Connect Proverbs 11:21 with another verse about the fate of the wicked. Key Scriptures • Proverbs 11:21 — “Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.” • Nahum 1:3 — “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust beneath His feet.” Observations from Proverbs 11:21 • God’s justice is certain: “Be assured.” • The wicked face inevitable punishment. • God makes a sharp contrast: the righteous (and even their offspring) enjoy deliverance. Insights from Nahum 1:3 • The same certainty of judgment appears: the Lord “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” • His patience (“slow to anger”) does not cancel His power or resolve to judge. • The imagery of whirlwind and storm underlines unstoppable divine action. How the Two Passages Fit Together • Shared guarantee: Neither verse leaves room for the wicked to escape final accountability. • Timeframe: Proverbs states the principle; Nahum shows it playing out in history against Nineveh, proving the principle on a grand scale. • Character of God: – Righteous Judge (Proverbs 11:21). – Mighty, patient, yet uncompromising (Nahum 1:3). • Hope for the righteous: both passages quietly reassure believers that God’s justice protects and preserves them. Supporting Threads from Other Scriptures • Exodus 34:7 — God “will by no means leave the guilty unpunished,” the foundational declaration echoed in both verses. • Psalm 1:6 — “The way of the wicked will perish,” reinforcing the same end. • Romans 2:5 — Unrepentant hearts are “storing up wrath” for a revealed day of judgment, showing continuity from Old to New Testament. Practical Takeaways • Trust God’s timetable: apparent delays are patience, not neglect. • Avoid envy of temporary prosperity; it is short-lived. • Celebrate protective grace: righteousness in Christ secures escape from judgment. • Maintain a witnessing heart: awareness of certain judgment fuels loving urgency toward those still counted among the wicked. |
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