Proverbs 25

“A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.” (Proverbs 25:26, NKJV)

In John Bunyan’s classic work “Pilgrim’s Progress,” Christian leaves his home after Evangelist tells him about the City of Destruction that he is in and the Celestial City to which he must go. Christian is carrying a great burden—the knowledge of his sin. Evangelist tells him that he must go through the Wicket Gate for deliverance. Christian leaves his wife and children to save himself, for he cannot persuade them to accompany him. Obstinate and Pliable go after him to bring him back, but Christian is unwilling to return. Obstinate refuses to listen to Christian’s concerns and goes back. Pliable, on the other hand, is persuaded to go with Christian, drawn by the Paradise that Christian says is at the end of the journey. But when the two come to the Slough of Despond, Pliable abandons Christian. The Slough is a mire-like swamp where pilgrims’ doubts, fears, temptations, and guilts sink them into the mud of the swamp.

As I read the above proverb, I think of Chrisitan, Obstinate and Pliable. Christian refuses to falter before the persuasive arguments of Obstinate and Pliable to return to the city from which he was fleeing. Likewise, we must stand for righteousness against the persuasions of the flesh, the world and the devil. We must refuse to listen to others who are motivated by some spirit other than the Holy Spirit (Luke 9:55). Pliable immediately responded to the message but then faltered in hardship. He did not possess adequate conviction to persevere in truth regardless of the cost.

We must be like Christian and not give way to godless arguments or worldly wisdom. If we yield, then we will be like a murky spring or polluted well. We will lose integrity, and people will no longer trust us. We must not be like Obstinate, refusing to listen to the truth. We cannot say, “Don’t bother me with the facts; my mind is made up.” Neither should we be like Pliable who bends with every soft wind of ease or tantalizing teaching. May God help us to stand firm in the faith with our feet planted on the rock of God’s Word. We may face strong headwinds of opposition, but whoever resists evil obtains the blessing.