THE PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE

I would like to share with you on Teaching Truth Today some thoughts concerning Proverbs 29:2:  “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

I have been very concerned about the nation of Israel as well as about all the Gentile nations during the last few months. The Bible and the nation of Israel have always been a focal point for Christians.  In Psalm 122:6 we are instructed to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” My son-in-law Bob Peaster is teaching on the Minor Prophets in our church.  I am usually teaching in Spanish while he teaches in English, but Sunday I had the privilege of hearing him give the introduction to the book of Amos.  I know Satan has always been trying to destroy God and His godly people, but he is really out in the open about it in the book of Amos!  It is astounding to note how much the times of Amos were like our present day.

I have continued to read a chapter of Proverbs every day according to the day of the month. Throughout the book of Proverbs, God constantly contrasts the godly and the godless. Proverbs 29:2 is an example of this.  Here is a short teaching on this verse:

  I. WHEN THE GODLY RULE OVER THE PEOPLE – Prov. 29:2a

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice” (29:2a).

I know you know this, but as the Apostle Peter said, I want to bring it to your remembrance.  This message comes from the palace of Israel.  Most of the book has to do with Solomon the king giving his wisdom.  “The righteous” refers to godly people, or we could say the saints of the Old Testament.  “In authority” speaks of the king that is ruling over the nation.  “The people” is a reference to the nation of Israel.  So when Israel had a righteous king ruling over them, the common people rejoiced. 

When the Lord Jesus comes to accept the throne as King David, He will be the Prince of Peace.  When the Redeemer returns there will be rejoicing!  His reign will last for 1,000 years. 

II. WHEN THE GODLESS RULE OVER THE PEOPLE – Prov. 29:2b

“But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (29:2b).

Sadly, the nation of Israel had a lot of bad kings.  It prospered greatly under the leadership of King David and King Solomon.  But later it suffered greatly under the kings that did not follow God.  Some of the kings were very wicked.  So when he says “When the wicked beareth rule,” he is talking about the wicked kings of Israel.  And the people of Israel truly did suffer, or “mourn” as this verse says. 

CONCLUSION:  We know that this verse is talking about Israel in particular, but it could be applied in many ways.  What it says is true for an individual family as well as for a nation, whether it be Jewish or Gentile.  I was encouraged by this verse – in the book of Proverbs, God has outlined for us how to live now as well as then.  

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