Politics Gone Bad
For a government or society to endure, it needs wise, informed leaders - and these are hard to find. Each person's selfishness affects others. [LAB] When people live for themselves with little concern for how their actions affect others, the resulting moral rot contaminates the entire nation. We have to ask ourselves if we are part of the problem or part of the solution.
Proverbs 28:2 (NASB)
[2] By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
Unrigteousness in a nation produces political instability with many vying for power, thus the tenure of each leader is shortened. Wisdom promotes social order and long rule. [MSB] Without wisdom it is impossible for a nation to succeed. History bears this out in the example of the Roman empire. Time and time again, corrupt emperors arose, to indulge in their own desires and in turn leading the population into corruption. The flesh will easily succumb to taking bribes and thus perverting justice to the point that the governed will no longer trust the government to render just verdicts and laws. Anarchy is the result - each person doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). The latest Rasmussen poll indicates that 65% of the respondents want to eliminate everyone in congress and start over. That is an indication of lack of faith in the governing body.
Pesha', in our Proverbs verse, is transgression, guilt, punishment, offering. It means willful deviation from, and therefore rebellion against, the path of godly living. It is particularly repulsive to the Lord, as shown in this passage in Amos.
Amos 2:4-5 (NASB)
[4] Thus says the LORD,
“For three transgressions of Judah and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they rejected the law of the LORD
And have not kept His statutes;
Their *lies also have led them astray,
Those after which their fathers walked.
[5] “So I will send fire upon Judah
And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
Note also this verse from Isaiah against those who would circumvent the Lords way.
Isaiah 5:21 (NASB)
[21] Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
If the Lord is angry with a nation because of trespasses and sins, that nation has no one to blame but itself. Their punishment comes in many forms, including force of nature, another country rising up, or even society itself imploding in economic and social turmoil. But the Christian is called upon to have a different standard. We are to be an example to others, showing forth the Lord's way. No wonder that the Lord has said in His Word to pray for leaders and the laws of a nation, that the gospel may go forth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB)
CHAPTER 2
A Call to Prayer
[2:1] First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, [2] for kings and all who are in *authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and *dignity. [3] This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all men to be saved and to come to the *knowledge of the truth.
This comes even in those cases where the authority misuses their authority.
Luke 6:28 (NASB)
[28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who *mistreat you.
Lastly we are called upon to be subject to the governing authorities (written during the time of Nero).
Romans 13:1-7 (NASB)
CHAPTER 13
Be Subject to Government
[13:1] Every *person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except *from God, and those which exist are established by God. [2] Therefore *whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. [3] For rulers are not a cause of fear for *good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; [4] for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. [5] Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’sake. [6] For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. [7] Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Titus 3:1-2 (NASB)
CHAPTER 3
Godly Living
[3:1] Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, [2] to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
We are different - we need to act that way.
Proverbs 28:2 (NASB)
[2] By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
Unrigteousness in a nation produces political instability with many vying for power, thus the tenure of each leader is shortened. Wisdom promotes social order and long rule. [MSB] Without wisdom it is impossible for a nation to succeed. History bears this out in the example of the Roman empire. Time and time again, corrupt emperors arose, to indulge in their own desires and in turn leading the population into corruption. The flesh will easily succumb to taking bribes and thus perverting justice to the point that the governed will no longer trust the government to render just verdicts and laws. Anarchy is the result - each person doing what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). The latest Rasmussen poll indicates that 65% of the respondents want to eliminate everyone in congress and start over. That is an indication of lack of faith in the governing body.
Pesha', in our Proverbs verse, is transgression, guilt, punishment, offering. It means willful deviation from, and therefore rebellion against, the path of godly living. It is particularly repulsive to the Lord, as shown in this passage in Amos.
Amos 2:4-5 (NASB)
[4] Thus says the LORD,
“For three transgressions of Judah and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they rejected the law of the LORD
And have not kept His statutes;
Their *lies also have led them astray,
Those after which their fathers walked.
[5] “So I will send fire upon Judah
And it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
Note also this verse from Isaiah against those who would circumvent the Lords way.
Isaiah 5:21 (NASB)
[21] Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
If the Lord is angry with a nation because of trespasses and sins, that nation has no one to blame but itself. Their punishment comes in many forms, including force of nature, another country rising up, or even society itself imploding in economic and social turmoil. But the Christian is called upon to have a different standard. We are to be an example to others, showing forth the Lord's way. No wonder that the Lord has said in His Word to pray for leaders and the laws of a nation, that the gospel may go forth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB)
CHAPTER 2
A Call to Prayer
[2:1] First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, [2] for kings and all who are in *authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and *dignity. [3] This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all men to be saved and to come to the *knowledge of the truth.
This comes even in those cases where the authority misuses their authority.
Luke 6:28 (NASB)
[28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who *mistreat you.
Lastly we are called upon to be subject to the governing authorities (written during the time of Nero).
Romans 13:1-7 (NASB)
CHAPTER 13
Be Subject to Government
[13:1] Every *person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except *from God, and those which exist are established by God. [2] Therefore *whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. [3] For rulers are not a cause of fear for *good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; [4] for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. [5] Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’sake. [6] For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. [7] Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Titus 3:1-2 (NASB)
CHAPTER 3
Godly Living
[3:1] Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, [2] to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
We are different - we need to act that way.