Reading
SAA Notes
Verse 10 is unfortunately so very true – people of integrity and fairness arouse the hate and anger of those who are bloodyminded. Jesus Himself is the supreme example.
SJA Notes
“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.”
Today’s passage has much to speak of both the righteous and the wicked.
And in this verse above is a coin-truth, one that we can see quite clearly throughout history and in our world today.
Justice is a vital heart-thread running through the life of God’s people.
God Himself loves justice. One place we can read of this is Isaiah chapter 61,
“For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong;”
And God calls His people to be the same, in Micah chapter 6 we read,
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
And so with justice being so very dear to God’s people it follows that _injustice_ is to be a stench to us.
Then the other side of the coin is that God’s people will endure much hatred from wicked folk.
We Jesus speaking of this in John chapter 15,
“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
And in 2 Timothy chapter 3 we read Paul saying,
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Those who love wickedness will actively work against us, God’s people.
But we have a God who has won the victory over death, the devil and sin. What else have we to do but praise and trust Him today!
* Father God,
Thank You for Your justice. Please help us stand in Your strength against injustice.
Thank You for Your Spirit living in us. Please help us as we are persecuted for Your sake.
And Lord God, please save those around us.
Amen.