Proverbs 24:16

“Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again; but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”

The contrast here is what happens ‘after a fall’. Every man will fall, experience loss, consciously sin and be hurt by the actions of others – intentional or not.  

But this ‘righteous man’ is in fellowship with his God, lives according to His Word and thus is ‘in community’. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his friend. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”  

The righteous man who lives according to the Word of God invests in building brotherhood with other righteous men. They are there when, not if, he falls. 

The wicked or unrighteous need circumstances to be favorable in order to be happy and thus a calamity – an event causing great and sudden distress, will put and keep them down. Their own anger, bitterness, desire for revenge or just overwhelming grief will isolate them from others. 

Prayer. 

Thank You, Father, for my family and friends and for the brotherhood of godly men who surround me. Give me grace today to have their back and lend a hand to help them up as they have and will for me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen.