Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 10:30, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
American Standard Version
The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land.
World English Bible version
The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
Proverbs 10:30 Meaning & Commentary
When we look at this verse, it does not say precisely where the righteous will not be removed from. However, it does state that the wicked will not dwell in the land, which tells us that the righteous will not be removed from the land if the Bible implies that the wicked will not dwell there. Land is very symbolic of inheritance in the Bible. God often promised land to his people: Genesis 12:7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
So, what God has promised will surely come to pass in our lives. Likewise, this verse says that the wicked cannot and will not access what God promised to his people. The Bible makes it clear that God is well able to perform what he has promised and finish the good work in our lives: Phillipians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. AND Romans 4:20-21 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
The words used in Proverbs 10:30 are strong in that the verse says that the righteous will never be removed. This is a very bold and confident assertion that God is well able to perform this promise of bringing us into our inheritance and causing us to stand and never be removed or held back from everything he has for us!
Application
How then can we practically apply Proverbs 10:30 to our lives?
We can rest assured that God has not only the desire but also the ability to perform what he has promised to us. Our job is not to try and work hard to attain God’s promises, in the sense of working for his blessing, but rather to mix faith and patience: Hebrews 6:12 so that you may not be sluggish but imitators of those who, through faith and patience inherit the promises. Our job is to be connected to God and established in Him.
As we do this, we will remain fruitful, rotted, and grounded in Christ and will never be removed but remain established in God: John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Bearing fruit and inheriting the promises of God should not be a once-off thing, which takes place, but an ongoing lifestyle of walking with God and walking in victory: Psalms 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
How do we walk with God and prosper in all we do, inherit God’s promises, walk in, or remain in the land he promised us? It is just by walking with Him, obeying His word, heeding his voice, and walking in step with everything he says and does. As we do this, God will cause us to inherit His promises for our life. We will then remain in the land he has called us to, which is not necessarily a physical land, but symbolic of what he has promised us.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you that your desire is for me to possess the land and promise that you have for my life. Not only that but you want me to remain in that land and never be removed. Even though it may appear that wicked people are possessing and inheriting what you have promised me, it is just a matter of time before you bring your promises to pass. I thank you that this is not in my strength but through your ability only. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
