# 45 2023 Dev. Prov. 28:5. Understanding Right and Wrong! Read all of chapter twenty eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Proverbs 28:5 “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”
Proverbs 28 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter continues using couplets mostly in opposites. This chapter is about the result of doing right and the effect of doing wrong.
Vs.1-5 The righteous and the wicked! “The wicked flee…but the righteous are bold… but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.” O, Lord! We desire order!
Those who oppress the poor are like a destructive storm! “Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked… Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”
Vs.6-16 The rich and the poor! “Better poor… and blameless, than rich… and perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Exploiting “the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my (God’s) instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”
Leading good people astray, comes back on them. “But the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” The rich think they are wise, the poor know the truth. “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.” Is it time to hide and to vote?… Whoever conceals their sin…” loses“who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Amen!
“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” A wicked ruler, destroys “a helpless people.” A wicked ruler extorts “but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.” We need to pay more attention to whom we vote for to be our leaders.
Vs.17-28 Practical advice. Unrepentant murderers seek death. “Let no-one hold them back. The one blameless… is kept safe, but…whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.” Is that Gahanna?
“Partiality” is bad, a person does wrong when in need, is also bad. Anyone “eager to get rich are unaware that poverty awaits them. Whoever rebukes…gain favor, rather…a flattering tongue. Whoever robs their father or mother and says, ‘It’s not wrong.’” Is partner to one who destroys.”
“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing., but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.” Amen, don’t we know it? Where is our human empathy, or has our basic human love gone cold?
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