March 28

Mar 28 - Today from Proverbs 28 we consider verse 2
"When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order."

Today we are going to stop and consider politics. Even though the word is not found in our modern Bible, the root word is. Our word 'politic' comes directly from the Greek word 'polites' (pol-ee'-tace). This word is found in the modern Bible, but is translated 'citizen'. A citizen belongs to an organized people group that functions under some sort of governing system. Politics is the art or science of government or governing. It is a system ordained of God to maintain order. In the time the proverbs were written, there were no 'democratic republics'. Countries were ruled by kings. Chapters 25 through 31 were specifically directed toward kings and their counselors. Most of them contain some form of instruction for kings and governors on how to serve a people well.
A king could not possibly rule a country on his own. He needed wise and trusted governors to be his expressed extension into the various territories and cities within the kingdom. If the king were unable to keep his royal governors faithful to his rule, the governors would become ambitious and commit the resources of their particular territory to self-serving purposes, or perhaps even to overthrow the king. In such cases, instead of the king extending a sovereign rule, the land would end up with many rulers.
A king usually took one of two courses to avoid this disaster; he could rule as a tyrant and keep his governors and subjects in line with fear, or he could become a wise moral politician. In the first case, the king usually becomes paranoid. If he perceives anything that even appears to be rebellion in his eyes, he has the suspect and all of his associates executed. This wasn't just a reality in ancient kingdoms, it still happens today. Joseph Stalin had millions executed to keep his 'throne' secure. Nicholi Ceaucescu, the dictator of Communist Romania was ruthless in this manner. Saddam Hussein of Iraq was certainly such a person. For these nations, and many more like them, politics was and is a heavy and fearful force. There is no massive love and support for the king, only fear for one's self and their own loved ones. The last chapters of Proverbs continually warn rulers not to take this course of politics. In the end, there will be an accounting to God.
The other choice was to become a moral politician, a man of understanding and knowledge. He seeks to understand the ways of life as they should be through understanding God's order. He seeks to place the best interests of his subjects as his priority. He seeks to be just and to treat every subject with equal dignity and justice. His glory is a result of his ability to rule with compassion and justice.
There is practical application for us. First, we all have areas of leadership (influence). How do we handle that responsibility? By abusing any authority of leadership through demanding or manipulating allegiance? Or by using our authority to serve the needs of those under our influence. We have a choice, and we will ultimately give an accounting to God. Next, we are all under authority in various areas of our lives. Are we 'good citizens', properly submitting to the leadership in those areas? Do we submit our skills and abilities as best we can for the purpose of contributing to the greater whole? Any attempt to usurp proper authority is rebellion. Instead of lending definition to the bigger picture, the bigger picture becomes factioned. This is true in a household where children are in rebellion. This is true in the workplace where disgruntled employees work against productivity. This is true in a church structure where dissatisfied members form power bases. This is true in a nation when territorial governors rise up against the rule of the federal head (even our own nation has endured the costly pain of a civil war).
Our safest course is always to seek out God's order and the principles that govern His order, and then follow them. To do this, we must be dedicated students of His Word.