Proverbs 2:8-9

Proverbs 2:8-9 "He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path."
This passage offers both paternal counsel and paternal promise.  Solomon doesn’t offer his son only instruction; he offers him instruction with promise.  By promising his son results if he followed his father’s instruction, Solomon was attaching purpose to the instruction.  This wise parenting skill essentially provided a vision for his son to follow.  If this young man listened to his father, accepted his father’s counsel, sought wisdom fervently and urgently, then he would get wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  The promise provided an especially good reason to follow the counsel he was given.  In this case, the promise was not just virtue; the promise was the awakening of God in his life.  The person who passionately and sincerely seeks wisdom will open the door to God’s presence in his life.  When the door is opened to God, virtue comes in with Him.

When the door of one’s life is opened to God, the byproducts are delightful.  One of those byproducts is the understanding of righteousness, judgment, equity and every good path.  One of the most common questions by young people trying to make sense of a complicated world is: “Why do right when good people seem to have it worse than bad people?”  Adolescents commonly ask, “What is the point of doing right if it doesn’t pay to do right?”  They see the apparent popularity and prosperity of cheaters, thieves and bullies and think, “doing right doesn’t seem that sensible.”  Unfortunately, a lack of understanding of righteousness, judgment and equity isn’t reserved for the young or for the teenager.  Multitudes of adults, Christian adults even, ask those very same questions.
 
“Why should I report my cash income and pay taxes?  Most people don’t do that and they seem to be doing just fine.”
“Why should I love my wife when she’s so mean to me?  It doesn’t matter what I do to her – she’s just going to be mean to me so I might as well as be mean to her.”
“Why should I respect my husband when he’s so unworthy?  It doesn’t seem fair that I have to respect him when he can be so condescending to me.”
“Why should I give to God His tithe when all of my unsaved non-tithing co-workers have more money than me?  It doesn’t seem fair that God would treat the unsaved better than He would treat His own children.”
“Why should I forgive my enemy when I didn’t do anything wrong and she isn’t even repentant?  If I forgive her, it will just enable and empower her to hurt me again.”

These and many other questions are examples of people who do not understand righteousness, judgment and equity.  An understanding of righteousness, or the act of doing rightly, comes from opening the door to God in your life.  An understanding of judgment, or the act of deciding rightly, comes from opening the door to God in your life.  An understanding of equity, or the act of dealing rightly, comes from opening the door to God in your life.  Without welcoming God into our minds, we will forever struggle with the purpose and meaning of righteousness in an “un-right” world.  Without welcoming God into our minds, we will forever struggle with the purpose and meaning of judgment in an “unjust” world.  Without welcoming God into our minds, we will forever struggle with the purpose and meaning of equity in an “unequal” world.

On the contrary, when God is invited into our lives by a sincere and passionate pursuit of virtue, we will understand the importance of righteousness.  When we fervently and urgently seek virtue, God will awaken in our lives and cause us to understand the importance of judgment and equity.  When we hear the mouth of God, we will understand that we are to do right regardless of circumstance.  We will then understand that we are to judge righteously regardless of circumstance.  No matter where, no matter who, no matter when, doing right is right.  No matter where, no matter who, no matter when, judging rightly is right.  No matter where, no matter who, no matter when, treating people equally is right.
 
“Why should I report my cash income and pay taxes?” 
Because it’s the right thing to do.
“Why should I love my wife when she’s so mean to me?” 
Because it’s the right thing to do.
“Why should I respect my husband when he’s so unworthy?" 
Because it’s the right thing to do.
“Why should I give to God His tithe when all of my unsaved non-tithing co-workers have more money than me?” 
Because it’s the right thing to do.
“Why should I forgive my enemy when I didn’t do anything wrong and she isn’t even repentant?”
Because it’s the right thing to do.
"Why do right when good people seem to have it worse than bad people?” 
Because God keeps the path of judgment (verse 8).
“What is the point doing right if it doesn’t seem like it pays to do right?” 
Because God preserves the way of His saints (verse 8).

Solomon promised his son understanding if he followed his instruction.  The Bible promises understanding to the person who follows its instruction.  The person who intensely seeks virtue as for hid treasure will live life free of having unanswered questions pertaining to righteousness, judgment and equity.  The person who discovers God will not be troubled by the constant internal debate as to whether not it is best to do right.  The person who goes back and forth on whether it’s worth it to do the right thing is the person who has failed to discover God and receive virtue.  Christians in particular who question the profitability of righteousness are Christians who have put more effort into pursuing worldly success than they have into pursuing heavenly wisdom. 

Open your life to God’s wisdom and you will not question righteousness, judgment and equity because you will know that God keeps the path of judgment.  Open your life to God’s word and you will not question the value of these virtues because you will know that God preserves the way of His saints. 
Do you understand the meaning and importance of righteousness? 
Do you understand the meaning and importance of judgment? 
Do you understand the meaning and importance of equity? 
If not, then your life lacks the enlightening presence of God.  If not, then you have yet to follow Solomon’s counsel.  If not, then you do not possess wisdom. 
 
Why do right? 
Because it’s the right path to take.  It is the path that God protects and preserves.  It may not pay worldly dividends to do right but it always pays heavenly dividends to do right.  

Why do judge righteously?  Why treat people righteously and equally? 
Because it’s the right way to go.  It is the way that God keeps.  It may not pay in man’s eyes but it always pays in God’s eyes.  God honors righteousness, judgment and equity no matter where, no matter when, no matter who.  God blesses righteousness, judgment and equity no matter where, no matter when, no matter who.  A wise person understands that.  And because a wise person doesn’t wrestle with these truths, he or she embraces these virtues no matter the circumstances or conditions. 

Recent

Archive

Categories

Tags

Rehoboam Solomon fear of God health pride self-sufficiency wisdom 1 Corinthians 1 John 2020 5th Commandment Aaron Abel Abigail Abortion Abraham Absalom Accident Accomplishment Achan Acts 17 Acts Adam & Eve Adam Adolescence Adolf Hitler Adulterer Adulteress Aesop's Fable Aesop\'s Fable Aesop\\\'s Fable Affair Age Agreement Ahijah Ahithophel Albany Alcoholism Alive Ally Alone Amazon Ambition American America Amnon Andrew Finch Animal Abuse Animals Answered Prayer Antichrist Applause Apple of Eye Approval Arrogance Arthritis Asaph Ashamed Athletes Athletics Attorney Backbone Back Balaam Balance Bank Accounts Bathsheba Beauty Bedroom Beecher Behavior Benefit Benjamin BestBuy Bethlehem Betting Bezaleel Bible reading Bible teacher Bible-reading Bible Biblical instruction Big Mouths Big Picture Bin Laden Birth Blog Boasting Bonar Bondage Books Boomerang Boyfriend Brutal Brutish Budget Buffalo Bills Builder Building Business CA Rt 1 Cable News Calamity Call of Duty Calming Calvin Canaan Cancer Candidates Careers Cares of Life Casey Viner Change Character Cheesecake Factory Christian upbringing Christ Churches Circumspect Clamor Clinton Clothes Clothing Coaches Coach College Commands Commend Communication Companionship Companions Company Compliance Conceit Conception Condemnation of God Confession Confidentiality Conflict Conservation Contentions Contrast Conversation Conviction Cooperation Corinthians Corrupt Cosigner Cosigning Cosign Counseling Countenance Courting Coworkers Creation Creator Creatures Crime Criminals Crooked Cruel Curiosity Currency Danger Daniel Data Dating Daughters David Days Death Deceit Deceptive Delilah Delivery Democracy Democratic Desires Desire Deuteronomy Devil Diet Diligent Diploma Discovery Diseases Disease Dishonesty Dishonor Dislikes Divorce Domestic Violence Doorhanger Dreams Dress Drink Drug lords Drunk Driver Drunk Early Adulthood Ears Eastern Culture Ecclesiastes Economic Stability Eden Elderly Elihu Elijah Eliphaz Emai Emerson Emmies Employers Encouragement Engagement Enoch Ephesians Ephraimites Esau Estate Planning Esther Eternity Evening Eve Evolution Excellence Excel Exodus Expectations Expectation Experience FaceBook Face Faithful Fall of Man False Fame Families Famine Farmer Farming Farm Fashion Favor of God Fear of the Lord Fearing God Feast of Purim Financial Advisor Financial Planning Financial Security Fingers Food Foolish Football Free-will Freedom Friendships Friendship Friend Froward Fruit Fumble GPS Gadarenes Galatians 6:7 Galatians Gamble Gang Garden of Eden Garden of Gethsemane Garden Gender Differences Genesis Gideon Gileadites Girlfriend Girls Giving Glad Gluttony Goals God's Kingdom God\'s Kingdom Godhead Goliath Goodness Gossip Graciousness Grammies Grandchildren Gratitude Grave Grief Guess Guide Guilt Culture Gun Control Gun Violence Guns Gutters Hagar Haman Hamlet Hands Hannah Hard Work Hard-Working Harlot Hate Evil Hatred Head Healthcare Healthy Hearing Heaven Heaviness Heavy Heart Hebrews Helicopters Hell Herod Highway History Hollywood Holy Spirit Home Depot Homeowner Homes Homicide Homosexuality Honesty House Human Nature Humble Humility Hunting Hypocrisy Hypocrites IRS Ian Brady Illness Immorality Inconsiderate Independence Industrious Inheritance Inherit Insecurity Insight Instagram Instructing Integrity Internet Interview Intoxication Inventions Isaac Israel Jacob Jairus James Jealousy Jeffrey Dahmer Jeremiah Jeroboam Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jesus Jewish Law Jewish Jimmy Soul Jobs Job John the Apostle John Jonah Joseph Joshua Josiah Joy Judah Judaism Judas Iscariot Judges Judging Judgmental Jury Justice System Kindness King David King Hezekiah Kings King Know-it-all Language Last Testament Law Enforcement Laws Law Leaders Learn Legislation Liars Liar Liberty Library Lies Life Lesson Life-Insurance Likes Lion Loan Longevity Look Looting Lori Loughlin Loss of Health Loss of LIfe Loss Lottery Love Triangle Lowliness Luke 7 Luke Luther Luxury Lying MLB Magazines Majority Maker Makeup Maniac Manna Mansion Maple Trees Mark Martyrs Martyr Marvel Mary Matthew Media Memories Mentors Men Merciful Merriness Messages Mike Tyson Mindset Ministers Mob Mocker Mocking Monarchy Monarch Monopoly Month Moody Morality Mordecai Morning Moses Mouths Murder Musician NBA NFL NHL Natural Disaster Naughtiness Nebuchadnezzar Negative Nehemiah New Tricks News Anchors Noah Nobles Nose Numbers Nutrition O.J. Simpson Obama Observation Obtain Old Dogs Olive Garden Order Others Paint Parenting Passion Pastors Pastor Paul the Apostle Paul Perspective Perverse Perversion Peter Pharisees Pharoah Philippians Phone Call Physical Appearance Plant Player Pleasure Policies Political Parties Politicians Politics Polygamy Poor Popularity Portrait Positive Possessions Potiphar's Wife Potiphar\'s Wife Potiphar\\\'s Wife Potiphar\\\\\\\'s Wife Praise Prate Prating Preacher Pregnancy Pregnant Preparation Princes Prince Principal Thing Principal Procrastinate Procrastinator Profit Proof Prophecy Prophet Prosperity Gospel Prostitute Protests Proud Proverbs Proverb Psalm 21 Psalm 35 Psalm 37 Psalms 37 Psalms Psalm Punishment Pure Purity Purpose QVC Questions Rachel Rage Ransom Rebate Rebekkah Rebel Red Lobster Reels Regulations Regulation Rehoboam Rehoboma Relationship Difficulties Relationship Religion Remember Repentance Reporter Reprove Republican Reputation Research Resistance Responsibilities Resume Resurrection Retirement Revealing Revelation Reward Rich & Famous Rich Man Rich Ridicule Righteouness Right Riot Road Romania Romans 8:28 Romans Rulers Ruler Rules Rule Sabbath Sadness Samson Samuel Sarah Satan Satisfaction Satisfy Saul Saving Scale Scam School Science Scientist Scoffer Scripture Sea of Galilee Seasons Seatbelts Secrets Seduce Seed Seek Self-Confidence Selfies Selfishness Senses Sermons Servitude Sexual Chaos Sexual Confusion Shakespeare Shame Culture Shame Shane Gaskill Shenandoah Valley Shoe Laces Siblings Sickness Sight Silence Simon Peter Simon Sinning Slothful Smelling Social Media Social Society Solomon Song of Solomon Sons Sorrow Source Speaking Speak Speculation Speech Speeding Spies Spiritual Security Sporting Sports Sport Spouses Stanley Cup Steal Stephen Stimulus Stock Market Strange Woman Strangers Stratego Strength Stress Struggles Student Super Bowl Rings Surely Surety Swatting Sweat Talebearer Talkative Talking Tamar Tasting Taylor Teachers Teaching Teenagers Teenager Teens Tendency Tension Texas Roadhouse Text Theft Theocracy Tik Tok Till Timothy Tithes To be or not to be Toddlers Toddler Tolerance Tomb Tongue Touching Tour Guide Traffic Light Traffic Signal Trainer Transgressor Travel Treasure Treatment Tribute Trickery Trinity Trips Trouble True Love True Wisdom True Turner Tyler Barriss Uber Eats Understanding Unemployment Unforgiveness Unhealthy Universities Unjust Unrighteous Uprightness Upright Vain Value Vanity Vehicle Vengeance Videos Virtuous Vision Votes Voting Walk Walmart Washington Watsom Way of Life Way Wealthy Weight Western Culture Winking Wink Wise Men Witnessing Womb Women Work Ethic Worth Wrong X Yankees YouTube Zechariah addiction adultery advertisements advertiser advertising advice advisor affection affirmation aggression alcohol amos angels anointing ant anxiety appetite argument assumption as attractions authority background backyard bankrupt battle beginning birds bitterness blessed brain bright broken nose buckler campfire cardinal sins career carelessness car cause certainty charity chastening childhood childrearing children child choices church attendance church command confidence confident consequences considerate contention contentment conversaion correction counselor counsel covetousness criticism cruelty cynicism dads dad darkness dark daughter debt deception decisions defend defense demands destruction determination diamonds diligence direction disappointment discernment discipleship disciples disciple discipline discontentment discord discretion distractions distress doctrine dogs drinking drugs dying ear education effort emotions employee employer employment enemies enticement enticing envy equity evil communications evil men evil women evil example eyelids eyes ezekiel facts failure fairness faith family fathers father favor fear of God fear of man fear feelings feminine fighting fight filthy finances fire flattery focus following foolishness foolishnes fools fool forgiveness fornication friends future gambling gangs gender gold good men good government grace greed guard guilt happiness happy harm hate headlights health heart hear hold your peace holiness home honor hope hunger husbands husband ignorance illustration income inequality infidelity influence iniquity insomnia instincts instruction intimacy investigation investing isaiah issued issue jabs jewelry judgment justice just kidnapper kidney kids knowledge labor law of sowing and reaping laziness lazy leadership learning legacy length of days lessons let life light lips listening listen little liver living loans loneliness long life longterm love lucifer lust man marketing marriage math memorization memory mercy messenger millions mind ministry mischief misery loves company misery mistakes mom money mothers mother motive mouth movies nature necklace neck neighbor obscenity observant oil oppression oppressor organs ornaments parable paranoia parenthood parents parent pastoring path peace peculiarity peer pressure peers peer permission personification pleasant politician ponder pornography pottymouth poverty power prayer preservation pride priests private procrastination prodigal profanity prosperity prostitution protection protect prudence public restroom purchases reading reaping reason rebellion rebuke regret rejection relate relationships relevant remedy remembrance remorse repetition replacement reproof respect responsibility responsible retain retention riches righteousness righteous risk robber romance rubies safety sailor salvation schools scorner secret security seduction seeing see self-sufficiency self-sufficient serpent seven deadly sins seven sexist sexual sin sex short-term silver simple simplicity sinners sin skepticism slander sleeplessness sleep slothfulness sluggard smoke to the eyes smoke son soul sowing spleen spouse stability stranger strange strife striving successful success suicide surgeon sword talents talk taxes teacher television temptation tendencies thief thieves thinking think thoughtfulness thoughts thought threats time tithe tree of life trust truth tv vehicles vice video games vinegar to the teeth vinegar violence violent virtue virtuous woman visual voice of God voice vulgar walking war wealth well wickedness wicked wife will wine wisdom wise sayings wise wives woman word of God words workplace work worry young man young people young youth