Articles
The Telling Phrase
By using an online resource like Bible Gateway you can type in a word or phrase and it will pull up all its occurrences in Scripture. It’s best to enclose phrases in quotation marks to make the search more specific.
Have you noticed how often the Old Testament refers to individuals or groups who did what was right or wrong “in the sight of the LORD”?
In his youth Solomon’s prayer for wisdom “was pleasing in the sight of the LORD” (1 Kings 3:10 NASB).
But late in life Solomon turned to idolatry, and this “was evil in the sight of the LORD . . .” (1 Kings 11:6).
Note:
“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts” (Prov. 21:2).
“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Prov. 26:12).
“There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, yet is not washed from his filthiness” (Prov. 30:12).
What if I think I’m right, I’m wise, and I’m pure—but God sees it differently (Rev. 3:14-17)? Of the two phrases, “in his own eyes” or “in the sight of the LORD”, which is the correct perspective?
The Bible says right and wrong must be gauged by God’s standards, not by what you or I think about it or by what society dictates. One is an accurate, unalterable yardstick, the other a sliding scale. Isn’t this what is so often overlooked? Could this be why our world is in such a terrible mess?
If people don’t acknowledge God’s word as the last word on right and wrong, how will they be prepared for the Day of Judgment, when each of us will be assessed by God’s standard, not ours or anybody else’s (John 12:48; 2 Cor. 5:10)?
“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12).
So, what “seems right” isn’t always the same as what “is right.”
For too many, “seems right” grabs the headlines, while “is right” might get a few lines on the back page, if even there.
That’s just not right!
