And it does not take much to satisfy us when it comes from God’s hand.
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine, they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away” (Psalm 37:16-20).
Satisfied[3]
By Clara Teare Williams
1. All my life I had a longing
For a drink from some clear spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Refrain:
Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.
2. Feeding on the husks around me,
Till my strength was almost gone,
Longed my soul for something better,
Only still to hunger on.
3. Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy,
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul’s sad cry.
4. Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.
[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
Tantalus, in Greek mythology, was the wicked king of Sipylus, who killed his own son to serve him to the gods at a feast. His punishment, to stand in a pool of water in Hades, and under a fruit tree. He could neither eat nor drink for eternity, though food and drink were close by, they receded from his hand whenever he reached for them.
[3] “Satisfied,” by Clara Teare Williams (1858-1937). Tune: SATISFIED, R.E. Hudson. Copyright: Public Domain.