Proverbs 20:7
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The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
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A good man lives with integrity; he does more than claim goodness (20:6). He will walk the walk, not just talk the talk. He lives by fear of God and faith in Christ, keeping all the commandments. And the faithful God will send blessing and favor on his descendants. Here is a proverb with the promise of a wonderful blessing. Let the godly lay hold of it!
Understand the condition. This man is not today's typical carnal Christian, who talks and acts one way on Sunday and with other believers, but lives another way during the week, while at home or in the world. Here is a just man, doing what is right and holy in the sight of God. He seeks the Lord with His whole heart. And he walks in this course each day.
Here is a man with a clean conscience, who guides all his affairs with the discretion of God's word. He is blameless before God and men, by confessing his sins and making proper amends for them. His affections are set on heaven above, and his sinful lusts are crucified with Christ. He trembles at the Word of God and humbly walks with his God.
Understand the promise. The holy God of heaven rewards good men with blessings upon their posterity. If those children or grandchildren sin, they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity, but the Lord will be more merciful than He would have been otherwise. If those children also live righteous lives, which is quite likely given the example they have witnessed, the Lord will greatly assist and bless them for their just father.
Consider David, the man after God's own heart, who was perfect in God's sight, except for Bathsheba (I Kgs 15:3-5). To honor David's virtuous life, the Lord showed repeated mercy to His descendants (I Kgs 11:12,32,36; 15:4; II Kgs 8:19; II Chron 21:7). David described the just, "His seed is blessed" (Ps 37:26). He also said, "What man is he that feareth the LORD?... His seed shall inherit the earth" (Ps 25:12-13).
Parent! Do you love your children? Your extended posterity? Forget a college education! Forget instruction and training! Grasp the priority of this proverb! Live humbly and walk justly before God, and He shall bless your children because of your life! Job's life of integrity even included sacrifices for his children after their birthday parties (Job 1:1-5)!
Phinehas and Jonadab, examples of just men, were promised a godly seed (Num 25:11-13; Jer 35:18-19). Believer, are these promises only for others? Consider again! "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed" (Ps 112:1-2)!
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