Thoughts on Today's Verse...
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas betrayed Jesus and Temple soldiers arrested him. Peter drew a sword to defend the Lord and used it against the servant of the high priest (Matthew 26:47-51). Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword back in its place... for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). Violence begets violence, and rarely do violent people not have to taste the bitter repayment of violence on their own heads. God's Wise Man essentially says the same thing in this verse but with one key addition. Blessings come to the righteous person. We reap what we sow, whether we sow righteousness or violence!
My Prayer...
Holy God, please bless me with righteousness — not just by your grace and mercy, but by your Holy Spirit's transformation of my heart. And, dear Father, we close our prayer with the plea of King David:
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure — you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts (Psalm 7:9).
We pray this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
