Proverbs 11:8
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The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
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The LORD has not promised the righteous will not have troubles, but He has promised to deliver them (Job 5:17-27; Ps 34:4-7,17-19; 50:14-15; 66:12; 91:14-16). And so we see Jacob, Joseph, David, Job, Daniel, and Paul, among others, delivered out of much trouble (Gen 39:1-3; 48:15-16; II Sam 22:1; Job 42:10-17; Dan 1:17-21; II Tim 4:17).
Here we have the divine reversal of fortune that replaces the righteous with the wicked! The righteous often find themselves in a hopeless situation, for the profit of their souls by God's providence. And the wicked are sometimes involved in persecuting them in their troubles, but He then switches their cases and leaves the wicked to destruction. Glory!
Haman plotted to hang Mordecai on gallows built for him; but the Lord delivered him, and Haman was hung on them instead (Esther 7:9-10). Wicked Medes conspired and had Daniel thrown to the lions, but the lions destroyed them and their families instead (Dan 6:24). The profane soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar were burned alive by the very flames they had prepared for Daniel's three friends (Dan 3:22). And sixteen Roman soldiers were put to death instead of Peter by the Lord's glorious deliverance (Acts 12:18-19).
The righteous are so precious in God's affections and sight that He will gladly sacrifice the wicked for them (Is 43:3-4). Israel was sure they were doomed when trapped against the Red Sea by Pharaoh's armies (Ex 14:10-12), but the LORD delivered them gloriously through it and drowned Pharaoh's army in it (Ex 14:21-31). Consider the celebratory song and dance of Israel in light of the fulfillment of this proverb (Ex 15:1-21).
Peninah, the other wife who had children, persecuted Hannah sorely for being barren (I Sam 1:1-6). Yet the Lord gave Hannah favor in the eyes of her husband, Samuel as her first child, and five more children as well (I Sam 1:7-8,19-28; 2:21). Peninah lived out her days knowing her husband loved Hannah far more, knowing the greatest man in Israel was Hannah's son, and seeing and hearing her other five happy children!
Saul persecuted David horribly, chasing him with large forces into wild places of Israel, where David was in constant fear for his life. Yet the LORD brought war with the Philistines on the nation to save His righteous servant David (I Sam 23:19-29). Would you rather die the death of Saul (I Sam 31:1-13), or the death of David (II Sam 23:1-5)?
Our Lord was betrayed, persecuted, falsely accused, abused, and finally crucified between common thieves. Yet He was delivered from death to the right hand of God, and His wicked enemies were miserably destroyed (Matt 21:33-46; 22:1-7; Luke 19:27).
The righteous have been persecuted and sorely troubled for two thousand years by their enemies, but their blessed Lord is coming soon to rectify the whole situation, when there will be a great reversal of fortune lasting through eternity (II Thess 1:3-10; Rev 6:9-17)!
There is a reward for the righteous! There is no need to fret because of the prosperity or the persecutions of the wicked. They do not see their day coming, but the righteous do!
There is a reward for the righteous (Ps 58:11)! God delivers him from trouble, and He puts the wicked in his place. When the righteous is saved out of trouble, the wicked come and take his place under the trouble and judgment (24:15-16). The LORD loves the righteous, and He sacrifices the wicked for him. See the comments on 21:18.
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