In today’s Proverb, I find many messages, but I’ve focused on those verses that speak to us about wicked people. Better yet, several verses speak of the wickedness evidenced in leaders of nations and their self-important and powerful behaviors that generally mistreat the poor. One verse says that having wicked leaders results in a rebellious country, and “a ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.” Another states: “Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap,” and “when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.” We see evidence today of the effects of evil rulers in the world. The result is chaos, oppression, conflict and destruction. 

Many years ago while my humble Christian grandmother was still alive, I would listen to her speak about the sinfulness of the world and how she couldn’t imagine things could get any worse. Sadly, she would have been heartbroken to see how we’ve progressed since 1994. Gramma would always take time to tell me how everything could be changed for the better, ways to turn our country and our world around but then she would add “but no one would listen to me.” Her plan was God’s plan. Her plan was to be obedient to his commands. Her plan was for all to surrender to a higher power. Her plan was to ask Jesus to come back right away. You know; she was right. If we could only change the hearts of our leaders to be as humble as Gramma, this world would change.

“Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).

David Blythe