by Bruce Billington

Weekly Devotional 24th of April, 2026

In this session, we will continue to look at Proverbs Chapter 10.

In this session, we will continue to look at Proverbs Chapter 10.

Proverbs 10:29-32 – “The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright,    but ruin to the workers of iniquity.30 The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out.32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked brings forth what is perverted.”

Verse 29-30 shows that the safety of the righteous and the downfall of the wicked depend on us walking in the way of the LORD. We must embody the character and behaviour of righteous living and trading to gain the Lord's support in all our actions. It actually says that He will provide a fortress for the righteous. Living contrary to this will lead to ruin or dismay for those who are “workers of iniquity.” 

The closer we stay to the way of the Lord, the more our hearts remain aligned with God in both service and suffering. A good conscience, kept pure from sin, gives a person boldness in times of danger and constant diligence in busy times. The joy of the Lord, which is found only in His way, will be our strength because His righteousness shall never be shaken. 

The POSB tells us that those who possess an established virtue enjoy lasting peace and happiness that nothing can take away; they have a solid, everlasting foundation, whereas wickedness inevitably leads to ruin and destruction. 

The wicked will not inherit the earth, even though they amass their treasures on it, as God’s judgments will expose them. Destruction, quick and certain, shall come upon the workers of iniquity, a destruction from the Lord’s presence and the glory of His power. 

Verse 31-32 tells us that people’s speech defines their character. The Roman philosopher Seneca made an interesting comment. He said, “Speech is the index of the mind.” 

Once again, a contrast is drawn. The mouth of the righteous stands in stark contrast to that of the wicked. The Hebrew word used here for “acceptable” (Verse 32) signifies that the speaker finds favour with God and is blessed by the Lord. The wicked try to overthrow God's rule, and as a result, He withholds His favour from them. 

The speech of the righteous, which is implicitly compared to fruit, is enjoyed with delight and refreshes those who partake of it. Conversely, the perverse speech of the wicked aims to undermine this moral order upheld by the LORD and expressed through his revealed wisdom (see 2:12; 8:13). Such speech, because it does not align with Ultimate Reality, is a lie (see 6:24). The LORD is the One who cuts their tongue out, as indicated by the introductory Yahweh sayings (Verse 22, 27; cf. V29). He will sustain his rule by removing the corrupting speech that pollutes his good earth, harms the community, and challenges his sovereignty.

Godly people speak what is acceptable to God and beneficial for others. The lips are depicted as the mouth’s gate. Know (yada) means to know personally or through experience. The expanded meaning of this statement is: because the righteous fear the Lord and have a personal relationship with Him, they understand what is pleasing and acceptable to Him. They do not let anything unacceptable pass through their lips. They guard the gate of their lips and refuse to speak anything that displeases the Lord.

Unlike the wicked, a hopeful and beautiful image appears from these proverbs for those who are righteous. No matter how much or how little we have in terms of money and worldly possessions, we are wealthy in God’s unmatched blessings. We are protected from the storm—safe from God’s judgment and condemnation—because we have built our lives on the solid foundation of Christ. 

We don’t have to lead dull or boring lives; instead, we should be joyful and take delight in the fruits of holiness, in the freedom that comes from godly living, and in the fellowship of other believers. And, as wonderful as this is, the best is yet to come for us; we have an eternal inheritance both in heaven and on the earth being prepared for us right now. 

God bless you.