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“A just weight is the LORD’S delight…”
“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.” Proverbs 11:1
“Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.” Proverbs 16:11
“Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.” Proverbs 20:10
“Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and dishonest scales are not good.” Proverbs 20:23
Dishonest scales and divers’ weights are identified as an abomination and not good in the eyes of the LORD. If something is abominable to the LORD, it is morally disgusting and something He looks upon with abhorrence or hatred. Dishonest scales, divers’ weights and measures are an abomination to the LORD. Their intent is to deceive and provide oneself with an advantage at the expense of another. Whether buying or selling the intent of the deceiver is to make something appear to be heavier or lighter depending on which would benefit them. GOD specifically spoke of this practice through Moses in the Law and revealed His disdain for it as well as the corresponding consequences.
Deuteronomy 25:14-16 “Thou shalt not have in thine house divers’ measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteous, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.”
The people were not to have varying ways of doing business. There should not be stones of unequal weights; one to sell with and one to buy with but they were to use weights and measures that were correct and accurate with everyone every time.
GOD did not use dishonest scales or divers’ weights in His treatment of Israel. Rather each time He dealt justly and perfectly. (Leviticus 19:34-37) GOD has always wanted His people to assume His character. He wants us to be people of integrity because He is a GOD of integrity. Proverbs 16:11 “Honest weights and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are His work.”
As a result of being honorable people the inheritance that Israel stood to take possession of would bode well for them. Deuteronomy 25:15 reveals that their “…days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD was giving them.” This implies that a lack of integrity would shorten those days. Dishonesty would adversely affect the inheritance that GOD had in store of them. I would suggest that it will do the same to us. We may not think much about being shady here and there regarding our dealings with others. Perhaps we do not consider the danger and dishonesty associated with shaving off a little or adding a little to make the deal more favorable for us. Maybe we do this with our word, adding or omitting words to make a situation more to our advantage. These things are an abomination to the LORD. Our dealings and communications with our fellow man are a direct result of our reverence for GOD. As we do unto others we are doing unto the LORD. A just weight is the LORD’S delight.
The principle in these Proverbs will be aptly applied if we will allow the greatest and 2nd greatest commandment to govern our lives.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40