Proverbs 28 Politics

Proverbs twenty-eight has good advice for politicians.

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” [1]

The Lord’s love makes us bold. Without His love, we will shun opportunities to do what is right.

“Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes; but by a man of understanding and knowledge right will be prolonged.” [2]

“We the people” need God and His Word to avoid excessive bureaucracy. God gives “we the people” understanding and knowledge of what is right in the Bible.

“Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.” [3]

“We the people” are either praising the lawless or contending with them. May the Lord galvanize “we the people” into a movement of people guided by the light from above.

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand all.” [4]

The Lord helps those who walk with Him to understand what is truly just.

“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” [5]

This speaks of quality not quantity. The Holy Spirit gives inner joy to integrous people. A perverse person indulges in sinful pleasures which do not provide blessings of the Holy Spirit such as genuine love, joy, and peace.

“Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.” [6]

Sometimes those who indulge in gluttonous behavior scoff at those who refuse to compromise with sin. The Lord says that keepers of the law are the ones with good discernment. The self-indulgent lifestyle yields shame for the glutton, as well as for those connected to him or her.

“Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he himself will fall into his own pit; but the blameless will inherit good.” [7]

If anyone wants to go astray from upright ways, there is no lack of willing assistants, but the result is to fall into a horrible pit. The pit of hell is a horrific place. It is inescapable. The Bible urges us to aim for a blameless life. The blameless not only avoid the pit, but they also inherit goodness from the Lord.

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” [8]

Herein is the key to good polity. Do not cover up or deny sin. Confess it to God and ask Him to transform you through faith in the mercy and grace of His Son, Jesus Christ

[1] Proverbs 28:1
[2] Proverbs 28:2
[3] Proverbs 28:4
[4] Proverbs 28:5
[5] Proverbs 28:6
[6] Proverbs 28:7
[7] Proverbs 28:10
[8] Proverbs 28:13