Daily Devotional Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in
the Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 28:2 (KJV):
For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of
understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Proverbs 28:2 (AMP):
When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of
discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue.
Thoughts for the Day:
This verse
from Proverbs tells us that wickedness in a nation
will create a situation where there are many changes in leadership or there are
many trying to rule; however, when a wise man rules a nation, it will produce
stability. Sin and wickedness produce many
problems for societies, one of them being dissatisfaction in the people; and
another - rivalry among the leadership. People
who are dissatisfied are always looking to the leadership for the needed changes
to correct the problems. We all need to realize that the needed changes must
start with us as individuals. Every person is responsible for contributing
to the betterment of the world, or making it worse by our deeds and actions.
Evil people will want leadership that condones their wickedness or allows them
to participate in it, while righteous people will want leadership that will
control the evil tendencies of society by making and enforcing righteous laws.
There is much
discussion about who should make the laws of the land. In the United
States of America, our founding fathers were Christians, so the laws of this
nation were based on the Word of God. Because of that influence in our national
life, we have been blessed as a nation. Everything good that we have been
blessed with in our society here in the U.S.A., comes directly or indirectly,
from God's grace and the Bible's influence. One of the things that I am sure
grieves the heart of God is the fact that, instead of people being grateful for
all the blessings God has bestowed upon mankind, many blame Him and His
followers for the problems in the world.
In our society it seems
popular to criticize Christians and blame them for things that really
are not their fault. They are even lumped in the same category with
cults and weird sects. People should realize there are things that are
said and done in the name of Christianity that are not Christian at
all. The Bible even warns us of people like that who actually hurt the
cause of Christ. When I speak of Christian or Christianity,
I am referring to the true believer and the true followers
of Christ.
Many people do not
realize what the Bible and Christian influence have accomplished for the
betterment of our lives, especially here in the United States. They
walk around enjoying the good life with its abundance here in free
America, without understanding they owe it all to a book they have been
taught by many to despise -- the Bible. Even some countries who have
embraced false religions are blessed in aspects of their societies where
they are practicing scriptural principles. The keeping of God's Word
always brings blessing.
It is a well-known fact
that our founding fathers in the USA were, for the most part, godly men
who used the Bible's principles to construct our Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence. Any unbiased historian knows that the Bible
has had a much greater influence in the shaping of the foundation of
this nation than is being currently taught in our schools We could lose
some of these influences and blessings, if we fail to acknowledge God and
bring Him back in the national life of our country, just as Judah fell in
the Old Testament.
Isaiah 3:8-12:
8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and
their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they
declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for
they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they
shall eat the fruit of their doings.
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his
hands shall be given him.
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over
them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy
the way of thy paths.
We see in these verses
that sin, and especially the sin of Sodomy, brought the nation under a
curse. They reaped what had been sown. God rewarded the wicked with the
fruit of their sin, while rewarding the righteous with protection and
blessing. We notice in verse 12 that it was unrighteous
leaders who were causing the people to err from the old paths of
righteousness. Part of the curse on the nation was rebellious
children, and also women who had a Jezebel spirit of usurping authority over
men. A wicked people will eventually end up with wicked or
immature rulers
over them, as that is also a part of the curse that comes on sinful
nations. Those who are wise will be rejected by the immature and the
wicked, because of the pride and arrogance in their own lives.
Isaiah 3:4-5:
4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his
neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the
base against the honourable.
However, we can
off-set this by seeking God and forsaking our sin, so that our nation can be
blessed of the Lord. We should pray and vote for godly men and women to rule
over us.
Psalm 33:12:
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen
for his own inheritance.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving us godly leadership in our nation at all levels. Lord, we
ask You to forgive us for our national sins of pride, adultery, lust,
materialism, addiction, pornography, murder, idolatry and the many other sins
that have grieved Your heart. Forgive me on a personal level for my sins. Lord,
cleanse our hearts and our nation, so that we might be blessed and live godly
lives. May we be a people who live and share the truths of the Bible, so
that Your kingdom will come on this earth. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
