“18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.
”
One of my favourite passages of scripture is John chapter 6. In this passage Jesus feeds the 5000 and then walks on water; there is some clear revelation here of his deity. After these two miracles Jesus “thins the herd” of those who are following Him by raising the bar. “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you” (John 6:53). At this many of those who were following Him went away, the teaching was too difficult. But the twelve remained and when asked by Jesus if they want to leave, Peter says this in verse 68, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
I am amazed at this passage for a few reasons. First, the followers of Jesus have just witnessed him feed 5000 with groceries for a single family. Some of them just watched him walk on water. They have seen him heal the lame and even heal the official’s son without even being anywhere near him. But now, Jesus says one difficult thing and they grumble and leave?
But not the twelve – why? Jesus gives the answer before the others leave and after: Revelation. Without revelation, the people cast off restraint. The KJV says the people perish. It is God who reveals Himself to us, without Him we perish.
In Luke 5 we see the revelation of Jesus to Peter. It comes after Jesus suggests they cast their nets out on the other side of the boat after a futile night of fishing. They do so and catch an enormous haul of fish. Peter’s response is amazing.
“Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
The righteousness of Jesus made Peter aware of his own unrighteousness. Because of Jesus revelation of Himself to Peter, Peter is not left in that discomfort. He comes to believe Jesus is the Holy One of God and has the words of eternal life. Without revelation Peter would have been left in the discomfort, asking Jesus to get away.
The wicked detest the upright.
This is one of the most difficult aspects of life for me. We see it everywhere though. Cain detested Abel. Saul detested David. The Pharisees detested Jesus. The bad kids have always detested the good kids! Jesus told his disciples they would be detested because of Him.
Righteousness exposes wickedness and has two potential outcomes. Without revelation the people are lost and will detest the upright. With revelation the people fall to their knees and proclaim, “you are the Holy One of God, to whom else shall we go.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Have you ever felt like you detested the upright? Have you been detested because you are upright? Will you join me in praying for the revelation of God for those who detest what is upright? Share your thoughts below.