“The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” ~ Proverbs 14:19

Perhaps the easiest way to see/grasp the truth of the statement is by considering how people behave during and immediately after major crises. It is remarkable how full churches get after a calamity (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, acts of terrorism, etc.), and how often righteous men and women are sought out when people are in need of comfort, or are struggling while coping with a tragedy.

Before Babylon invaded Judah, the prophet Jeremiah was publicly ridiculed by his countrymen: they scoffed at his warnings and belittled his preaching (e.g., Jeremiah 20:7-8). However, after Babylon had crushed them, the remaining Jews sought out his advice. Indeed, they even kidnapped him in an effort to ensure they could hear from God (Jeremiah 43).

It is especially in times of trouble that the righteous and the good, must seize the opportunity and use it to share the Gospel: to shed abroad the light that is Jesus. The “evil” and the “wicked” are waiting.