The Ruler

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

THE RULER

Prov 17:26

26 It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.

NIV

In the human realm there needs to be a balance between those who govern and those who are governed. The courts need pay close attention to being fair and just, which we hope in our land it is that way, yet at times the guilty do go free because the fix is in, but we hope the innocent do not receive punishment due to like corruption. In the same sense it is not good for people to revolt against a just administration, but when the administration is unjust that is a different story. Yet is there not a point here about God and us? Surely we can see he will never punish those who he has declared innocent. Certainly he is the greatest administration ever to exist and he is telling us that he will not, because he is pure good, that he will not punish those who are innocent due to being in Christ. Jesus paid the price for us therefore we are innocent and will not receive any punishment from the just ruler, God. But he also tells the people that it is not a good thing to flog him because of his integrity, yet so many people do just that, refusing to acknowledge him as Lord, refusing to accept his provision for salvation. They use his name in vain, as a swear word, yet think nothing of him at the same time. They flog him by following after their own evil pursuits, mocking him in doing so. Their actions are not good, but evil and they will receive their just reward in the end. Yes, we should still see this in the human sense, but seeing it in relationship to God is far more rewarding and important to a life being filled with the Spirit, not to mention being declared innocent.