“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD,” verse 4.
We have seen that the standard the Lord requires of us is linked to our FEET, v 2; HANDS, v 2: HEART, v 2; TONGUE, v3.
Now we come to our EYES, v 4.
1. As Christians we are required rightly to evaluate others.Foolish people say that it is wrong to ‘judge’ others. That is seen as a wrong view here. We are to consider whether a person is a ‘vile person’ and if they are, to ‘despise’, reject them! First use of this word, Gen 25:34. “Esau despised his birthright.” He held the blessing of God of less value than a meal of ‘bread and soup’ if I may so describe what Esau preferred to God’s blessing.
This surely tells us that there are those we are not to honour or reverence. We are to look upon them with condemnation!
We evaluate those we consider as murderers, thieves, or immoral, or wicked and place upon them a value in keeping with their actions and do not treat them as we would honest, decent people. That is what the Lord requires of us.
Sadly, there has been a great failure to do that generally in the nations. Here in Ulster, murderers, terrorists and perverts have been honoured.
Of course we must be careful in our judgment and not be hasty but act only upon clear evidence of a person’s unsavoury character. What a man is in his heart will come out and be seen! Absalom, David’s son and Judas are examples!
2. This is especially a requirement in a day such as this.This is a day in which there are many ‘vile persons’ around, peddling their lies and errors. We must stay away from such, 2 Tim 3:5. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world,” 1 John 4:1. We are to ‘examine’ those we meet. Don’t just take a person’s honesty for granted. ‘The spirits’ refer to those who would claim to speak for the ‘Holy Spirit’. The land is filled with such! We try them by the Bible, Acts 17:11.
3. However, we must hold a different view of the true believer. “But he honoureth them that fear the LORD.” To fear the Lord is a mark of true faith, Deut 10:12.
This is a day when there are many who are “despisers of those that are good,” 2 Tim 3:3. We are to be the very opposite. We are to despise those who despise the people of God.