Read
28Rulers are protected
by God's mercy and loyalty,
but they must be merciful
for their kingdoms to last.
29Young people take pride
in their strength,
but the gray hairs of wisdom
are even more beautiful.
30A severe beating can knock all
of the evil out of you!
The Lord Is In Charge
1 The Lord controls rulers,
just as he determines
the course of rivers.
2We may think we are doing
the right thing,
but the Lord always knows
what is in our hearts.
3Doing what is right and fair
pleases the Lord
more than an offering.
Reflect
God, being good and upright, does all things that are consistent with what is just, loving and rooted in what is eternally established as true. All persons hold equal status before him. Fairness and justice are therefore core qualities considered indispensable for a person, family or people who would bring honour to their Lord. It is from that basis of who God is and how he calls us to live appropriately that the wisdom writers make multiple observations regarding living as a righteous, just person. In this passage the sages note:
Doing what is right and fair pleases the Lord more than a sacrifice (21:3, CEV/NASV).
Nothing can take the place of living one’s life in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God and others. God can transform you from inside and will motivate you to love him and others. Loving, just actions follow. Of course far too often we choose other actions, often selfishly rooted and then try to make it up to God and others. The biblical story is full of people who would rather choose sacrifice than loving obedience. God’s first choice has always been that our actions would be motivated by right, just, loving relationship with him and others.
“A person may think their own ways are right but the Lord weighs the heart.” 21:2 (NIV)
In the end God is the only judge of what is right, just and true, because he is right, just and true himself. By his very nature he recognizes those qualities when he sees our actions and knows what motivates them. An important feature of those who live a righteous and just life is their ability to let their Lord examine their inner person and to acknowledge and respond to his appraisal. Self-deception creates a deadly darkness. His light brings freedom.
Respond
Good and just One, we hunger and thirst to be like you. Teach us not to try to be good through our own means, but teach us instead to embrace all the gracious means you have given us to be transformed by you. We acknowledge that your ways are right and true and that they truly set us free. With praise we pray. Amen.
David R. Wells
Dave Wells has served as General Superintendent of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) since May 2008 after serving as the District Superintendent of the BC/Yukon District. He served as Senior Associate Pastor at Broadway Church, Vancouver from 1994 to 1999 and previously pastored in Hamilton, On, Calgary, AB and Red Deer, AB. Dave has served as a Canadian chaplain for the Olympic (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016) Paralympic (2010), Pan Am (2011, 2015), Parapans (2015), Invictus (2017) and Commonwealth Games (1990,1994, 2002, 2014, 2018). He has served as the Chair of the organizing committee’s Multi-Faith committee which organized the Vancouver-Whistler Olympic chaplaincy at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Toronto 2015 chaplaincy at the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games and the chaplaincy at the Invictus Games 2017. He served as Chair from 2007-2013 of the Board for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. He has an MA in Christian Ministry from Briercrest Seminary, SK and has been awarded honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees by McMaster Divinity College and Briercrest College and Seminary. Dave and his wife Susan have 3 children and eight grandchildren (one of whom is in heaven).