The house of the wicked shall he overthrown”.
“The house of the righteous shall stand.”
Prov. 14:11 and 12:7.PRO 14:11PRO 12:7
In the houses of men, God is either honored or dishonored. The sequel in either case is given in the scriptures quoted in the heading of this article. These scriptures also show that God looks into the houses of men, both of the just and the unjust. "The eyes of the Lord arc in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Prov. 15:3.
In Job 22:15 to 18, we have an allusion to the houses of men before the flood and their way of life. God had filled their houses with good things, yet they said to Him. "Depart from us: for we desire not [he knowledge of Thy ways." (21:14.) We are here reminded of Deut. 7:10. "He will not be slack to him that hateth Him. He will repay him to his face. Assuredly, God did so! Those wicked men were cut down out of time and their foundation was overthrown with a flood.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, in His precious ministry on earth, sheds light on the days of Noah. "Before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:38, 39.
History Repeats Itself
"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be." Eccl. 1:9. In our day the standard of living is high and God surely has filled our houses also with good things. But while accepting these mercies from His beneficent hand, men are once more saying as they did before the flood. "Depart from us." History repeats itself. The story of God's judgment of wicked men by the waters of the flood is something they willingly are ignorant of (2 Peter 3:5). How solemn to think that if man chooses to leave God out of his life in time, he will also be without Him in eternity. And judgment is at the door. "What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 1 Peter 4:17, 18.
Consider Your Ways
A happier picture presents itself in the book of Haggai. Here we find the Lord looking into the celled houses of His people. What did He see? Occupation only with their own affairs and the Lord's interests completely neglected. All were seeking their own, namely, beautifully built and ornamented celled houses while they were living without the Lord's house. Consequently there was no place of worship.
The Lord was grieved, yet not unmindful that not so long since a small remnant only had returned to His land after seventy years of captivity in Babylon on account of Judah's idolatry. He loved them and "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth." Heb. 12:6. So asking them to consider their ways. He dried up their prosperity. Food and raiment were in short supply, and wages disappeared. Complete frustration ensued. "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it.
Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house." Hag. 1:9.
Undoubtedly, the families suffered with their parents. It is so today when Christian parents with children turn their backs on the Lord. How refreshing to find the people "obeyed the voice of the Lord their God... and the people did fear before the Lord." Hag. 1:12. The very day the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, (Hag. 2:18) their adversity ceased and blessing accrued.
Christian, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33.
Jesus in Martha's House
We turn now to the New Testament for a scene of blessedness, joy, and refreshment. "A certain woman named Martha received Him [Jesus] into her house." Wise woman! We all do well to follow her example. She considered it the highest honor to have such a guest. The blessed Savior, in flesh, was on His way to the cross of shame to lay down His life for our sins according to the Father's commandment. What a blessing came to Martha's house.
First: Martha made a wonderful confession—"I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." John 11:27. That meant eternal life for Martha.
Second: Mary "sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word." Luke 10:39. She knew who the heavenly Stranger really was and for what purpose He had come. With the whole world against Him, and His own far behind in sympathetic understanding, she anointed His blessed head and feet against the day of His burying. As the Lord then foretold, we are here recounting Mary's action nearly two thousand years after it took place. Small wonder that the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Third: Lazarus fell sick, died, was buried, was raised again and restored to his mourning sisters. Truly he was a dead and risen man, and, seated at the Lord's table, he is a picture of every true Christian.
The secret of the blessing in the house at Bethany was that the Lord was accorded His rightful place there, and there was real affection for His blessed Person. How beautifully reciprocal it was, too, as we read, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." How significant, the fact that in returning to the Father, after having glorified Him on the earth and finishing the work He gave Him to do, "He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them." Luke 24:50. Let us then set the Lord always before us. He will be at our right hand so that we cannot be moved. He will pour us out such a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Mal. 3:10.)
T. Mather