Proverbs 21:13

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about showing others the same grace we want them to show us:

Proverbs 21:13 (ESV)

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered.

Talion Law is a Babylonian phrase for what happens when a person is punished for a crime in the same manner the crime is committed.   The example would be when a murderer is given the death penalty.  What we have here is Solomon's version, God's version, of Talion Law.   The first line speaks about the offense:  Showing no pity to others.   The second line shows the results of the offense: Having no pity shown to you.   Jesus might have been talking about this proverb when He spoke of the man in Matthew who was forgiven for his debt but didn't forgive others.   Jesus spoke of him not being heard and forgiven again for his failure to show mercy (Matt 18:23-35).    When we fail to show mercy we will have no mercy shown to us.    If you are living a life that has no experience of grace or is limited in mercy, think about this principle.   It might be that you have not shown mercy and grace to others.  That is God's Law.