Proverbs 17:15 seemed clear enough to me when I read it this morning.
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”
When I first read this, I thought of our country, our leaders, our judicial system. Isaiah 5:20 came to mind, where he discusses those who call evil good and good evil. But these Proverbs were not written to a nation. Sure, they were for Israel to read, and application can be made on a large scale, but look back to chapter 1. “Hear, my son…”
The Proverbs are personal, and I have to believe each of the Israelites who read them was to apply them to his/her life, personally. To do so would strengthen a home, a family, a nation, a group of God-fearers united in a cause to fear God and heed His instruction. The Proverbs were not meant to be difficult to understand, nor were they to be difficult to apply. Being consistent in obeying is another story, that is always the struggle.
But look back to verse 15, with which I opened. “Justifies” is the idea of “acquitting”, or pronouncing “not guilty”. When you read “abomination”, think detestable to God. So then, God detests declaring that which is wicked as being justified, or acceptable. Equally, God detests (HATES) condemning the righteous, punishing the innocent.
Back to my premise here. I can see our country doing things backwards, but these are the Proverbs we are reading. These were read by individuals, to apply to individuals. So let’s get over the country’s issues just for a moment, and look inward, if we dare.
What in my life that is wicked have I simply called OK, acceptable, justifiable? More specifically, what is it that is clearly wicked in society that I have made mainstream in my life, and the life of my family? If I have accepted that which is wicked, God hates it!
What in my life have I condemned that is actually good and righteous in God’s eyes, by His way of thinking? Have I willingly put off doing something that is right, simply to make life here a little easier, or to better fit in? God hates that, too!
Am I distinguishable (the Bible calls it 'peculiar') as a Christian based on my choices?
I could sum up our earthly life’s possibilities with verses 20-22. Read them, I won’t print them here for lack of space, but you can go to this link, pick whatever version you prefer :)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov%2017:%2020-22&version=NASB
The wicked, twisted-thinking man will find a life of trouble.
A foolish, or bad, son is an affliction, or trouble, to his parents.
The joy-filled life, one which comes from a healthy fear of God, and a life of following Him, brings joy that can be found nowhere else.
So today, I pray for all of us, that we would embrace what is good, as God calls good, and that we would hate what God hates. I pray that our responses to each of these is pleasing to Him, and is designed to reflect His glory, not our own. I’m making a list of the things that need to get done better, starting in my home, in my church, for my Savior. In the immediate places where I can get something done, one person, one family, one church at a time.
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