“The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.” (Proverbs 21:12)
Many years ago, my first pastor said something that has always stuck with me. He said, “A fool can’t learn from a wise man; but a wise man learns from a fool – he learns what not to do.”
Job’s friends believed they were “wisely considering” why his house had come to ruin. They thought they had “connected the dots.” They wanted Job to accept the fact that his tragedy should serve as an “object lesson” to hypocrites who secretly walked in wickedness. But the fact of the matter was far from their unwise and unrighteous judgment.
Jesus told the people to: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24) Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would “not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.” (Isa. 11:3) The Spirit of the Lord upon Jesus cause Him to judge righteous judgment. He never improperly “connected the dots.” He never condemned the just or justified the wicked. He “wisely considered” the house of the wicked and often used their folly as an object lesson to instruct the just.
We have so much to learn from the world around us; but wisdom must guide us at all times. We need the anointing of God to see anything as we should. We cannot afford to be wise in our own conceits. When we see another’s misfortune let’s not jump to conclusions as to the cause. But when God wishes to warn us through another’s folly, let us first have compassion on the afflicted, and then learn what not to do.