Prov 17 : 15 Snap Judgments

Pro 17:15  He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Hi everybody . . . Snoodles here, and I'll be with you all this week. When I read this verse, I was reminded of a situation in the New Testament, but we'll get back to that in a minute.

First, I have a question for you; do you make snap judgments? I can hear heads shaking "no" all over the place. Are you sure?

Do you sometimes look at a speaker and judge him or her by the clothes and jewelry they are wearing? Do you wonder about the truth of their ministry if they seem to be showily wealthy?

Have you listened to someone who poured out their heart to you, asking for guidance, and quickly blurted out your opinion of whether or not they were pursuing a godly course of action - without even considering it completely?

Have you thought or said, that a person or ministry was Christ-centered (or not Christ-centered), and then in time discovered that you were wrong?

Let's look at Acts 5, now, and see where I'm going with this. I hope that you will take the time to read it, but I'll give you a short version here. Peter and some of the apostles had been placed in jail for preaching the risen Christ. They were miraculously released from the prison, and returned to the temple to preach and teach. The Council sent officers to bring them from the temple to the council chambers, and were discussing how to make them stop - even considering violence. Verse 33 states they wanted "to slay them." A very wise man, named Gamaliel, stood up and offered the scribes and Pharisees his advice. Check out verses 38 and 39 . . .

Act 5:38  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Act 5:39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Now, refresh your memory of this verse in Proverbs, right at the top of this post. I'm always open to correction, but I believe Solomon was cautioning us to be very careful not to point fingers and condemn the just and righteous. He also said we needed to be careful not to look at something and say it was good, when it could be wicked. It's another case of needing that wisdom that comes from above. I'm so glad that we have Jesus, "the way, the truth, and the life" to consult when we need to make a judgment. We are, after all, to "try the spirits"

1Jo 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

and we are also to "judge righteous judgments."

Joh 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

I'm thinking that I need to pray for wisdom, and search my Bible, and then make my decisions, or form my opinions. Then I will be able to avoid snap judgments, and I won't call good "evil" or evil "good."