Proverbs 17:15-24 teaches us principles that are timely, useful, valuable, and applicable for living. “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent” (verse 15) are both grave errors (scientifically, the former is a Type II error and the latter, a Type I error, respectively). The consequences of committing either kind of error are devastating because in either case, justice was not properly served. For example, hanging the wrong man is both heartbreaking and humiliating, but freeing a cold-blooded murderer perpetrates both a personal hardship on the victim’s family and a collective horror on all of society. God is concerned that we do not make these kinds of errors in judgment. Verse 16 identifies many of today’s young people who often have the funding (or access to it) to secure an education, but foolishly, they are not interested in the pursuit of any real wisdom or learning. Every semester, during a five-year timeframe, I did an experiment with my college students by asking them, “Why are you in college?” During all that period of time, I received many different responses, but only one student ever indicated, “I am here to learn.” And though many people may even have a degree, they are marginally educated and do not know what to do with education or how to apply what they have learned. Thankfully, in this section, we read three hopeful interjections: [1] “A friend loves at all times” (verse 17); [2] “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (verse 22); and [3] “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view” (verse 24). Although righteousness and justice are perverted in our times, hope springs eternal. In these days, may we truly be wise and biblical representatives of our Lord.
In Amos 8-9, we see in the basket of ripe fruit God’s illustration of Israel’s desperate condition before Him – Israel’s time is ripe for judgment - and Amos identifies their sins: derision for and trampling on the poor and needy” (verse 4); desecration of the Sabbath (verse 5); dishonesty in business (verses 5-6); etc. So God punished them – “Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn?” (verse 8). God promises them … they will “all wear sackcloth … the end will be like a bitter day … a famine of hearing the words of the LORD … they will search for it but not find it” (verses 10-12). Many Americans have no idea what a food famine is like, but our country is fast approaching a “famine of the Word of the Lord,” – a condition much worse. We don’t realize what that deficiency is doing to us. We should read Amos 9 … “Are not you Israelites the same to me as the Cushites? For I will give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel and not a pebble will reach the ground” (verses 7-9). We can claim no privilege before God.
In Romans 5:12-21, Paul establishes a great contrast between the truth of God’s justice - what we actually deserve - and the hand-in-hand truths of God’s mercy and grace - what God offers us. The truths of mercy and grace are actually like a two-sided coin – if you hold it in your hand, you have both sides. These two issues are incomparable; they can only be contrasted – never compared. Their only similarity is that both issues affect many people. The contrasts and the implications between them are enormous. Paul writes, “The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification” (verse 16). Condemnation is the result of justice; mercy and grace are the products of God’s pure love. Our standing in the grace of God through Jesus Christ is a priceless gift. We cannot place a value on God’s love, mercy, and grace. It is tragic that many people – otherwise preferring (and some even demanding) justice – repudiate mercy and grace by their contempt for them.
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