Of Abomination and Abomination

For Friday, March 28, 2008
Proverbs 29:27

An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

We understand the first line. The unjust, who deceive, scheme, cheat, steal, and murder - of course they are an abomination. A whole justice system is set up to punish them. And certainly the righteous, those who follow the moral, straight path, who believe in fair play and who are bent on doing what is good and right - surely they would be antagonistic against the wicked.

But we fail to understand the very real antagonism that the unjust feels against the righteous. They are not so much angry that the righteous oppose them, but rather, they really do despise the ways of the righteous, whom they regard as hypocrites. The unjust do have a code by which the strong and the clever exercise control over the weak and simple. They recognize that all humans have natural desires for power, for wealth, and to indulge their physical desires. They, thus, despise the righteous, who, in their minds, either are weak persons deluding themselves or practicing outright hypocrisy, using the public righteousness to hide their inner cravings and activities.

The unjust see themselves as bold men who are willing to take risks and endure the spite of others in order to indulge in their natural ambition for power and for pleasure. They see the righteous as rigid and frigid weaklings who oppose them out of secret envy or smallness of mind.

The unjust do not understand persons who delight in righteousness, who protect others against the unjust because they actually love their neighbors, who understand and value an inner code that exalts fair play and kindness. The unjust do not understand a self-denial that produces deeper and long-lasting reward. And the unjust certainly do not understand the freedom of a humble spirit that allows the righteous to promote the welfare of others, even to seek the reform of the unjust.