Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 14:19, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
American Standard Version
The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
World English Bible version
The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Proverbs 14:19 Meaning & Commentary
The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous. – Proverbs 14:19 (ESV)
As true believers in Jesus Christ, we can never truly lose, and the wicked will never truly win. This can sometimes seem like it is not the case. However, we know that life is more than our existence on earth. Not only that, but God has equipped and empowered us to succeed on this earth as well. God has destined us to succeed and prosper in every aspect and respect:
Deuteronomy 28:12-13 – The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them.
The Bible calls us more than conquerors: Romans 8:37 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. The next verse explains what the “overcoming force” in our lives truly is – The Love of God: Romans 8:38-39 – For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As believers in Christ, we always win – evil always bows down before the good, and the wicked before the righteous. Even with all the craziness in the world, we know that good ultimately prevails. Jesus even took the worst-case scenario and showed how, even in death – we win: Matthew 10:28 – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Application
How can we apply Proverbs 14:19 to our lives?
The kingdom of God cannot be shaken: Hebrews 12:28 – Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. The qualities of the kingdom of God are peace, righteousness, and joy: Romans 14:17-20 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
We need to get the Word of God into our lives and hearts. When we do this, we begin to grow and become Christlike. The Bible tells us that Christ gets “formed in us” as we grow and mature – meaning we become more and more Christlike: Galatians 4:19 – my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
When we take God’s Word, study it, and apply it in our lives – we begin to grow strong and walk in victory. God’s Word gives us the ability to overcome and be victorious: 1 John 2:14 – I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Deuteronomy 28 promises us success, that we will be the head and not the tail, and that we will go up, and not down – then in verse 13, it gives us the “recipe” to unlocking that good level of success: Deuteronomy 28:13 – if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them. The key to overcoming and leading a victorious life, spiritually speaking and even naturally speaking – is to prioritize God’s Word and make it our standard of living. When we do this, we can expect victory at all times!
Prayer
Mighty God, I thank You that you have destined me to be the head and not the tail and to be victorious in everything. I ask that You stir a hunger inside me for Your Word.
I pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in my life. I thank you for the victory I have in Christ, and I ask this all in Jesus’ name. Amen!
