Reading
SAA Notes
Verses 10 and 11 are good ones for those in local or state government. Generosity (v24,25) is different from a foolish beggaring of yourself. Generosity counts the cost and still gives! It is witting and blessed as Jesus said of the widow and her mite.
SJA Notes
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”
“The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.”
Solomon turns to examine RIGHTEOUSNESS and the UPRIGHT person against the WICKED and TREACHEROUS person.
Solomon tells us that people of righteousness are _good_ for society!
“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.”
So then, an important question needs to be asked – Who is righteous?
When we think about these proverbs, what righteousness is, we must turn to Jesus.
Firstly – These things are absolutely TRUE of Jesus! He is the RIGHT MAN. Society was and is BLESSED through and by Him!
Jesus is the single point of truth for a righteous life. Nobody else can make and stake that claim.
Secondly – In Jesus, through His salvation work, we His people have His righteousness _and_ we can at accordingly with obedience in that righteousness.
So that it is through US, God’s people, that blessing comes to the world around us.
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”
As Jesus called us, so too Solomon echoes His call – To be fishers of men, to be spiritually fruitful!
* God Above,
Please help us today to go about what You have for us giving You the glory.
Please help us to respond to opportunity to point people to You.
Please help us to be fruitful Lord God, good soil, to bear much fruit.
Please help us Lord, for we need You!
Amen.