Loving Wickedness and Condemning Righteousness

Happy Sunday. In the book of First Samuel, we meet a priest named Eli. Eli is perhaps best known for mentoring the great prophet Samuel. He's also known for his two rotten sons, Hophni and Phineas.

As the story goes, the two boys, Hophni and Phineas, became priests themselves after dear old dad. Scripture says that they were scoundrels and they had no regard for the Lord. What did they do? These two were known for stealing meat from the faithful who came to offer burnt offerings as sacrifices to the Lord.

They'd send their lackey to get the meat and steal it before it could be even offered. We're also told that these two rogue priests would take advantage of women on a regular basis. As the story goes, God decides to eliminate these two. They were killed.

It's a sad story. That's a dangerous combination, isn't it? Religious office and no fear of the Lord. It happens.

Sadly, stories like this have echoed throughout the centuries. It seems each week that there's another story of clergy misconduct. This leads us to today's verse from Proverbs. It's found in chapter 17 verse 15.

One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. I'll repeat that. One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike and abomination to the Lord. Now, this doesn't only apply to clergy.

These words apply to the judicial system as well. In Leviticus chapter 19, we find these instructions. Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful and always judge people fairly. Deuteronomy 16:19 teaches this.

You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe. For bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. Back to Proverbs 17:15.

This verse emphasizes God's standard of absolute fairness and truth. It's a moral warning for judges, for leaders, for priests, and for that matter for you and me as well. The first part of Proverbs 17:15 is about justifying the wicked. That seems common place in our world today.

Some celebrities build their careers on acts that are shameful and downright evil. Wicked. Albums are sold, movies are made, books are printed, TV shows are broadcast, and fortunes are made celebrating evil. Sadly, there's a big audience for the garbage that is out there.

Could we describe consumers as one who justifies the wicked? I think so. Perhaps this verse applies to more than crooked judges and rotten clergy. It applies to all of us.

The next part of this verse is commonplace as well today. Let me read the verse again. One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike, an abomination to the Lord. We talked about those who justify the wicked.

Now, let's look at those who condemn the righteous. I was amazed a few years back when Tim Tebo was ridiculed for his Christian faith in the National Football League. People mocked him for celebrating on the field by kneeling to say a quick prayer. They came up with a phrase.

It was called TEEBOWING. And he was admired for some and for doing that and ridiculed by others. There's no doubt that Tim Tebo is a good man. Today, condemning the righteous is done openly by the media.

Religious convictions are belittled, and those who quote the Bible are often described as narrow-minded bigots. In parts of this world, pastors are being jailed for simply reading scripture in public. It's tragic. The wicked are justified by many, and the righteous are indeed condemned.

What can be done about it? The last part of Proverbs 17:15 makes that clear. One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike. What are they?

They're an abomination to the Lord. Simply put, God one day will deal with all of this. In the meanwhile, be fair. Be fair to the rich and be fair to the poor.

Be fair to the liberal and be fair to the conservative. Be fair to the educated and to the uneducated. God expects us to be fair and loving to all those that we encounter. It's easier said than done.

May God help us all. Pray with me. Lord God, thank you for your love for all of us. It's hard to fathom, hard to comprehend, and yet you love every one of your creations.

Help us to be the same way and always be fair. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. God bless.

Thanks for joining me today.