Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
Summary: Today’s passage provides an opportunity for a real-world application of what Solomon has been teaching us.
I would love to use the title “A Tale of Two Cities” for this meditation, but unfortunately, that has already been used. So let’s shorten it a bit and just go with “Two Cities.”
Let’s imagine that one city is managed by a preponderance of upright people. These people fear God and follow the Golden Rule to guide their dealings with each other. The other city is overrun by what Solomon refers to as “wicked” people.
Let’s say that you work for the “Society of Cities.”. Your boss has heard about these two cities but has not been told which one is which. Your job is to visit both cities and determine which one is peopled by the upright, and which one is populated by the wicked.
The Society of Cities wants to present an award to the most upright city. On the surface, both cities look the same. Both have similar types of buildings, both have a water and sewer system, and both have about the same populations. How are you going to tell the difference?
Application: We are often confronted with the need to evaluate people, places, and organizations.
Food for Thought: What do you look for in each city to determine which has mostly upright people and which one has mostly wicked people?
I believe cities (communities, societies), like individuals, take on a “a collective persona.” By that I mean what the individuals of that city or community value becomes evident by what “goods and services” they make available and demand, and how they handle social issues that arise in the city.
I also find that cities and communities tend to operate based on “what the market will bear” instead of applying a hard truth to a matter.
I think in order to determine which cities have mostly upright or wicked people you would need to look at how the “least” of them are treated, and hoe the “most” of them are treated. If the rich are celebrated, and the poor are discarded, it is sia good indication that the people of that city are not looking to the Lord as their leader.
Matthew 7:17-20 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Chris,
That is an interesting way of looking at it. I am thinking areas in Seattle and Portland where criminals run free to riot in the streets whenever they want, people are left to sleep in tents by the freeway, and the general public lives in fear. It is not a good look nor a good refection on the people who live there.
That is exactly what i was thinking too. I think decisions are made based on half truths, or without looking at the whole picture. But honestly, when have we as humans ever had the whole picture? Thats why we need the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures.
Urban centers are often led by unbelieving people. But there is always a remnant of believers in such cities. Likewise, we have friends in “the Bible Belt” who tell us that while there is an outward appearance of godliness, many have not truly received Christ. In other words, Christ is a part of their culture but not a part of their heart.
The city on a hill is noticed by the light it produces. The fruit tells us much. If it is shining Jesus it will look different. If it is glorifying Jesus it will be different. Matthew 5: 14 – 16.
Rich,
Exactly! The task is to be a Light Detector for the Light of the Lord.
🙂
05-23-2022, Proverbs 11:11, What do you look for in each city to determine which has mostly upright people and which one has mostly wicked people?
That call is way above my pay grade. My first call is to work on what actions in me are upright or wicked, as well as listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as He reveals the same about about others.
I was on business in Washington DC a couple times and had never seen such a beautiful city. Today it is still beautiful, and even powerful in its appearance in a worldly way. Then look at the laws and policies coming out of this city and it’s corrupt leadership becomes clear.
I had trips to New York, Newark, Chicago, Cleveland and in each case was cautioned to not leave my hotel after 9:00pm. In Newark I was told to call the main desk the moment anyone knocked on my door, and all entrances into my hotel would be locked at 9:00pm..
There are definite, possibly widespread wickedness in all these cities, but only God will determine if they are mostly wicked or mostly upright.
Christ’s mandate to us that we become “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” implies that we must develop discernment, the ability to detect motivation and the spirits that motivate. The gift of discerning the spirits will become increasingly important as we approach the end of this age because deception will be the hallmark of these extremely dangerous times.
Matthew 10:16, Malachi 3:18, 1 John 4:1, 1 Kings 3:9, Hosea 14:9
If you’re walking into a restaurant and a man asks for some money so he can eat, invite him to eat with you and you will pay for whatever he wants. His response will tell you the rest.
Ron,
Thank you! I appreciate the examples of the cities you have travelled to. I think that this is a case where my question was poorly worded. The assumption behind the question was that there are certain things associated with a place that reflect the morality of that place. (Moral meaning “godly.”)
Your example of DC is perfect. No other city is claimed by all the citizens of our country in the same way we we all count DC as the capital of our nation. It has a vested interest in keeping appearances up for visitors. Yet as we have been seeing over the past few years there is a lot of corruption there.
The verse today says, “Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.”
Some still care for the city enough to keep up appearances. The corrupt who live and work there have tarnished its reputation. Are there other things that reflect on the type of people who live there?
My question was over simplistic. Perhaps we should look at it again in a different light…
I should have stopped with DC. My mind was jumping with this one
and I passed on away from the best example.
See how we do tomorrow.
For what it is worth, Ron, I appreciated them all!