Proverbs 24:24

Be warned, rulers. You do not have the right to do as you think; you have the duty to do as God thinks. Your ideas of right and wrong are nothing compared to His revealed will.

Political science, or the rules of politics, is taught in Proverbs. Here King Solomon warned civil rulers not to defend or exonerate the wicked. Such travesty of justice will cause the citizens of that nation and other nations as well to despise such a corrupt ruler.

The preceding context is important, “It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment” (Pr 24:23). Those in power must not have respect of persons, which is to alter judgment of right and wrong based on who is involved rather than the merits of the case.

The following context provides a contrast, “But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them” (Pr 24:25). Rulers that condemn the wicked are the delight of citizens and nations, and blessings and favor will accrue to such men.

Absolute right and wrong exists, contrary to what some think. Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” As an educated Roman, he was ignorant of absolute truth, and there is less knowledge of it today. Not only does it exist, but all men will answer for it (Ec 12:13-14).

The general rule is that the more education a man has the less knowledge of truth he will have. A liberal arts education is filled with man’s thinking against God’s revealed will so there is little chance for truth to survive in the minds of those pursuing such a degree.

The violation of this proverb occurs on every side. Can you see it? There is no challenge to know what governments are legislating, adjudicating, and enforcing today, for news media of all sorts generally make it very public as soon as it occurs.

However, God’s word must be studied to know His will. Unless you know the Bible, you will not know right from wrong as defined by God. You will not recognize when justice, truth, or wisdom is corrupted. You will be vulnerable to corrupting them yourself. Learn truth, even if there is some grief with true knowledge, as Solomon admitted (Eccl 1:18).

Each ruler, from parent to president, should remember that God created his office and put him in it, so he owes Him his strictest obedience in each decision. He was at his mother’s breast just a few days ago with no understanding at all, and now he sits on one of the thrones of judgment, so he should humbly and fully submit to what God has written.

Criminals are declared righteous today that are child murderers (abortionists), sodomites (same-sex marriages), extortioners (labor unions), liars (evolution teachers), perverts (transsexuals), deserters (divorced persons), pagans (cremators), fornicators (casual sex), adulterers (having an affair), false teachers (popular pastors), swindlers (televangelists), sluggards (welfare abusers), wasters (spenders), rebels (disobeying parents), narcissists (self-esteem), braggarts (self-confidence), blasphemers (religious jokes), tattlers (gossip).

Before you can expect your government to legislate, adjudicate, or enforce true justice, you must learn to do it yourself. In fact, before you can even pray for a righteous government, you need to be living righteously according to God’s word, for it is only the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that accomplishes anything (James 5:16).

A day of judgment is coming soon when pure justice and absolute truth will be applied to all men. God has appointed the Lord Jesus Christ to be this Judge, and every man, woman, and child will give an account of their lives to Him. There will be no respect of persons, and you will not talk your way out of anything. All sinners will be cast into the lake of fire, except for those that God wrote in the book of life (Rev 20:11-15).