Proverbs 28
June 12, 2013
- Proverbs 28:1 (NIV) 1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Proverbs 28:5 (NIV) 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
- Proverbs 28:12 (NIV) 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.
- Proverbs 28:18 (NIV) 18 He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.
Time and again Solomon encourages us to walk in
righteousness.
What does walking in
righteousness mean?
It means that we
accept the gift of forgiveness of sins and restored relationship to God and
then we choose to walk in a way that is pleasing to God. Righteousness involves loving God and doing
what He commands. And God’s law and
example is always about esteeming others as better than ourselves. If we walk in righteousness then we find that
we are looking for ways to bless people.
Just as God promised Abraham to
bless him and that all the nations of the world would be blessed through Him so
too we are blessed to bless others, and walking in righteousness is remembering
that our blessings are given so that we can bless others.
When righteous leaders rule then people are safe because the leader is looking out for the benefit of those he is leading.
The righteous leader seeks to dispense justice and not play favorites, so people feel safe.
Righteous people are not afraid because they are not hiding anything, they can walk with confidence and make courageous decisions.
It does not mean that righteous people have no trouble, but a righteous person understands that God is at work and even if hard times hit they are confident that God will use it to His good somewhere along the way.
Let us be wise and walk in righteousness – choosing to obey God so that we bless others and live with confidence.