“These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. He who gives a right answer kisses the lips” (Proverbs 24:23-26).
A wise person is someone who consistently does the right thing, regardless of how challenging and difficult it may be. Of the many characteristics the wise have, Solomon here focuses on these four:
- The wise is impartial in judgment (v. 23). Right is right and wrong is wrong, no matter whose behavior is being considered. Since God does not have a shifting scale of right and wrong, the wise does not either.
- The wise does not misidentify the wicked (v. 24). There never has been and never will be any appropriate time to call evil “good”. Woe unto anyone who does (Is. 5:20). Few things arouse the disdain and abhorrence of others as quickly as misidentifying the perverse and wicked as virtuous and righteous.
- The wise confront and rebuke the wicked (v. 25). Wisdom without virtue produces disappointment (Prov. 25:26). To walk as a child of light necessitates both having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness and exposing them (Eph. 5:11).
- The wise tell the truth (v. 26). At times, truth can be painful and difficult to hear and say (Prov. 28:23). Yet, it is always the right and wise thing to communicate. The wounds of truth are vastly superior to the kisses of falsehood (Prov. 27:6). Therefore, the wise speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
