What Does Proverbs 19:23 Say about the Hardships We Face?
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Have you ever come across a Bible verse and you just thought, “What on earth does that mean?” Or “Why is this said, how is this possible?” It can be easy to glaze over and forget about that thought, but the truth is that God welcomes our questions. He invites our searching, and He encourages us to seek Him and His Word.
Today we are going to look at one of those head-scratching verses. What does Proverbs 19:23 actually mean?
What Does Proverbs 19:23 Say?
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV) says, "The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”
Proverbs 19:23 (NLT) says, “Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.”
Proverbs 19:23 (ESV) says, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
Proverbs 19:23 (KJV) says, “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.”
Maybe your life has been more than untouched by trouble, perhaps you have encountered genuine harm, or you have been visited by evil? Why would the Lord say this, if the opposite appears to be true? Does believing Him mean that we will always be safe and never encounter evil or trouble? No, He says elsewhere that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He instructs us to put on the whole armor of God because we will encounter spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:11-18). He shares that we can consider it pure joy when we encounter trials of many kinds (James 1:2-4).
So, is God’s Word contradicting itself? No. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Samuel 22:31 and Psalm 18:30 affirm that God’s way is perfect and His Word is flawless. There is no fault in Him or His work. His creation was always called good or very good (Genesis 1-2).
What Does Proverbs 19:23 Mean Then?
The book of Proverbs is practical tips based on wisdom. This is simply knowledge applied. Proverbs 19:23 falls in the midst of Solomon teaching on foolishness and then on family life. It is sandwiched in between verses encouraging parents to chasten their children, words about out-of-control people, the long-term effects of foolish decisions, and God’s plans versus man’s. Proverbs 19:22 says, “What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.” Proverbs 19:24 says, “A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.”
Ross from Enduring Word Commentary says, “When one lives a life of piety, the Lord provides a quality of life that cannot be disrupted by such evil.”
Matthew Henry says, “They may be visited with sickness or other afflictions, but there shall be no evil in them, nothing to hurt them, because nothing to separate them from the love of God, or hurt to the soul.” He expands that those who have faith in God will be satisfied deep within themselves because they abide in Christ. Lastly, Henry reveals how Proverbs 19:23 shares that the believer will have true and complete happiness.
Following Christ means that we are called to pick up our crosses and follow Him. This means that we are in a world where evil resides, but Jesus has won the eternal victory over sin and removed separation from Himself. Fearing, or in this case trusting/placing faith in the Lord, leads to life. This is not just an earthly life, but an eternal life. Knowing Jesus and having His Holy Spirit within us brings contentment and great security for every believer. We might encounter temporary worldly harms, but there is no greater harm than that which is eternal. The greatest of evil is demonic possession, a soul unsaved, or a person trapped in separation from God forever.
When we have faith in Christ, we will not be overtaken by true evil. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:3 says, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” There is hope in this verse for a believer who, even though they know that there is trouble and pain now, that it is not forever. We can have such peace in our souls no matter what because our eternity combined with our current and future relationship with Jesus is secure. We are His and He is ours.
How Can I Apply Proverbs 19:23 to My Life Today?
What hardships are you facing? How is life getting you down right now?
First of all, this verse challenges us to make a decision. Have you put your faith in Jesus? John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Jesus Himself said that He is the only way to heaven. His death and resurrection on the cross are final, He is God, He is the Savior. Simply confess that He is Lord and you are a sinner in need of His forgiveness and sacrifice for you, and you will be sealed by His Holy Spirit and His forever. Free and safe from the clutches of sin and hell.
Romans 8:9 says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
Believers in Jesus are given the joy of peace and eternal security. There is great hope and strength in knowing that God has made a way for us. No challenges here on this earth will ever separate us from His love. We can walk confidently today and every day when we have Him, because we have the victory.
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