The Just King

For Friday, January 26, 2007
Proverbs 20:8

A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.

So is the task of a just king or a just judge. He listens well and he is a keen observer. He notes the wink or eyes averting his gaze. He sees the smile of arrogance and the nervous twitching of the liar. He sees through the exterior into the heart. Such is the task of the one who rules and judges justly.

If only we had many such judges. It is a skill few have either out of ineptness or corruptness. How difficult it is to rule and judge well when one has his own guilt and sinfulness to deal with, as well as limitations.

All the more be thankful for the King and Judge who rules in perfect justice and righteousness. And yet such a thought should bring terror to our hearts, except that this same King and Judge is merciful and wise. In his mercy and by his wisdom he has provided the means by which we who are wicked may stand before him and be declared just. Those who do not understand this mercy will claim that it is a cheap grace that lets sinners off the hook. Those who do understand it are simply moved to bow before such incredulous mercy and wisdom and all the more strive to live righteous and just lives. There are those who try to "work the system" and make his mercy work for them while they secretly hold on to their sin. But, the "king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes."

Blessed Children

For Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Proverbs 20:7

The righteous who walks in his integrity -
blessed are his children after him!

Blessed are his children who grow up in a home under his influence. They have a father who models the righteous life before them. They have a father who instructs them in the way of righteousness. They have a father who shows them steadfast love and faithfulness, who loves his wife, and who fears the Lord. For all of this is to walk in integrity.

It is error to restrict integrity to being honest and even to following one's principles. Such "integrity" is defined as being true to oneself. What matters is to be true before the Lord. Honesty that shows no regard for love of one's neighbor is sin. It is a misuse of true honesty. And it is sinful to follow one's principles if they are not God's principles.

A man who will not cheat a client, but who will not love his children is not walking in integrity. A man who leaves a legacy of being ruthlessly honest and no concern for encouraging others is not walking in integrity. However much money he may leave his children due to his integrity in business, he has not shown integrity before his children and thus leaves them poor in spirit. And if he has left them a legacy of strict law abiding with no understanding of mercy and grace, he has failed to walk in integrity.

Bless your child by integrity that is marked by the fear of the Lord and the love of the Lord; by integrity that nurtures your children and bears the mark of Christ, which is love for one another.

Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

For Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Proverbs 20:6

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?

This is a proverb that would have been as an arrow into the heart of Peter, who after proclaiming his willingness to die for his Lord, denied him a few hours later. It is a proverb that haunts us all. Over and again we profess our steadfast love for God, and then each day betray ourselves consciously or unconsciously through our sins. We might remain faithful to our tasks of service but are unfaithful in our hearts as we sin in the midst of our service.

Who is faithful? Who has put his hand to the plow and not looked back? Who has stepped out upon the water and not looked at the waves about him? Who in honesty can say that his love has always been steadfast?

All the more then to look to the steadfast love of the Lord and his faithfulness.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness (Psalm 26:3).

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds (Psalm 36:5).

As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Psalm 40:11)

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds (Psalm 57:10).

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night (Psalm 92:1-2).