THE saving grace of God instructs us to live righteously in the present age. It is far from all that He looks for in a saint. Sobriety He claims, and godliness also. But honesty in our dealings with men is indispensable, the lack of which wholly discredits any profession of piety. It betrays a covetous man, whom the Holy Spirit brands as an idolater (Eph. 5:55For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)), and without inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. How hateful it was to Him of old, we see in the opening of our chapter.
“A false balance [is] abomination to Jehovah, but a just weight his delight.
Pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly [is] wisdom.
The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the crookedness of the treacherous destroyeth them.
Wealth profiteth not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.
The righteousness of the perfect maketh plain his way; but the wicked falleth by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright delivereth them; but the treacherous are taken in their own craving.
When a wicked man dieth, expectation shall perish; and the hope of evil ones perisheth.
The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
With the mouth a hypocrite destroyeth his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered” (vers. 1-9).
“A false balance” is much more than an act of dishonesty; it implies the pretension to integrity, and withal deliberate purpose to cheat. It is therefore an abomination to Him Whose eyes behold, Whose eyelids try the children of men; as a just weight is His delight. Trickery in trade is a corroding evil, most of all fatal to such as gain a sullied or a seared conscience.
Pride readily comes in this poor world, where man poses as something when he is nothing and worse. But its shadow is close at hand: “shame cometh"; and this even here, before the judgment. For God resists the proud, and proclaims their abasement. But with the lowly is wisdom. He is not ever on the tenter-hooks of self. He looks above the petty ways of men, and refuses to be irritated even if wronged. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy.
It is not only unworthy devices in trade, or a self-exalting spirit, that we need to watch against, but perverseness in our heart and ways. Christ could designate Himself as “the truth.” He was absolutely what He also spoke. His ways and His words perfectly agreed. Are we begotten by the word of truth, and sanctified by the Spirit? Let us follow Him, finding it is our sin and shame if we turn aside in aught. How blessed to be truthful in love “The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the crookedness of the treacherous destroyeth them.” A tortuous path ends in ruin.
Nor can “riches” avail to avert or stay God's displeasure, however they may shield and deliver in man's day. “Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.” The just have a special resurrection (Luke 14:1313But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: (Luke 14:13)). “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power.” Death is now our servant (Rom. 8:3838For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (Romans 8:38), 1 Cor. 3:2222Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; (1 Corinthians 3:22)).
Nor is it only that righteousness delivers from death; “the righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” The man to whom grace has given a single eye sees the way straight before him; while the wicked needs no executioner, as he shall die by his own evil.
Death ruins the flattering expectation of a wicked person. In hades he lifts up his eyes, being in torments: they had been closed before, save to the lie of the enemy. “When a wicked man dieth, expectation shall perish; and the hope of evil ones perisheth.” “Thou fool” is then heard and felt in his despair.
How different is the lot of the just! “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.” Even here the believer proves that God is his great Deliverer: how much more when the morning dawns without clouds! The wicked even here are not without evidence that God's eye is on them, to let them taste the fruit of their own way. “In the net which they hid is their own foot taken.”
“With the mouth a hypocrite (or, impious one) destroyeth his neighbor; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.” Violence is not so dangerous as deceit, and no deceit is so evil as that which clothes itself with the name of the Lord and His word. But God causes all things to work together for those that love Him, and this “through knowledge,” through that which faith is now to learn, because God gives it in His grace. Thus is the righteous kept, yea garrisoned by God's power, whatever ill-will may plot to destroy.