Proverbs 24:19-34

“It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ Him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.” (Proverbs 24:23–25, NKJV)

We live in a world that is not always just. Some people are falsely accused for things they never did. Other people are guilty but never seem to be convicted. And yet justice is the glue that holds society together. Where injustice is allowed to exist, anarchy and rebellion soon rage.

This proverb reminds me of Micah 6:8:

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV)

The LORD wants us to “do justly”. This means convicting the guilty and defending the innocent. If a ruler tells a wicked person, “You are righteous,” then justice will never be established in the land, and that ruler will be hated by the people. But the one who rebukes an evil person will be blessed by God.

We must also “love mercy”. Being merciful means putting ourselves in the place of someone else: seeing what he sees, hearing what she hears, feeling what they feel. Jesus said that if we are merciful, then we will receive mercy (Matthew 5:7).

Finally, we must “walk humbly” with our God. This means humbling ourselves beneath the mighty hand of God and considering others better than ourselves. God may call us to a place where we must exercise judgment, but we must remember that He is the Judge. And we will be judged by the same measure we use with others (Matthew 7:1-2).

It’s not easy to always be impartial in judgment, merciful, and humble, but this is what God requires. “Father, please grant us more grace!”