Proverbs 21:11-16

(11; see 19:25) There is educational value in observing the correct administration of punishment. One benefit of a good justice system in any nation is that it can warn people off crime when they get to see the consequences. Wise people don’t necessarily need such shock tactics to awaken them to reality. They learn by listening. The Message. They take on board the teaching they receive.

(12) Although, in the short term, the wicked often seem to get away with their evil deeds, they won’t forever. The truth is that wickedness leads to ruin. God knows where wicked people live and sooner or later He will be popping round for a visit! Count on God’s righteous government of the universe, even if, for a time, injustice appears to prevail. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the ‘half time score’ will be the same at ‘full time’.

(13) There is a lot of teaching in the Bible on the subject of God’s care for the poor. His people are expected to look after them too. If you stop your ears to the cries of the poor, your cries will go unheard, unanswered. The Message. If we hold on to any sin it will block up the prayer pipe. Negligence in this area will be damaging to our prayers. If we show no mercy, we will receive no mercy (Matt.5:7;6:14-15). Again, we reap what we sow. How we treat others tends to rebound.

(14) In this proverb, the word gift is equivalent to a bribe. It is important to understand that THIS is simply asserting the way things are in the world. It is not saying it is right, but we know it happens. In fact, such conduct is rife. More generally we can see how a gift can open someone’s heart and draw people closer together.

(15) It seems to me that the theme here is similar to (11). It is certainly related to it. Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it’s a bad day. The Message.

(16) People can lose their way in life, with tragic consequences. Whoever wanders off the straight and narrow ends up in a congregation of ghosts. The Message.  Our understanding, as believers, is rooted in the truth of God’s Word. We stray from this path to our peril. (See also Prov. 5:3; 7:24-27; Matt. 7:13, 14).

Prayer: Pray today for those known to you who have got off the ‘beaten track’ in their spiritual lives, and ask for God’s mercy; for their protection and safe return