Thought from today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 27-29.
Civil authorities have a role to play in handing down justice to men. Justice is one of the key components necessary to having stability and peace in a country.
“The king gives stability to the land by justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it” (Proverbs 29:4).
But what is the basis of this justice? How should we (or the rulers) determine what is just in a given situation?
“If a king judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever” (Proverbs 29:14).
Justice must be based upon truth. This is how stability exists in the land (“his throne will be established forever“). Justice is not determined by emotions, popular opinion, or some man’s definition of “fairness.” Justice must be determined by law.
However, the law must be just for real justice to be handed down. The only way to assure this is for the laws to be based upon the commandments and principles revealed to man from God.
“Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord” (Proverbs 29:26).
Those who forsake God’s laws and do not deal with people based upon His standards, even if they are in positions of civil authority, are evil and have a perverted sense of what is right and just.
“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all things” (Proverbs 28:4-5).
We need leaders who will respect God as the ultimate authority and source of justice for man. We do not need leaders who reject God, praise the wicked, take bribes, and ignore just laws.
Tomorrow’s reading: Ecclesiastes 1-6
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
Daily Notes & Observations contains all 365 articles from this series and is available in paperback from Gospel Armory.
