The Political State of the Union Prov. 28: 2 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
The Book of Proverbs gives you some really good information on what is going on in the U.S.A. As a congressman in Washington, D.C., said, “The incentives in Washington are for good men to do bad. The incentives need to be changed so that even bad men will be encouraged to do good.” I understand this statement, but I don’t see how the incentives are ever going to change. It is hard to go back once you’ve crossed the line. Look at the political state of some of the things in the Union from Solomon’s perspective.
Immorality – the moral decay in our country is largely responsible for the decline of our country. Prov 14:34 – righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Prov 16:12 It is abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. When we kicked God and the Bible out, we destroyed the foundation. Prov 13:13 – Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. Alexis de Tocqueville said, “America is great because America is good. If America ever ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.” There is a moral divide in this country that is irreconcilable. Prov 29:27 – An unjust man is abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together except they be agreed? Mk 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. The divide is not so much along party lines as it is along moral lines.
Economic inequality – economic inequality will never change no matter how much the rich are taxed and how many distribution policies are adopted. Prov 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor… There are nearly 250 millionaires in Congress. And they are not going to give up their wealth or their power. They talk against the richest 1%, but they are among them. They hang with their cronies. Birds of a feather flock together. Prov 19:4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor. Prov 19:6 Many will intreat the favor of the prince: and everyone is a friend to him that giveth gifts. The Lord doesn’t value their wealth. The Lord values the fear of the Lord and uprightness above wealth. Prov 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Prov 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
National debt – Prov 22:7 the borrower is the servant of the lender. The lenders are the banks, the Federal Reserve and foreign countries like China and Japan. The Fed prints the money to buy the Treasury’s bonds. And we just keep getting further and further into debt. Our national debt now exceeds our GDP. You follow the money and you will see why the rich just keep getting richer!
Unemployment – unemployment that is created by dependence on welfare has stifled the incentive to work. Prov 13:11 – wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. Prov 16:26 He that laboreth laboreth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him; Prov 14:23 In all labor there is profit; but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Prov 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep: and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Prov 21:25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor. An old black friend of mine said that when the money runs out, they will die in air-conditioned homes watching color television because they won’t know how to feed themselves.
Crime – we have a situation now that when law enforcement forcibly enforces the law against a criminal, it is called brutality and injustice. Yet, again and again, through the legal judicial process, under the scrutiny of the Department of Justice, law enforcement is exonerated. And, yet, there is public outcry. As we give in to public pressure and forsake our judicial process, we will see a surge in crime. Prov 17:15 – He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. Prov 18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. Prov 28:4 – They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Prov 29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth…
Conclusion: as long as these situations persist, America will continue to decline into more immorality, more economic inequality and unemployment, more debt, and more crime. The men and women who could address these problems, morally and politically, won’t for a couple of reasons:
Opinion Polls – opinion polls are powerful tools. You can’t get elected without enough people to vote for you. Prov 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince. So, public opinion ensnares political representatives. They are afraid. And the media know how to use these polls to influence decisions. Prov 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare…. Most politicians fear men; not the Lord. Thus if a righteous, moral, Biblical stand is unpopular, they won’t stand there. They won’t do what’s right in the eyes of the Lord if what’s right is not popular in the polls.
Political contributions – and special interest groups. Politicians are careful about public opinion and they are careful to answer to their contributors. It takes a lot of money to win an election [over $8,000,000 for a senatorial seat]. Prov 17:23 – A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. They must answer to the money. Prov 15:27 … he that hateth gifts shall live. Consequently, if a legislative remedy is not supported by the money or the polls, then you aren’t going to see the legislation that can fix these problems. Unfortunately, we have many politicians [Prov 28:2], but few, if any, statesmen.