Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The wicked flee though no one pursues,
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
A ruler who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.
Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.
Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.
A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

• Proverbs 28:1-7

Proverbs 28:2 ”Unrighteousness in a nation produces political instability with many vying for power, thus the tenure of each leader is shortened. Wisdom promotes social order and long rule.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

The Message

With the wicked fleeing the scene of the crime, they are afraid of capture, but the one who has done nothing wrong has no reason to flee.

Proverbs 28:2 is summed well by Rev. MacArthur.  With elected officials, term limits can shorten a leader’s stay in an office, but the same party maintaining power is sometimes an indication.  These days with party lines being polarized, some parties win the position whether the person is unrighteous or a saint.

An oppressive leader can coerce people to work, but does that accomplish quality work?  A loving and caring boss gets more from those who work for them.

The wicked can lure those that ignore instruction or rebel against it.  There is no loyalty there.  Usually money talks.  But the wise person will heed instruction and resist evil.

People who do evil do not understand what is right.  That gives them no excuse, but they do not see the benefit in being good.  They see the flash of cash from doing wrong, and they accept the running from the law, as Proverb 28:1 states, whether the law is chasing them or not.  Always being on the run is part of the lifestyle, staying one step ahead.  They cannot see the honest labor producing honest gain that leads to peace and safety.  Peace and safety are things they may have never experienced.

Proverbs 28:6 takes the verses in this chapter thus far, to a different place.  It is better to be poor than to be rich, yet perverse.  Perverse could be breaking any of the laws.

Proverbs 28:7 repeats Proverbs 28:4 but is specific.  A father is giving the instructions.  The son is either obeying or not.  The instructions must have something to do with eating, in that the disobedient son becomes a glutton.  The discerning son heeds instructions.

And now let us sing.

The following song is God Help Me.  This is sung by Unspoken.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Help us to value wisdom.  All these seven verses relate to one another.  The wicked are either on a roller coaster that they do not know how to get off or they think they are smart enough to keep it going.  But those who are discerning, obedient, and following Your Law will sleep well at night.  You will provide what they need.  And there is no need to look over your shoulder.  In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.