December 24

Dec 24 - Today from Proverbs 24 we look at verses 23-25
"To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"- peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessings will come upon him."

God never instituted or condoned vigilantism. The right to judge civil matters is a matter of civil authority, and civil authority is ordained of God. (Romans 13:1, 1 Peter 2:13, 14). In our modern culture there are many levels of civil authority; the most basic being the family unit and perhaps the broadest being the United Nations. Each civil unit is to have an ordained authority to 'punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.' (1 Peter 2:14). Vigilantism itself is lawlessness and stands to be judged by proper authorities. For example, when a child takes 'justice' into his own hands in the family unit, it is the parent's responsibility to correct the matter. If his action was retribution against a sibling, and the sibling indeed was guilty of violating household principles ('Thou shalt not take thy brother's seat when he rises to go to the bathroom.'), the sibling who made the initial violation needs to be properly corrected. BUT, the child who practiced vigilantism needs also to be corrected. If not, civil order will deteriorate into chaos. Every household with multiple children understands this concept well.
The cultural model of this type of authority in Bible times is known as a Suzerain Covenant of Human Obligation. The suzerain was a powerful king of a region who wielded authority over lesser kings ('kings' in the earliest days were generally rulers over cities and outlying villages). The lesser kings were referred to as vassals. The suzerain king would extend a treaty to his vassal kings that stated; (1) his supreme authority (greater army, more allies, better resources, etc.), (2) a history of or an offer of benefits for their alliance (usually protection from other suzerains or alliances), and (3) his demands (a law code). If the vassal king agreed to the terms, he would accept the treaty on behalf of his people. If he refused the terms, it was at the great peril of his people. If a vassal king bent or ignored certain stipulations of the treaty in order to favor one of his subjects and the suzerain king found out, the entire vassal kingdom would usually suffer. Suzerains had to be brutal in order to sustain their position. Justice was in the form of an 'iron fist' (i.e. the Roman Empire). This is the point the Teacher is making. When a vassal civil authority showed 'partiality in judging' he was placing all of the people at risk. Should such actions be uncovered the 'peoples will curse him and nations denounce him.' Nations in that day were people groups and were allied together through treaties.
Integrity in leadership is extremely important in God's economy. Leaders are to serve justly. There is to be no partiality in justice. Even God's mercy comes through the exacting demands of His justice. "The wages of sin is death." declares Romans 6:23. No wiggle room there. In order for justice to be served, a life must be taken. The only way one can justly die in another's place is if he is perfectly innocent. Enter the unblemished Lamb, born on Christmas Day, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was without sin and He took our sin upon Himself at Calvary's cross. Justice was served. Now, if we believe it, we are beneficiaries of the rest of Romans 6:23, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." A free gift to us, but at an unspeakable cost to Himself. There is to be no partiality in justice. There is mercy, but there is always a cost to mercy. Civil authorities are to execute justice - even judgment. But as individuals, we are to extend mercy. The cost of mercy? We must die to self; self rights, self satisfaction, self importance, self pity - all of it. We are to live for Christ.
Those who have been given responsibility in any civil arena of leadership are obligated to God and to those they serve to be without partiality and to serve justly - including dealing with 'vigilantes'; those who would take judgment into their own hands. If not, they endanger many innocent people. However, as individuals we are to be agents of God's mercy. If not, we become vigilantes and stand to be judged.
"Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2:13).