15 As
a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he
that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days. 17 A man that doeth
violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his
ways shall fall at once. 19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of
bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to
be rich shall not be innocent. 21 To have respect of persons is not good:
for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. 22 He that hasteth to
be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that
flattereth with the tongue. 24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and
saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his
trust in the LORD shall be made fat. 26 He that trusteth in his own heart
is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. 27 He that
giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have
many a curse. 28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they
perish, the righteous increase. (Proverbs
28:15-28)
Verse 15 opens with the description of a wicked ruler that is uncanny in its
application to those things we see happening in the United States and Canada
today. 15 "As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so
is a wicked ruler over the poor people." A wicked ruler is an
agent of Satan and is his prince: "Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour" (1 Peter 5:8) I am baffled that the baptistic and secular
society are in agreement that we must obey such wicked rulers. Such wickedness
in government is not ordained by God for our good. They have corrupted the
purpose of government rather than enacted God's will for a just rule. The ranging
bear informs us that wicked men in government will be looking for every
shred of evidence to entrap us just as a ranging bear covers hill and dale to
find its prey. Today we see the eavesdropping on our personal emails and phone
records as being an impingement upon our Constitutional rights. If the
Constitutional issue is raised as a deterrent, we are laughed off the public
forum as some kind of nut or radical who simply "do not get it!"
We have rulers today who view the US Constitution with contempt. They are fully
aware of what the protections that the Constitution provide, but they despise
to acknowledge them. To know a thing and disregard its meaning is to want
understanding. 16 "The prince that wanteth understanding is
also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days."
Surely you are astute enough to recognize such rulers in high places of the US
government today who boast of being a Constitutional professor yet who disdain
and deny the terms that Constitution insures? Can you not see the foundation
being laid for increased oppression day by day. The chains of our bondage are
being stealthily forged in the backrooms and halls of the Federal government
even as I write these words. I thirst for that old and ancient wisdom that informed
our Founding Fathers at the outset of this once-great nation: “The
Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it
is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to
dominate our lives and interests.” ― Patrick Henry
How long shall we while away until a ruler to comes to rule over us who hates
the covetous inclinations of labor unions, teacher's unions, so-called tax
exempt socio-political advocates who press always for more of the tax payers
dollars (all the while casting them under the oppression of unyielding debt)?
Where are courageous heroes who once stood in the pulpits of America at her
early founding and denounced King George and his oppressive taxation - who
advocated for the full measure of freedom and liberty with which each of us are
'endowed by our Creator? Instead of men of steel courageously preaching the
Gospel of Liberty, we see today the naive and cringing cowards of modern
religion attempting to ingratiate themselves to money and government.
WAKE UP AMERICA - THE ENEMY IS NOT AT THE GATE, BUT INSIDE IT! What,
pray tell, has happened to the righteous indignation that forged the papers of
liberty some 237 years ago? When did our men become wimps, and our ladies so
indiscriminatingly wanton? (You know who you are!)
17 "A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person
shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him." The proper role
of government ordained by God is to insure the execution of justice. When
justice is promptly and fairly administered (unlike the laborious process of
modern America) the people are at peace. Blood guilt should be satisfied by the
hand of the executioner. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall
his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. " (Gen
9:6) Have you considered the great loss of treasure in the death of a single
human being created after the image of God? Wanton murder cannot be temporally
forgiven without a like sacrifice of guilty blood. This is especially true of a
child whose image is yet unmarred by sin and whose resemblance to its Maker is
fresh and more genuine than that of an unregenerate sinner. But every life is
priceless. With the death of any person, a wealth of childhood memories, loves,
and experiences are lost forever.
18 "Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is
perverse in his ways shall fall at once." Those who are
conscientious in their following of Christ shall always stand justified before
the Lord; but it may often happen that even a righteous man shall fall due to a
lack of courage or faith. When we are double-minded, or deal deceitfully behind
the back of others, we may be sure of being found out. "He that
walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be
known." (Prov 10:9) We need not look at the likes of King Saul or
Absalom for example - the saints themselves make a more profound reference.
Please remember poor Peter as he stood without the court and denied Christ the
third time. "And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked
upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto
him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me
thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62)
Peter not only wept that night, but for the next three days until Christ arose
and the angels, wittingly, told the women: ". . . go your way, tell
his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there
shall ye see him, as he said unto you." (Mark 16:7) The Holy Ghost
was aware of Peter's misery and, therefore, specifically mentioned Peter. But
those who willfully walk in perverse ways shall be taken in their own
seductions.
19 "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but
he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough."
America's youth are infatuated with, primarily, vain persons. Such infatuation
robs them of the labors they should employ to prepare for the future in both
academics and religious obligations. If our heroes are profane and vulgar
singers, athletes who are on drugs, movie stars who cannot remember the name of
their last spouse - what are we made of? When we travel the Broad Way on which
the wicked entertainers travel, shall we not arrive in due course at the same
destination? The tattooed criminal has become the paragon of emulation to many
of our youth. To what end? Those whom we look upon to follow will become
the patterns from which we are cut. What has happened to quench that kindly
spirit of young and heroic men and women such as William Whiting Borden, Class
')9, Yale University. After hearing the Gospel preached at a Yale function, he
dedicated his life, surrendered the inheritance of his family fortune (the
Borden's were very wealthy) and, against the desires of family and friends, he
undertook to go on mission to India. Leaving all behind, this young man with a
thousand promises of worldly success, left all and embarked by sea to India. On
the way, the ship sojourned near an Egyptian port. Borden contracted cerebral
meningitis and died far from home - his apparent mission not completed, but his
true mission as certain as the dawn. Who could see the heavenly host gathered
about the dying bed of this fine young Christian who had, from the days of his
youth, dedicated and consecrated his life to Christ. Who sensed the words
spoken at the last: "Then Jesus beholding him loved him . .
. . " (Mark 10:21) Do we longer have such young men at Yale, at Harvard,
at Amherst, at University of Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, or UCLA? Where did
they go? They must have gone someplace for God has not moved an inch.
20 "A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that
maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent." All who place
riches ahead of his duty to God (or even on an even scale) is not worthy of the
company of God. The blessings of the faithful are hidden to the eye of greed
and envy, but abound to wealth and mansions unseen by the wicked. The radiant
rays of the Sun provide life and light to the earth, but when a physical object
such as the moon comes between, the light will be eclipsed. The same is true of
those who allow desires of the world to come between them and God - their
hearts shall be darkened in the prime of life. Money itself is not evil, but
the "love of money is the root of all
evil."
21 "To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece
of bread that man will transgress." Do you have a complete
trust in any person: your spouse, your Senator, or your Pastor? You would be
wrong to do so. Why is this so? Because you cannot even trust your own heart.
You must surrender that heart fully to Christ and allow Him to determine its
course and heading. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer 17:9) Since you cannot
know your own heart, turn it over to the One who can know and who made it. The
one you trust most among humanity will certainly betray you for a piece of
bread when gnawing hunger grips him.
22 "He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and
considereth not that poverty shall come upon him." In Persia
(Iran) the people were very gracious in their expressions. To compliment
another on the beauty of an artwork in their home was met by a response: "No,
it is not beautiful - it is your eye that is beautiful to see beauty."
An evil eye sees only evil everywhere and praises it. The get-rich-quick
philosophy, and even modern-day religionist, is wicked at its roots - remember,
"The love of money is the root of all evil." But, sooner than
later, the nature of evil in the eye comes home to roost in the heart of its
owner, and poverty of soul and spirit is the result.
23 "He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour
than he that flattereth with the tongue." A true friend will
tell you the truth even if it wounds the heart grievously. The truth may not be
well received at the moment of its delivery, but time reveals all things and
the friend that was wounded by your truthfulness shall return to laud and honor
you for doing it. If we speak lies and flatteries that lead to ruin, what will
our friends opinion of us be later?
24 "Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no
transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer." To rob a
parent is double robbery for it robs the love of our youth and it robs us as
well for we are the issue of our parents. The arch-destroyer is Satan. Do you
wish to have such a companion in your sins? "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that
curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever
shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he
shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your
tradition. " (Matt
15:4-6)
25 "He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he
that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat." A proud
person, either of station in life, academics, or wealth, looks constantly for
ways to prove his superiority to others much like the Pharisee and the publican.
But those who trust in the Lord look for ways to extol His virtues and
goodness. A nation that places its "Trust in God" does not go about
seeking other nation's quarrels in which to meddle.
26 "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso
walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Here we find a
re-affirmation of a principle articulated in verse 21. If you trust in your own
heart, you are trusting in the heart of a genuine FOOL. We are neither to trust
princes (Ps 118:8) or any man (including self) (Act 29:5) else we are staking
our destiny on the 'arm of flesh' and not the "Everlasting Arms" of
God. To walk wisely is to walk in the steady counsel of God.
27 "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that
hideth his eyes shall have many a curse." There is far greater
wisdom concisely stated in this verse than first meets the eye. My wife's
father was a big landowner who began with a paltry single field of land;
however, every harvest season, he gave ten percent of his increase in crops to
the poor and hungry of Korea. He was forced to manage his resources wisely in
order to spare that donation. In time, he amassed a fortune in giving ten
percent of all that he made. But those who act as though they do not see the
poor (how could they not for they are all around us), they shall bear the curse
of those whom they have neglected. They may enter the tomb in flowing robes of
silk, but emerge on the Last Day in tattered rags or even naked.
28 "When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they
perish, the righteous increase." Line upon line,
line upon line; precept upon precept, precept upon precept. "For
precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here a little, and there a little:" (Isaiah 28:10) So does
the Lord teach us His Word and Wisdom by repetition of principles. Yes, when
the enemy is abroad, man has no reason to hide; but when the enemy is the ruler
of the land, he must hide from the excesses of government intrigue and abuses.
We have wicked rulers in America today because we deserve wicked rulers to
represent the morals of those who placed them in power. If America turns from
her wicked ways and back to God, then God will give us rulers fitting of our
righteous cause.
