Proverbs Chapter 28

Proverbs 28:5(ESV) “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.”

“I’m innocent”. “I was set-up”. “The cops were dirty”. “They had a grudge against me”.

In over 18 years in the correctional side of law enforcement, I can’t count the number of times I have heard these words and others of similar meaning. To say that all convicted criminals claim innocence would be an exaggeration but a considerable number fight their convictions on various grounds. They claim innocence. They try to prove mental incompetence. They appeal based on improper legal procedures or inadequate legal representation. It is indeed a minority of convicted persons who accept their conviction and serve their debt to society.

I have seen men convicted of heinous crimes walk out after only a few years. I have spoken with those who are sincerely repentant of their not-so-heinous crimes, yet have years to serve in prison before even a possibility of release. We read about murder suspects who walk scot-free due to a slick-talking attorney or a legal technicality. We wonder, “Where is the justice in all of this?” “It’s not fair!” “ How could this happen?” Justice seems to have been lost in the system.

I have asked similar questions many times and I certainly don’t know all the answers. However, I do know where to find the answers! Proverbs 28:5 tells us the answers are found in the Lord. It is by seeking Him that we can understand justice or the apparent lack there-of. We are told here to “seek the Lord”. To seek is an act of striving to find something. We are to find understanding in our relationship with God Almighty. When we read of events in our world and society that are senseless, He can help us to make sense of them. When our system of justice seems to break down and we don’t understand, He can give us understanding. When bad things happen to good people or “bad” people seem to go unpunished, He can put it all in perspective for us.

When you read of some criminal going unpunished, seek the Lord. When you see on the news a rich politician abusing the system with impunity, seek the Lord. When you hear of the pain and suffering of innocent children, seek the Lord. When you are at the receiving end of some terrible injustice, seek the Lord. When you want to know what to do about these situations, seek the Lord. When you are angry and frustrated in the midst of injustice, seek the Lord. Find understanding in Him. Find peace and rest in His strength and wisdom. He is still on His throne. He knows the end of the story. Seek the Lord!