Righteousness in a Pandemic (Proverbs 11)

I've been reflecting a lot recently about how Proverbs speaks to our situation — and it seemed to me that Proverbs 11 addresses our situation very clearly. It's a case of taking one bit of scripture and connecting it with one bit of life.

I preached on Proverbs 11 more than fifteen years ago — and I really can't find much to disagree with in what I said then — but those same principles apply very concretely in our time.

Verses 1-8 focus on what it means for righteousness to deliver you — to protect you.

Verses 9-14 then focus on words in community — how do you speak of and to those around you?

And verses 15-31 deal with what son of community you want to live in. Because the wise man will recognize that I should live in such a way that if everyone else lived this way, it would be a better world.