“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2
Devotional Thought For The Day
What kind of culture would be produced if the opposite were true, that people would lament an increase in righteous and decent people, and would rejoice and cheer when wicked people were in power and control? In such circumstances it would be difficult for righteous and decent people to have much joy and security at all. In a political system where power and rule is determined by the desires of voters, all that is required for rule by the wicked is a majority of wicked people. Or, the ability of wicked people to disguise themselves and to fool and hoodwink enough voters to gain a majority and election. Sadly, political rhetoric and electioneering have become sophisticated and clever enough to make such a circumstance possible, in addition to a naiveté and gullibility in many of the people casting votes. One way this is done is to focus on one issue that people feel strongly about, and to convince others that it is in the common good, and to gain a majority. Of course, once elected the rest of that person’s agenda then comes into play.
Interestingly, this proverb is true even when the majority is evil and their wicked candidates are in power. Wickedness is what it is, and it doesn’t discriminate when applied to the people it is ruling, subjugating, manipulating, and persecuting. Wicked underlings suffer as much from wicked rulers as righteous and decent people do, with the consequence that the people groan – and sometimes rebel. There are numerous historical incidents of power being ripped away from wicked rulers who are crushing the common people – even when the people initially empowered them. The Soviet Union is the latest such example. Of course, given that sin has infected all human beings, corrupted them, the old adage is frequently documented, that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” So it is often inevitable that rulers come to be seen as wicked, and the more powerful the ruler the greater the temptation to be absolutely corrupt and wicked.
So there is hope for a nation that has turned away from what is good and right and has embraced divorce, fornication, abortion to escape the consequences of sexual licentiousness, homosexuality, laziness, entitlement, the availability and even legalization of harmful drugs, multiculturalism without discrimination, freedom of religion without sentient distinctions, denied proper use of parental and educational discipline, has so many convicted criminals that such are considered normal and mainstream [hence no permanent deterrence to a life of crime], and has rejected any meaningful concept of personal responsibility by providing social welfare safety nets for virtually all antisocial failings, so that no one has to actually work with personal ambition to survive and thrive. [It is interesting that the mainstream still considers adultery evil – get a divorce first; and superficially condemns extreme forms of stealing and other immoralities like lying and cheating.] So when things become so bad that virtually everyone is suffering from the prevalence of evil, virtually everyone will want change that creates a more righteous and decent society, and this will require an increase of righteous people. Not that this is inevitable, but it remains a hopeful possibility.
If such a possibility is to actualize, it will require some retention of righteousness and decency to return to. If the righteous compromise and drift toward wickedness [or the degree to which this happens], then there is nothing to guide the way to positive change. The righteous, of course, will have to suffer all kinds of pressure and even persecution in persevering in good and decency – and it may become a rather lonely road. However, they will have the vindication of being in the right and ultimately the right will prevail – God is God, and He remains in ultimate control of all things, and will bring about the end of this current aeon. So the proverb encourages us to continue in a life of repentance [sorrow for our sin and failings and continued commitment and orientation to what is good, decent, and truly righteous] and joyful faith and trust in God’s forgiveness, mercy, and salvation. If we are to do the best we can for the people around us, we must persist in this regardless of the social disapprobation we now receive, or even violent persecution. There may be hope for our culture, communities, and nation. There is absolute certainty of the rule of righteousness in the new age of God’s eternal kingdom. It is our privilege to participate in that righteousness even now.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to keep the light alive in regard to decency, goodness, righteousness, and good earthly governance. Grant us enough peace and freedom to continue broadcasting Your love and salvation into the world around us. Grant that the groaning of the people becomes strong enough to demand a change for the better, that the righteous increase and have governance that befits and protects good and decency. Amen.