JUSTICE
OBSERVATION: MOST OF THE PROVERBS WERE SPOKEN BY KING SOLOMON ONE OF THE GREATEST KINGS OF ISRAEL. HIS WISDOM CAME FROM SEVERAL SOURCES SUCH AS HIS FATHER, DAVID, AND HIS MOTHER BATHSHEBA. SOME JEWISH SCHOLARS CREDIT THE PROPHET NATHAN, AGUR AND LEMUEL AS THE WRITERS OF PROVERBS. PROVERBS ADDRESSES GUIDELINES FOR LIVING.
INTERPRETATION: PROVERBS 21:3 (NKJV) TO DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE IS MORE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD THAN SACRIFICE.
POINTS TO PONDER:
WHETHER ON A LOCAL OR NATIONAL LEVEL, GOD CAN GUIDE DECISION MAKING IF ALLOWED. THE ISSUE ADDRESSED WAS UNJUST JUDGES MAKING INAPPROPRIATE DECISIONS. MANY SHOWED UNJUST, UNFAIR DECISIONS BECAUSE THE ACCUSED REFUSED GRAFT MONEY UNDER THE TABLE. MANY DEFIED GOD’S WILL TO JUDGE FAIRLY.
GODLINESS IS IMITATING GOD IN LOVE FOR WHAT IS JUST AND TRUE. HIS INTENTION IS FOR THE GOOD OF HIS PEOPLE.
THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD LASTING TREASURE IS TO PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE. ANY OTHER APPROACH IS A HOLLOW SHAM WITHOUT DEVOUTNESS OF HEART. THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE THIS COME TO A BITTER END.
APPLICATION: EVERY WAY OF A MAN IS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES, BUT THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEARTS. (PROVERBS 21:2)
