If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked. Proverbs 29:12

This proverb reminds us that when we are in a position of authority - often what we want to hear is what we are going to hear.  That is why it is so important for rulers, both religious and secular, learn to shun falsehood, lies, and deception in the counsel that they receive.  For, as this proverb says if they listen to this kind of thing - all that they will hear in the future is this type of counsel.  The end of such a swing in the opinion brought to this leader will be that all his subordinates will become wicked.

To "pay attention" to falsehood here means to listen with an intent to obey or heed the advice given.  It has the idea that as the falsehood is offered, rather than reject it, the ruler listens closely and does so with a desire to obey.  This means that the ruler's heart has a predisposition to what is false rather than what is true.  The Word of God says that a godly ruler winnows the wicked from his presence - and makes sure that falsehood will not be spoken to him as advice.

The worst aspect of this ruler's choice to pay attention to falsehood is the affect it has on his ministers.  They will become wicked.  Such a ruler tends to not appreciate men who will tell him the truth.  To be such a man means that you will speak the truth - even if the ruler to whom you speak it becomes angry and doesn't want to hear it.  Such was Daniel - before he was thrown into the lion's den.  Such were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego before they were cast into the firey furnace.  The king only retracted his actions and his words after he had witnessed God's miraculous deliverance of these men.  Only in the case of David do we see a man who is willing to hear the truth - even if it meant a humbling of himself in repentance for his sin. 

We need to pray daily that our leaders will be men who value truth rather than falsehood.  Included in this prayer is that they will heed biblical truth when it is directly related to legislation that is pending.  Such is the case when it comes specifically to both the abortion issue as well as laws concerning sexuality, decency, and morality.  Too often over the last 30+ years our elected officials, including our president, have not even considered the Bible when making such decisions.  Outside of President Reagan, most of the pro-abortion Republicans have been paper tigers who spoke boldly but carried no stick whatsoever.  We've watch laws concerning public decency become nothing more than the latest retreat from biblical morality.  It has been disheartening to see issues of heterosexual morality, marriage, and now homosexuality made while completely ignoring the counsel of Scripture.  In fact I would have to say that currently one would find themselves shouted down and called the most horrible names to even assert strongly a biblical stance on these issues.  It is almost as if these issues are non-issues any longer.  They are definitely not the front-burner issues that they should be.  We think the greatest issue is the economy - and yet God WILL NOT bless our economy as long as we continue to abort 4000 babies a day and condone as an acceptable sexual lifestyle what He calls an abomination.  We need a president and a Congress who once again listen to and value the truth.  Until we do - not only will they be making wrong decision after wrong decision, but they will also be surrounded by more and more aids who are wicked - because their bosses listen to falsehood.

It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, For a throne is established on righteousness. Proverbs 16:12

God's Word has a great deal to say about the role and actions of those who are kings, presidents, and prime ministers of nations.  Whereas the current crowd who don't know the constitution or the words of our founders would say that there is a wall of separation between church and state - our constitution speaks of no such wall.  But even if it did - the ultimate document by which we know and walk with God is not the United States Consitution - but the Word of God, the Bible.  And when the Bible speaks on an issue - it is right.  So let us take a few moments to see what the Scriptures have to say to us about the role of kings and presidents - and whether character (both private and public) matters.

We read here that it is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts.  That should pretty much seal the issue for us on the character of those who lead us.  The Clinton administration, in the midst of its worst moral crises, told us that it did not matter what the president did in his private life - it only mattered what he did as president.  The sad thing is that the post-modern mindset had already set in - and too many aped that same phrase and excused acts that should have been rebuked in the highest office of our nation.  The truth is that it is an abomination when a leader commits acts of wickedness.  The idea here is that of an individual act that is contrary to the justice and righteousness of God and His Word.  Anything outside of what He says - is wrong - and wicked. 

We are not our own moral free agents.  God calls all of us to a standard in His Word - and that standard is not lowered for those in politics.  If anything, it is raised because those who lead us are more in the spotlight of the nation.  When they commit wickedness - eventually the nation knows.  And when someone of the stature of President Clinton is committing adultery against His wife - it is a horrific thing.  His example will be followed by many others.  He may have parsed his words carefully trying to make light of his actions - but the truth was that he was with an intern in sexual situations.  This was an act that in any other context (such as a school or a lesser official) would have resulted in an immediate termination of their position.  Instead, he side-stepped the real issue - and decided to muddy the waters by stating that, "everyone does it."  Everyone does it - because they are following the example of their leaders.  When they make light of adultery - pretty much everyone will as well.  Now, before you think this is just an article blasting President Clinton and Democrats, know that the Republicans have been guilty of their own wickedness and sinful choices.  Too often we try to excuse them as well - and the result is that the entire nation is given to act in ways similar to those who lead us. 

These wicked acts have horrific consequences - and not just for the family of the man involved.  We read here that a throne is established on righteousness.  A throne is weakened when its moral authority is weakened.  If a man cannot be trusted on lesser issues - how can he be trusted on the major ones?  Thus we learn that sin and wickedness cost us not just in family matters - not just on economic ones - but they weaken the very foundation upon which our republic rests.  Our forefathers told us in their very own written documents that our nation is based on the 10 commandments.  Washington told us that you cannot separate good political leadership from godly, moral principles.  Without godliness and a desire to be obedient to God, the very foundations of our nation will begin to crumble.  It is any wonder then that in recent years we've watched as moral crisis after moral crisis has moved into how our government deals with finances.  That has undermined the foundations of our economic structures - and we've had crises with companies - with the banking industry - with the housing industry - with loans - and now we are teetering on the brink of financial destruction as a nation. 

How did we get here?  It began as we decided that we no longer needed our politicians to be godly men who followed a very decided moral code and way of living.  As we fell asleep and were not shocked that those who were leading us completely lacked honesty and integrity - these very sins began eating away at the very foundation pillars of our republic.  The only way back is to see such things restored.  We need men of God to return to the kind of leadership in our homes, in our churches, and eventually in our government.  It is only then that we will once again be horrified at the abomination of leaders who commit wickedness - and return to a way of doing politics that laughs to scorn those who would dare to lead without strong moral principles upon which they walk daily and make their decisions.  Then we are find that once again our nation will have strong foundations - one's established on righteousness!  May God bring those days sooner rather than later to the United States of America!

He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish. Proverbs 22:8

The other day something truly amazing happened.  I had planted a batch of tomato seeds, and after a couple of months I went out and harvested a whole bucket full of orages from the vines that grew there.  Now if you are someone who is even the least bit familiar with agriculture, you know that this last statement was false.  If I planted tomato seeds into the ground - the only thing I will harvest from them is tomatos.  There is an unbending principle at work here - whatever you sow is what you will reap.  That principle is what is at the core of what is taught in today's proverb.

Here we have a man who is sowing iniquity.  The word used here is a pretty tough word.  It means unrighteousness, injustice, or wrong.  This doesn't sound too bad until you begin to look a little deeper into the word and its usage.  It is used to describe violent injustice and outright wickedness.  Keil and Delitasch state that this word means, "unsympthizing tyranny, cruel misconduct toward a neighbor."  It describes the actions of one who wants the person who feels his wrong to feel the fury of his anger.  The second half of this proverb makes that clear.  The iniquity that he is sowing is manifest in the "rod of his fury," which is felt by those unfortunate enough to be his victims.  These kind of actions are usually those of a despotic king - or a person who is misusing their authority. 

When one sows like this - they are going to reap vanity.  The word for vanity here is the Hebrew word "aven" which means emptiness or nothingness.  It can also mean sorrow, trouble, evil, or mischief.  The idea here is that this despotic individual thinks he is going to reap the power of his authority - when in reality he is going to reap nothingness.  The thought behind this nothingness is that of utter destruction.  We've watched as this has happened right before our eyes.  Saddam Hussein thought he was building an empire - but what he received in the end was a rude awaking in a hole - and the end of a hangman's noose.  The Word of God warns in Galatians 6:7 that God will not be mocked - whatever a man sows he shall also reap.  If he sows to the flesh, as he is here, he will from the flesh reap corruption.  No one can outrun the hand of God and the principles upon which the Lord has founded this world. 

The wicked man thinks that the rod of his fury will make others bow down and obey him.  He rules only with fear - and trusts that fear alone will bring him the results that he desires.  But the proverb tells us that this man - after all his furious tiraids - will perish.  All his fury will do for him is ensure that his place in history is set as a terrible ruler or leader.  His memory will not be blessed - men will curse it and use it as a byword.  They will remember him not as a wise man - but as a fool.  There lies the man who thought he could rule the world through wickedness and through fear.  No one fears him now - and what awaits him is the utter vanity for which he worked.  Having spent his life living for himself and for his own arrogant pursuits - he will die facing the fury of the One before Whom he will stand and give an account for his actions.  Having rejected His love and His offer of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, unfortunately for him, the fury of God will never cease.

Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings. Proverbs 31:3

Here is a wise mother's advice to her son - and it is all the more poignent because we know it is the advice of Bathsheba to her son Solomon. 

What is Bathsheba's advice?  She tells her son not to give his strength to women.  What does it mean to give one's strength to a woman - or in this case to women?  The word strength here means to have strength and influence.  It has the idea of someone who has a great deal of influence over you - over what you do - and over how you expend your strength. 

Bathsheba knew from her own sin that it was devastating when a king gives undue influence to women in his life.  David chose to give himself and his strength to pursue immorality with Bathsheba.  He chose then to give himself to a cover-up of that sin.  In the end, David gave himself over to a laundry list of sins including lust, adultery, lying, deception, murder, hypocrisy - and many more just because he decided to give women his strength and influence in what he did.  This led to disaster in his kingdom, in his family, and in the history of his life.  God's grace overcame all this as David repented and turned back to the Lord.  But oh, what a dark chapter of his life was written when he gave undue heed to women.

Now, before anyone thinks this is women-bashing, I want to make certain in what situations one is and is not to heed the influence of a woman.  In the case of godly mothers and wives - HEED THEM AND LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY!  God makes it clear that the influence of a godly mother is vital to a young man.  When God gives him a godly wife - it is a good thing the Lord has done.  Many a man has been greatly blessed by the influence of a godly wife and mother.  But that is not what Bathsheba is saying here.  And before anyone thinks this is a rant from a male chauvenist pig - remember - Solomon's MOM is the one giving this advice to him!

The kind of women Bathsheba warns against are the ones who lead a man into sin - or at least greatly encourage it.  She says to stay away from the "ways" that destroy kings.  What a loaded statement this is!  Think of all the men who were destroyed by their involvement with immoral women!  By the way - the kings chose to be immoral as well - because it takes two to become involved in consentual sexual relations.  If we need any examples of this, they abound in our world today.  In 2010, the governor of South Carolina was destroyed by his involvement with a South American mistress.  Tiger Woods reputation and fame will forever be marred by his involvement with prostitutes.  These situations destroy men - and the higher the man - the greater the potential for disaster. 

Oh, how we need to hear these words from Bathsheba - words of warning most likely tinged with shades of her own regret.  Too bad Solomon did not listen to his mother.  His latter years were spent in the midst of this ruin - as he sought many wives and many concubines.  Solomon probably thought he had it made sexually with somewhere around 1000 different women catering to his every whim and desire.  The problem is that he didn't have it made - he made a mess.  His immorality and unwise actions didn't just betray his mother - they betrayed all of Israel and more than anyone else - the Lord his God.  Because he did not heed the words of his wise mother - Israel was divided and eventually fell.  At the core of this fall was a disregard of God's warnings against sexual immorality.  Interesting isn't it - we can either be blessed by adhereing to godly wisdom - or we can crash on the rocks of those very warnings.  So tell me - which direction are you headed?