Proverbs 17:15
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He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
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Our world has created the Age of Compromise. Human society has made every effort to get rid of all absolutes. Wicked men are excused and exonerated, and even protected; and just men are criticized and condemned. But the LORD Jehovah hates both kinds of compromisers - those who justify the wicked, and those who condemn the just.
The blessed God has absolutes, and He expects men to abide by them and enforce them. When He commanded judges to be appointed in Israel, He ordered, "If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked" (Deut 25:1).
The Bible is a collection of God's absolutes, though it does require proper interpretation and application of those absolutes (II Chron 19:10; Neh 8:8; II Tim 2:15). Jesus declared that violating even the Bible's least commandment was unacceptable (Matt 5:19). Breaking one commandment is tantamount to breaking them all in God's sight (Jas 2:10).
In matters of judgment and relationships, the wicked are to be despised and rejected, and the righteous are to be loved and received. David hated the wicked like God does (Ps 5:5; 11:5; 139:21-22). And David loved the righteous like God does (Ps 119:163; 146:8). The animosity and conflict between the righteous and wicked will never be mollified (29:10).
Judgment is vindication of good and condemnation of evil. It takes place in courts, of course. But it also takes place in the home, where children's conduct is judged. And it takes place in the workplace, in churches, in schools, and even among friends. In these and other situations, just men are to be honored, and wicked men are to be condemned.
America's legal system is no longer the paragon of justice it was. From low to high courts, the wicked are excused and the just punished. Judges are chosen and approved, not for their perfect integrity but for political ties. For example, abortion was legalized to justify cruel and wicked women and to condemn their innocent unborn children to death. The profane murderers are given rights, the murdered pure are given none.
Criminals now have more rights than do victims. Employers have fewer rights than do employees. Landlords must submit to renters; husbands must bow to wives; and magistrates must jump through hoops before prosecuting obvious malefactors. Lawsuits are filed and upheld for the most inane reasons, brought by the most insane consumers. Sodomites are protected; but authoritative husbands are despised and undermined.
Murderers pleading insanity are excused for taking a life. How absurd! If a man commits murder by reason of insanity, he has an aggravated reason to die - he is not only a murderer, he is an insane murderer! Why not keep and protect rabid dogs?
Many say, "Let's agree to disagree." But the fact is that God does not have such a loose and licentious approach to truth. Right is right, and wrong is wrong; and every moral issue has one right and many wrong positions. David said, "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way" (Ps 119:128).
Eli rebuked his sons, but did not condemn them; he lost everything for the compromise. Corinth was puffed up about fornication in their church, instead of mourning and judging the wicked man. But the sweet psalmist of Israel on his deathbed told Solomon to kill his nephew and long-term chief of staff, Joab. And John the Baptist let King Herod have it!
Many say, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matt 7:1), missing the Lord's order in context to judge some men as dogs and swine, unworthy of truth (Matt 7:6), and to judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). They value peace over purity, even though God put purity over peace (Jas 3:17). They have rebelled against Bible judgment (Rom 16:17-18).
Carnal Christians of today fulfill the abominable sins of this proverb. Paul described the rise of an effeminate brand of Christianity that would despise those that are good and flatter lustful and sinful women (II Tim 3:1-7). They would have a form of godliness - a religious ritual - but they would have no authority or judgment in their gospel or lifestyle.
The political and religious situation today is the same as in first century Palestine. The conservative religious leaders and the political appointee of the greatest nation on earth cooperated to justify the seditious murderer Barabbas and condemn the innocent and just Jesus of Nazareth. Live and speak like Jesus Christ today, and they will crucify you as well, while they excuse evildoers in court and promote them via the entertainment media.
The day is coming in which all judgment will be according to truth in the most absolute sense. The books will be opened, and there will be no mistrials, plea-bargaining, hung juries, pardons, or acquittals. The righteous will be given eternal life in heaven, and the wicked will be cast into hell forever (Matt 13:41-43; John 5:28-29; Rev 20:11-15).
How will any be judged righteous, since all are sinners (Rom 3:23)? How can the Bible say God justifies the ungodly (Rom 4:5)? By Jesus Christ (Rom 3:26)! Jesus obeyed for the elect (Rom 5:19) and died in their place (Rom 4:25)! It is the punishment God poured out on Jesus Christ that most clearly shows His condemnation of sinners (Is 53:5-11).
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