Text: “An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked” (Pr 29:27).

Textual Analysis:

• Parallelism is the term for the literary technique used in the above verse. All that means is that the first part of the phrase reveals a pattern, a type of person, and the reaction he gets from another type of person. The unjust, wicked man is hated by the good man. Why? Because he is wicked. Because he should be shunned because he is just that–unjust. The good man is to hate that which is evil. Otherwise, you’re failing to take a stand for what is good and right. We are commanded to hate evil in Scripture: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom 12:9).

Reactions to Good and Evil:

• The good man or woman, in other words, is characterized as one who discerns justice from injustice, good from evil, transparency versus secretiveness.
• But did you notice the power of the second part of the verse where the poet writes, “but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked”? In other words, the good man is hated by the wicked man. Why? Because he won’t go along with wickedness. He will not cave. He will not give in. Why? Because his allegiance is to the Lord and to what is right, true, and good.

Encouragement: Folks, if you take a stand for the truth, for the light, for the Lord, for transparency, you can count on persecution. Jesus told us that up front:

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (Jn 15:18-25)

But be of good courage, dear ones. God sees. And the truth will triumph. You can try to bury, even in a tomb in Jerusalem, but the truth will rise again.