The root of the righteous
[Proverbs 12]
There was a Korean drama called ‘Tree with Deep Roots” that aired on SBS Korea from October 5, 2011. This drama is based on Jung-myeong Lee’s novel "Tree with Deep Roots", and it deals with the serial murder of a bachelor's house in the Gyeongbokgung Palace for 7 days before the release of Hunminjeongeum during the Joseon Dynasty. It is said that this drama shows the greatness of the creation of Hangeul (Korean alphabet) and the grievances hidden behind it. After watching this drama, I read what someone wrote like this: ‘The excellence of Hangeul started from the motive of Sejong the Great, who tried for its production, and in the process, he imagined all the various situations he might have been worried about and showed it in the drama. Therefore, as one of the people who grew up under the culture of the Korean people who write Hangeul directly, it not only boosted the pride of having such a great king, but also the pride of handwriting such noble letters.’ And he said, ‘It's a drama I want to show as soon as the English subtitles are attached to the growing up of foreign generations who don't know how easy it is to learn Korean and the motive for creating it’ (Internet). It is the root of our faith in Jesus that we come to think through this drama that gives a glimpse into how the Korean language, Hangeul, was created and what difficulties and adversities were encountered. We, who have been forgiven through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and justified by His resurrection, will be asked what our root is as righteous people in the sight of God.
If we look at Proverbs 12:3, the Bible says “A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.” Today, it is my hope and prayer that we will receive the lessons God gives us and obey as we meditate on Proverbs 12 under the heading “The root of the righteous”.
First, the root of the righteous is immobile. In other words, the righteous stands firm.
Look at Proverbs 12:3 – “A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.” The Bible says that we humans cannot established firmly by wickedness (v. 3). In other words, if our root is wicked, we cannot stand firm and will be shaken. I remember the words of Psalms 1:4 – “The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.” The reason why the wicked are like chaff which the wind drives away is because the wicked hates correction like a beast (Prov. 12:1). Why does the wicked hate correction? The reason is because, as Proverbs 12:15 says, the wicked is a fool and he considers his way right in his own eyes. That is why the foolish wicked doesn’t listen to the counsel (advice) of the wise (v. 15). And while the wicked devises evil (v. 2), he seeks deceit (v. 5). The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood (v. 6). To such wicked man, he has a “a disgraceful wife” as his wife and it is like decay in his bones (v. 4). What does it mean? It means that not only the wicked cannot only stand firmly, but also his house as well. Eventually, this wicked man will be overthrown and will be no more (v. 7).
But the root of the righteous doesn’t move. It cannot be uprooted (v. 3). How does the root of the righteous not move? How can the righteous stand firm? The secret is because the righteous loves discipline. In other words, the righteous can stand firm because he is deeply rooted in knowledge. Look at verse 1: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” The reason the righteous loves discipline is because he loves knowledge. Therefore, he receives God's discipline without resignation. The reason is because the righteous wants to walk in the righteous way, the right way. Therefore, as verse 5 says “The plans of the righteous are just.” In other words, the plans of the righteous man who loves discipline and loves knowledge are just and honest. To such a person, God grants the grace (v. 2) to meet a wife of noble character (v. 4). Furthermore, God makes her to be her husband's crown (v. 4). In other words, God gives the wife of noble character to the righteous man and glorifies him through her. Therefore, in the end, God doesn’t only make the righteous stand firm (v. 3), but also makes the righteous man's house stand firm (v. 7).
Second, the righteous is fruitful through his root. In other words, the righteous bears fruit.
Look at Proverbs 12:12 – “The wicked man desires the booty of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.” The Bible says that the wicked man desires the booty of evil men (v. 12). The reason is because he is chasing fantasies (v. 11). The covetousness in the heart of the wicked pursues fantasies and vain things of no value. That is why the wicked pillages others even by using all unrighteous methods. His mind is perversed (v. 8), not thinking of working with his own hands (v. 11), but only thinking of plundering others. One of the reasons is because the wicked is lazy (v. 24). That’s why the lazy wicked man doesn’t roast his prey (v. 27). Not only the wicked’s mind is perversed (v. 8) but also his heart as well. Look at verse 20: “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil ….” There can be no joy in the crooked heart of the wicked who pursues evil. Rather, there is cruelty in his heart (v. 10). So the wicked makes the plan of heart to pillage what remains even by bleeding at people (v. 6). In this way, the wicked man with his perversed mind and heart has the perversed mouth and sins on his lips (v. 13). There are transgressions on the lips of the wicked, and he speaks lies with his lips (v. 17). In other words, the wicked have “a lying tongue” that lasts only a moment (v. 19). So, while the wicked is in need of food, he pretends to be somebody in front of others (v. 9). And the wicked hurt the other person's heart with his reckless words that pierce like a sword (v. 18). However, the righteous is fruitful through his roots (v. 12). How does the righteous live a life that bears fruit?
(1) The righteous is diligent.
Look at Proverbs 12:27 – “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.” Like the wicked, the righteous doesn’t covet the unrighteous (v. 12). Also, the righteous isn’t lazy as the wicked who doesn’t roast his prey (v. 27). Rather, the righteous is diligent and cultivates his land, so he has plenty of bread (v. 11). And the righteous man has regard for the life of his animal (v. 10). Therefore, the diligent righteous man will rule over people (v. 24). However, the lazy wicked is put to forced labor (v. 24). In a word, the wealth of the righteous is diligent (v. 27).
(2) The righteous is wise.
Look at Proverbs 12:8 – “A man is praised according to his wisdom ….” The wise righteous doesn’t pretend to be somebody like the wicked (v. 9). Rather, he keeps his knowledge (v. 23; 10:14). He has temperance and humility. So he speaks of what he knows at the right time, so that he builds up the other rather than exalting himself (Ref. 14:1). And the wise righteous listens to advice, not thinking that his way is right like the fool (12:15). This is because the wise righteous hears advice and knows that the more he is instructed, the more he becomes wise (19:20). Also, the wise righteous man hears counsel because he knows that if there are many advisers, he will enjoy peace (victory) (11:14). Also, the wise righteous doesn’t immediately show anger and overlooks an insult (v. 16). The reason he can stand insult is because there is love in him. Love covers all transgressions (10:12). And because he promotes peace (12:20), he endures insult.
(3) The righteous is truthful.
Look at Proverbs 12:22 – “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” God is pleased with the righteous who act truthfully. Therefore, the righteous have truthful lips (v. 19) that are preserved forever, not lying lips (vs. 19, 22) that only exist for a moment. And he speaks the truth (v. 17). Also, the truthful lips of the righteous bring healing (v. 18). So the righteous cheers the other person up with kind words (v. 25). And the righteous is a guide to his neighbor (v. 26). Furthermore, the mouth of the upright even delivers other people (v. 6). Therefore, in verse 28, the Bible says: “In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.”
In the book ‘Deep Roots Spirituality’, the author Pastor Joon-Min Kang introduces what Pastor Andrew Murray has said about ‘root disease’, one of the diseases that harm the orange trees in South Africa (Internet). According to Murray, the tree with this disease bears fruit as usual, so the public doesn’t even notice that the tree is sick. But an expert says that the tree listens to the prelude of slow death. Root aphids of the vine are also said to be a type of root disease. Fundamental treatment is said to be impossible unless the old roots are cut off and new roots are grafted. After transplanting the roots of an American vine into the vine of origin, the stem, branches, and fruits are the same as before, but the roots are fresher and the vine becomes disease-resistant. What Murray trying to say here is that where the disease comes and needs treatment, there is the inside that is invisible. Just as the problem of the sick tree lies in the root disease, so the problem of people is that the root cause is the disease of the soul. So, Murray argues that in order for us to live a right spiritual life, we must be deeply rooted in Jesus. Are we really deeply rooted in Jesus? I hope and prayed that we will be deeply rooted in Jesus, stand immobile, stand firm, and live a life that bears fruit through Jesus.