The first thing we must do is reveal God's definition of "the righteous" in this passage. Inasmuch as scripture explains and interprets scripture, let's first look to Psalm 32:1-2 in which David says, "How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man against whom the Lord does not impute iniquity!" Then towards the end of the psalm (verses 10-11), David tells us what sort of person this is: those (and ONLY those) whose sins are forgiven and whose transgressions are not counted: "He who trusts in the Lord, loving kindness shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous ones and shout for joy all you upright in heart." (added emphasis mine)

 

Dictionaries define righteousness as "behavior that is morally justifiable or right." Such behavior is characterized by accepted, worldly standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness. In contrast, the Bible's (God's) standard of human righteousness is God's own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word.  

The bad news is that true and perfect righteousness is not possible for man (including cops) to attain on his or her own. God's standard -- perfection -- is simply too high. The good news is that true righteousness is possible for mankind, but only through the cleansing (forgiveness) of our sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of the genuine, born again believer.  Without being in a right personal relationship with God in Christ, we have no ability to achieve righteousness in and of ourselves. But the genuine Christian possesses the righteousness of Christ, because "For  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become  the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). On the cross, Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness so that we can one day stand before God not in our sin, but rather in the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

And who are the wicked and why do they flee when no one is chasing them?  Guilt in the conscience makes the lost a terror to themselves, so that they are ready to flee even when no one is chasing after them. They are those who run from their sin and who think there is a cop waiting for them around every corner.  Though they pretend is everything is fine, there are secret fears which haunt them wherever they go and they are in fear even when there is no imminent danger present (see Psalm 53:5). Of these, noted theologian Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary, "Those that have made God their enemy, and know it, cannot but see the whole creation at war with them, and therefore can have no true enjoyment of themselves, no confidence, no courage, but a fearful looking for of judgment. Sin makes men cowards" (emphasis mine). Ultimately, the wicked are all those lost without a genuine saving faith in Christ (sadly, that also includes the majority of those serving in our God-ordained profession of law enforcements).

So with this foundation in mind, what then does the scripture mean when it says that the righteous are as bold as a lion?  Friends, the boldness of a true believer has nothing to do with physical strength or appearance but everything to do with knowing your spiritual (biblical) position and authority. When you surrender in faith to God in Christ, your physical appearance will not change much (well, not until we get to heaven), but your spiritual position will change radically in that you'll go from being "wicked," uncovered and separated from God, to being covered by the blood of the Lamb and into a wonderful, intimate personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 

Moreover, the righteousness that will make us as bold as a lion has nothing to do with our own good works (although it should in fact produce good works) or our service as cops. Rather, the righteous are as bold as a lion because, through faith, the Lion of Judah becomes our righteousness.

A real-life example of this can be found in the life of Martin Luther who, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, made a righteous, bold-hearted stand against corruption, wickedness and false teaching.  At his trial in 1521 before  the Catholic Holy Roman Emperor Charles and a host of nobles, princes and religious (Catholic) dignitaries who had the power to torture and execute him for what they deemed to be heresy, Luther was asked if he would repent (by their standards) and "... repudiate your books and the errors which they contain" (his teachings, including the now famous 95 Theses). Luther, with Proverbs 28:1 righteousness, boldly replied, 

"Since then Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason-I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other-my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen." 

" Here I stand" indeed (boldness in Christ)!  The result? God used a simple, obscure monk to start a revolution through which untold millions have come to a genuine, saving faith in Christ alone. 

Friends, God is still looking for men and women of righteous boldness to make a real "stand" for Him in our world today. Likewise, God is seeking to use us who serve in  law enforcement to make a real difference in our communities and agencies if we're willing to do so with true Proverbs 28:1 lion-hearted (bold, fearless) righteousness. 

 

So who are the righteous? Who are the lion-hearted (bold) righteous ones?  Only t hose who trust in the Lord -- those who have a genuine, saving faith in Christ and bank their hope on the mercy and power and wisdom of God. These are the ones against whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and whose sins are forgiven. We who are "in Christ" are made righteous not with a righteousness (goodness) of our own, but rather have the imputed righteousness of God.  The true Christian is made  free from fear and "sprinkled clean from an evil conscience" ( Hebrews 10:22 ) and whose hearts no longer condemn them ( 1 John 3:21 ). The righteous are those who are made right with God because of His grace and what He did for us on the the cross and not by own merit (so called good works or good deeds) or service in law enforcement.  

Is that you?  It can be!  Allow Jesus to declare you righteous and make you bold for His service because you've placed your trust in Him!  In being made bold and righteous in Christ, we become "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37; 1 John 5:4-5) from whom the "wicked" will "flee" in terror (Romans 13:1-4)!

 

To conclude, this passage on our wall in DC can be about us who serve in law enforcement but ONLY if we are willing to repent, Man Up and begin to serve from a right relationship with God in Christ (a "Christian" as God defines it).  It is ONLY from this right standing with Christ our Captain that we can truly make a difference in His service and be "the righteous" lions of Proverbs 28:1.    

So does this describe you? Are you sure? Again, serving in our God-ordained profession or being a "good person" by the world's standards will NOT make you the "righteous," bold servant-warrior of  Proverbs 28:1. Nor can serving in law enforcement or being killed in the line of duty earn you a place in heaven (or an escape from hell).  On the contrary, Jesus says we MUST be born again ( John 3:1-21, added emphasis mine) in Him alone in order to be saved (no "other" way - John 14:6). Then -- and only then -- can we serve as His righteous and bold "ministers [servants] for good" from whom the "wicked" will "flee" in terror ( Romans 13:1-4).  

Accordingly, it is again with a "Code 3" (lights and siren) sense of urgency that I implore you to consider the following: