Wise Proverbs for Our Country

“When a country is lawless, it has one ruler after another; but when it is led by a man with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong. Rulers who mistreat the poor are like a hard rain that destroys crops. Evil people do not understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand it completely. When good people triumph, there is great happiness, but when the wicked get control, everybody hides. A ruler without wisdom will be cruel, but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time. When the wicked get control, everybody hides, but when they die, good people do well.” (Proverbs 28: 2-3, 5, 12, 16, 28, NCV).

Proverbs 28 states much wisdom about human relationships, and one prominent subject is in the area of citizenship. The right executive is important to any country’s well-being. We look, in our case, to the president to exercise the principles of the executive office following the Constitution which has been the document of rule and practice for well over two centuries. As we read the cryptic statements in the verses cited, we realize how important it is to have a godly leader in the executive office, one who understands justice and seeks to practice it. He is aware that the poor sometimes need special help. He does not receive bribes (“dishonest money”). He leads with “understanding and knowledge.”

When the Constitutional Convention met in 1787 to form our nation’s Constitution, James Madison proposed three branches of government. He had an insight for his proposal from Isaiah 33:22: “For the Lord is our Judge; the Lord is our Lawgiver; the Lord is our King; He will save us.” Herein this patriot saw clearly defined the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government. And the three, based on God’s direction from Isaiah, were written into the Constitution of the United States. In retrospect, we can see that these forefathers by their action were acknowledging God’s way in the preparation of the document that has guided our country well.

In America, more so than in many other countries of the world, we frequently express our opinions about our chief executive officer. We are prone to criticize and blame the president when the country falters, falls into deep economic decline (as now), or follows a course of action that leads to more taxes and fewer services. We forget that we are free to exercise our citizenship rights to vote, to contact representatives, even to write a letter to the president (or governor, or local executive) to express concerns. We sometimes had rather criticize than to exercise rights and responsibilities of our freedoms. And so often we forget to pray for our elected leaders. We have a responsibility to seek God’s guidance for them. Now when our rights to recognize God as Sovereign Ruler are being contested on every hand, we capitulate to the minority instead of standing up for what we know to be right, honorable and according to God’s will. When was the last time you prayed earnestly for the president and other elected leaders by name? We have an admonition, conditions to be met, and a promise in II Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NKJV) This call to prayer is very urgent and applicable in our day as it was when the Temple of Solomon was dedicated. Will we spend as much time praying for our country and our leaders as we do criticizing them?

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, August 1, 2010