Righteousness

Proverbs 14:34-35 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame. 

‘Righteousness exalts a nation.’ This has been true of Israel at different times (Deut. 4:6; Jos. 1:8; 10:42; 23:14).

‘But sin is a reproach to any people.’ Seven examples of sin being a reproach: Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:1-38); Canaanites (Lev. 18:24-30); Egypt (Ex. 12:12; Ezek. 29:1-15); Amalekites (Ex. 17:16; 1Sam. 15:1-35); Babylon (Isa. 14:4-23; 47:6-15); Tyre (Isa. 23:1-9; Ezek. 28:2-8) and Nineveh (Zeph. 2:13-15).

Genesis 13:13 states that the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. God couldn’t tolerate their sin. He judged these sodomite cities as a lesson to others and condemned those who followed their example, rewarding them with eternal hell (Gen. 18:20; 19:5, 13; Isa. 3:9; Rom. 1:18-32; 2Pet. 2:1-22; Jude 1:7-19).

All the nations of Canaan practised abominable customs (Lev. 18:24, 27-30) and for such sins they were destroyed as predicted, and their land was given to Israel (Lev. 18:24-30).

Egypt’s firstborns of man and beast were slaughtered (Ex. 12:12) because of the gods they served. When any idolatrous nation was destroyed, the blame fell on the gods who either abandoned the nation or were overcome by stronger gods (Isa. 37:6-13). Each of the ten plagues was aimed at the gods of Egypt.

In Exodus 17:16, we see that the LORD had sworn that He would have war with Amalek from generation to generation because they chose to be Israel’s enemies, as was the same for all other nations who made the God of Israel their enemies. 

‘The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.’ A wise servant will gain the favour of the king [leaders], but a foolish servant will incur his wrath.