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Job 34:17-18 "Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king 'Worthless one," and to nobles 'Wicked man"?

 

God, of course, is the only one who is truly mighty and righteous; the only one who can give us perfect justice; the only one who can look at kings as worthless, and call out the wickedness of nobles (and of each of us). There is no perfect earthly king, but we have to have leaders, and I think it is good to ask ourselves these questions about them. While none of them are perfect, we can get a good idea of their fitness to govern by asking whether our leaders pursue justice, righteousness, and might for their nations.

 

That last part, "for their nations", is important. No earthly king is meant to be king of the world, that is God's role. Earthly kings are kings of nations, their duty is to their nations and their people, not to every person in the world. The mistakes being made by many of our leaders today seem to stem from an at least professed concern for the good of all people*, rather than the good of just the people they are supposed to be governing. Mass, unfettered immigration is one example of a huge "mistake" that is being made by leaders who wrongfully try to exercise their duties for the whole world, rather than just for their nation.

 

Some might also object to the thought that a king should make his nation mighty. There seems to be an aversion to might these days. But that is indeed the duty of a king. It is virtuous, as long as the might is not used for wicked purposes. It is how a king assures safety of his people and the security of his nation. 

 

Looking at our world, how many leaders of nations are righteous, mighty, and pursuing true justice for their people? Not many, I would say. In fact, most western leaders seem to loath justice and the rightful duties of their positions, including serving and protecting the people of their nations. Rather, they use their positions to consolidate power for themselves, their parties, and their puppet masters at the expense of their people, all while redefining their duties to require exactly what they are doing, silencing anyone who disagrees (see the "hate speech" laws in various European countries, and their effects as an example).

 

This is one of the things that makes me realize God is doing something big right now. He is giving us the leaders we deserve, corrupt, immoral leaders who are creating situations so bad we (who have also become corrupt and overly tolerant of evil) cannot help but look to Him. I think we are supposed to see the wickedness of so many world leaders and yearn instead for the one righteous and just King of the world.

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*I say "at least professed" because I do not believe the leaders who are doing these things are laboring under a benevolent misapplication of their duties. I think they are either trying to consolidate and protect their own power or are tools in the hands of others who are consolidating power and wealth. This is the great evil that has taken hold in the world. It is communism (the red dragon of Revelation, according to Mary), wrapped in the trappings of virtue. It is the devil at work and a great threat to the whole world.