“for through a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
     but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
     when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.”
- Proverbs 24:16,17 NIV

They say a cat has 9 lives (lucky dog!)

One thing about life that I’m absolutely sure of is this… you’re going to fall flat on your face more than a few times.

That’s a given! No ifs, ands or buts – you’re going face-down to kiss the concrete with your lips, nose and forehead - and it will most likely happen more than once.

The Bible is all about Good News.

So, here’s the Good News – the righteous will be able to get back up and go again. That’s not to say they won’t feel like they’re free-falling into the abyss of self-pity, self-loathing and self-destruction. No, that’s not guaranteed! What the Word says is that a righteous man will get back up again… eventually!

So, here’s the tempered news – there’s no guarantee as to how long it will take to get back up again. Is it immediate? maybe. Could it take a few weeks? possibly. Years? entirely possible.

Let’s look at Job – my all-time favorite righteous man to get smacked down – and consider a worst-case scenario:

• You go from wealthy to broke almost overnight
• Your children are killed
• Your wife abandons you
• Your friends hang around just enough to make you feel worse
• You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong

Then – Job gets up again.

By the grace of God, you can too. Proverbs 24:16 is the official word on getting up again. The righteous can lean on this scripture when everything else is crumbling around you.

You will get up again.

No related posts.

[Personal Notes Taken by Michael D. Coday II] 

An interesting point of King David’s life is that he was anointed to be the King of Israel long before he actually became King.

Here’s a condensed chronology of his life that will lead us right up to the point of our scripture text.

1. Born to Jesse the Bethlehemite. David is the great grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He spent a lot of time as a child out in the field taking care of the sheep.
2. While a teenager, Samuel anointed him King of Israel while King Saul was still on the throne.
3. Shortly thereafter, appointed to play the harp for King Saul. The Lord had sent a distressing spirit to Saul and David’s playing would cause it to leave.
4. Kills Goliath, King Saul’s archenemy , using only a slingshot and the giant’s own sword.
5. Becomes best friends with King Saul’s son Jonathan.
6. Marries King Saul’s daughter Michael.
7. Has to run for his life because King Saul is jealous and wants to kill him.

I Samuel 22:1,2 (NIV)
David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Abdullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

It just doesn’t seem right to be the anointed King of Israel and have to hide out in a cave. After all, doesn’t the Bible say in 1 Samuel 16:13 that the “Spirit of the Lord came upon David” from the very first day he was anointed King?

He wasn’t alone in that cave. The Bible reports that there were about 400 men “gathered around him” who were in distress, in debt, and discontented. Sounds like they all had something in common.

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression

Anxiety is what happens when your life isn’t working out the way you think it should.

Anxiety is the huddled remaining disciples locked in a room fearing the same crucifixion fate as their Lord.

Anxiety is the sound of chariots racing up behind you with the crash of the sea before you.

Anxiety is Lazarus 3 days dead in the tomb with nothing but stink to cheer him up.

Anxiety is sitting in the dark when your tithe’s been paid but the electric bill hasn’t.

Anxiety is what happens when your life isn’t working out the way you think it should.

In the cave with David that day were 400 anxious men; distressed, in debt, and discontent men who believed their life wasn’t working out the way it should.

Have you been there? Do you know the cave I’m talking about? Maybe you are there right now.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.

Let me share something with you that may change your entire destiny.

On the one hand, you could…
A. Disregard God’s promises in your life
B. Give in to the anxiety
C. Take matters into your own hands

Actually, that is the story of Saul’s life and God rejected him as king.

On the other hand, you could choose to…
A. Gather around God’s promises
B. Submit to the plan He has for you
C. Encourage those around you to do the same

#1 The Bible says that 400 men “gathered around him” and he became their leader
A. Who was David?
B. He was God’s promise. The men gathered around God’s promise.
C. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Exodus 15:26 “I am the God who healeth thee”

#2 David could have easily said, “I am the King”. Saul has killed his 1,000’s but I’ve killed 10,000s. C’mon boys, let’s kill him. David had his chance to kill Saul but he didn’t. He chose to submit to God’s plan for his life.

James 4:6-7a
 But he gives us more grace? That is why scripture says: “God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God…

#3 David encouraged his men to wait for the promise. Someday they would reign with him.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of Scriptures we might have hope.

Hebrews 3:12-14
See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

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We are God’s workers, working together.
1 Corinthians 3:9

It’s a wonderful day indeed when we stop working for God and begin working with God…

For years I viewed God as a compassionate CEO and my role as a loyal sales representative. He had his office, and I had my territory. I could contact him as much as I wanted. He was always a phone or fax away. He encouraged me, rallied behind me, and supported me, but he didn’t go with me. At least I didn’t think he did. Then I read 2 Corinthians 6:1: We are “God’s fellow workers” (NIV).

Fellow workers? Co-laborers? God and I work together? Imagine the paradigm shift this truth creates. Rather than report to God, we work with God. Rather than check in with him and then leave, we check in with him and then follow. We are always in the presence of God… There is never a nonsacred moment!

Just Like Jesus
Max Lucado

This was a good one for me.

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