What is the meaning of Proverbs 10:7? The memory of the righteous “The memory of the righteous…” (Proverbs 10:7a) • God keeps a record of those who fear Him (Malachi 3:16) and promises their remembrance will endure (Psalm 112:6). • The righteous themselves cultivate lives worth recalling—marked by faith like those listed in Hebrews 11 and by deeds such as Dorcas’s acts of charity in Acts 9:36–39. • Their stories continue to strengthen believers just as Paul drew courage from Timothy’s family heritage of faith (2 Timothy 1:5). • Even after death they “still speak” through their testimony (Hebrews 11:4). Is a blessing “…is a blessing…” (Proverbs 10:7a) • Remembering the righteous stirs gratitude, hope, and obedience (Philippians 1:3–6). • Their legacy brings practical blessing—“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22). • God Himself blesses the homes of the upright (Proverbs 3:33), ensuring that their influence multiplies. • The Church thrives on recounting such examples, urging every believer to “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). But the name of the wicked “…but the name of the wicked…” (Proverbs 10:7b) • Scripture often links a person’s “name” with reputation and character (Ecclesiastes 7:1). • God warns that evildoers can be erased from memory: “The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth” (Psalm 34:16). • Historical examples—like Amalek (Exodus 17:14) or Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11)—show how wickedness stains a name for generations. Will rot “…will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7b) • “Rot” conveys decay and stench; wicked reputations decompose, leaving only disgrace (Job 18:17). • What appears impressive now will be despised later: Ecclesiastes 8:10 notes the wicked were soon “forgotten in the city.” • Judas Iscariot’s name evokes betrayal, fulfilling Jesus’ sober words in Matthew 26:24. • Unlike the incorruptible crown promised to believers (1 Peter 1:4), the wicked inherit shame and oblivion. summary Proverbs 10:7 contrasts two lasting outcomes: the righteous leave a fragrance of blessing that God Himself safeguards, while the wicked forfeit even their name, which decays into dishonor. Choosing righteousness means investing in an eternal legacy that blesses others and glorifies the Lord, while rejecting wickedness spares future generations the rot of a tarnished name. |
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