April 19 - No Encouraging Or Excusing.

Proverbs 24:24-25
“He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.”
 
Encouraging the wicked in the midst of their wickedness brings a curse.
Justifying their actions does not benefit or relieve their situation.
 
Isaiah 5:20
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“
 
Excusing the wickedness of others encourages them to continue in their sin. When we associate with people who are in open sin, we advocate their iniquity. How will they change if we condone what they do?
 
Proverbs 17:15
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.”
 
Rebuke and reproof bring blessing on both parties when done in love.
 
Proverbs 28:23
“He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.”
 
Nathan rebuked David after it was known that he had sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed.
 
2 Samuel 12:7,9
“And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul… Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.”
 
Nathan obeyed the Lord by rebuking David in love.
Like Nathan, we can choose wisely to rebuke in love when the Lord leads us to do so.
 
David chose to respond wisely to Nathan’s rebuke for he knew it was true. Like David, we also have to choose how we respond in the face of reproof and rebuke.
 
2 Samuel 12:13
“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”
 
Because of Nathan’s rebuke, David’s repentance changed his punishment.
 
Proverbs 9:18
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Judges 7-8  |  Acts 20  |  Proverbs 19