Proverbs 17:25-26 (ESV)
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Few sorrows cut more deeply than watching a child reject the path of wisdom. A foolish son brings no joy to his father because the child he has instructed, disciplined, and loved has chosen the path of folly instead. His grief comes from watching the child he has poured so much into turn away from the wisdom that leads to life.
The mother’s grief is described even more vividly. The Hebrew word translated “bitterness” (memer) appears only here in the Old Testament and describes profound anguish rather than resentment. Its related root, mara, appears in the book of Ruth, where Naomi used it to describe the deep sorrow she felt after losing her husband and sons (Ruth 1:20). Solomon uses the same family of words to express the heartbreaking grief of a mother whose child persists in foolishness.
The scene then shifts from the home to the courtroom. It is never right to punish those who have done what is right. Whether through an unjust fine or a physical beating, every abuse of justice is an offense to God. Though corrupt leaders may misuse their authority, no unjust verdict escapes the notice of the Judge of all the earth.
Throughout history, God’s people have often suffered because they refused to compromise. Faithful believers have been mocked, imprisoned, beaten, and even put to death because they would not deny Christ. Though earthly courts have often failed them, the Judge of all the earth never will. He sees every act of injustice, and the day is coming when every wrong will be judged with perfect righteousness.
If you are grieving, whether over a child who has rejected God’s wisdom or because you have been treated unjustly, do not lose heart. Your heavenly Father sees what others overlook and remembers what others forget. He knows your sorrow and keeps count of every tear you shed (Psalm 56:8). Continue to entrust yourself to him, remaining faithful even when others are not. The God who sees every tear also sees every act of faithfulness, and he will faithfully accomplish his good purposes in and through your life.