Wavering, Waffling, and Wasted Water . . . Proverbs 25:26

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. Proverbs 25:26

A spring or well holds such promise.  When we come to one or hear of one there is the hope of clear fresh water.  We can drink and be refreshed.  Yet to come to one and find it trampled to where it is dirty and filled with mud and pollutants is such a disheartening thing.  This is true in the realm of water - but how much more so when applied to the lives of godly men. 

This trampled spring or polluted well is actually a godly, righteous man who surrenders and gives way before the wicked.  Giving way has the idea of wavering, wobbling and shaking before one falls.  The fall is imminent and that is what all the movement indicates is coming.  The Hebrew also indicates it can be a foot slipping or a fire flaming out. 

This picture in the Hebrew is applied to a righteous man who faces the true test of his righteousness.  THE test is when he stands before the wicked.  He faces standing in righteousness when it may cost him dearly.  The test may be as little as the disagreement of others - and it may be as large as facing martyrdom for his stand.  Regardless the situation, this righteous man chooses instead to give way - to wobble and totter in his views.  He changes his mind - or acts contrary to it.  His pollution and trampling come as a result of not standing firm in his convictions.  He does not hold to the Word in such situations - but gives way before the world instead. 

There are so many men and women in history who have given way before the wicked.  They have chosen the way of peace - at least peace on this earth.  There will be no peace for them in the end when they stand before God.  But they do not want to rock the boat.  The conclusion of such matters is that a life that could have been so refreshing to others is trampled and polluted.  Now all it does it disappoint those who needed a refreshing drink.  What they could have offered is ruined - because they chose to waver in their faith before the wicked. 

There is hope for those who have thus fallen in the New Testament.  Peter gave way before the wicked - and that could have been the final message of his life.  Fortunately for him Christ came and offered grace and forgiveness.  He called Peter to repentance - and then back to usefulness.  In no way do I want to lessen the truth of this passage - that righteous men need to stand in righteous views when the wicked come wanting them to compromise.  Godly men need to remain godly when the ungodly want them to "tone it down" and lower their standards (which most often means to lower the standards of Scripture).  We do need to stand firm and hold to the Word rather than the world.  But, when we do fall, it is good to know that when we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive them.  Nevertheless, we need to be wise and stand firm when confronted by the wicked.  To do otherwise may mean allowing a well or spring that could offer many a fresh drink of the water of the Word, nothing more than the muddy, polluted waters of sinful compromise with the world.  There are plenty of places where you can be served a drink of that kind of swill.  Yet in our world a drink of living water - that kind of refreshment can only be had from one who remains true to the True Spring - who remains true to the One Who can give you a drink from which you will never thirst again.