When the wicked rule
December 7, 2011“Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.” Proverbs 16:12
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne." Psalm 97:2 (NKJV)
There is a reason why the Bible instructs us that justice and righteousness is the foundation of any throne. Throne today represents those who rule, those given dominion in every sphere of the society. These could be barangay captains, mayors, governors, congressmen, senators, presidents, justices, chiefs, and bosses in government, business, media, church, education, technology or in our very own family, the parents. A throne has a dominion or a domain over which it rules. For instance the Supreme Court is the ultimate judge of the land, deciding between what is good and what is bad according to the constitution of the land.
However, just because the Supreme Court is in a position to judge the land and its people, it does not always follow that those who sit in the courts are righteous. Those justices that sit there elect or decide base on consensus. Sometimes they can decide correctly and harshly, at other times they may delay their decisions over a matter which they do not have understanding or consensus. Or sometimes they can also decide quickly over a matter whether for good or for bad. However, no matter how much we say we are objective, we are ultimately influenced by those whom we sympathize with and those who appointed us. Solomon’s observation that bribes can pervert justice is true in every sense (see Proverbs 17:23). People who can be paid ultimately pay the price of their indiscretion by having to fulfil the strings attached to that money or gifts of appointments which they have received.
Only those who want to do what is right, those who seek to do justice and righteousness can truly do their jobs well. The voice of truth does not go against the voice of our conscience whether we are discussing matters of religion or matters of the government. This is why a throne is only established when there is justice and righteousness, both must flow from the throne. There is no true justice when it does not decide or follow what is right. Are we then burdened to obey the court ruling when it does not decide in favour of truth and righteousness?
I believe we the people who compose the government of the Republic of the Philippines have also the means to dissent against the decisions of the courts when it obviously violates what is right, what is true, what is honest, what is fair, what is noble and what is excellent and praiseworthy. We can protest and act vigilantly to do what is right if our courts blatantly disregards our human rights, abuses of the rich, greed of the businesses which don’t pay the right taxes, and when crimes are not punished for what they are. Therefore, only those who do not have common sense will follow naively the decision of the court to allow GMA to actually travel outside the Philippines and escape her electoral fraud charges, including those of the fertilizer scam, and NBN-ZTE deal.
The primary function of justice is to right what is wrong by paying rightly the victim and to apprehend the evil doer. There is no such thing as relativism in the truest sense of justice, this is the reason why people take oats with their hands on the Bible to appear before the court so that only the truth will be known and justice will proceed. When we use extrajudicial means to “carry out” justice to the people whether by using intimidation such as killing them or by setting them free without accountability, we are trampling on the rights of the people to know the truth and to bring the culprit to the halls of justice. Justice without punishment is oppression while punishment without the right of being heard is lawlessness.
In the Bible we are given a scene where two women who both gave birth to a healthy baby asked Solomon for mediation. One of them had accidentally lain over her own baby while she was sleeping and during the stillness of the night, she exchanged her dead baby to her neighbor’s while she was still asleep. This distress brought them before the king. Solomon’s ruling was so filled with wisdom and the spectacular way by which he resolved the matter kept this incidence forever etched among his people. This illustrates to us that every decision of the king or ruler is important either in establishing his rule or in encouraging rebellion in the land.
When the ruler is wise, the people are happy but when the ruler is a despot, the people will rebel. Both of these extremes we have already witnessed in our land…Marcos was a despot, so was Erap who plundered the people, and now we are seeing Arroyo about to be prosecuted as a despot and a cheat. We have also witnessed what a righteous woman former President Corazon Aquino was and now his son Benigno Aquino is walking in the same mantle. There is no perfect president which is why we need to be praying for their welfare because every ruler has a trial, a test, and a goal, to pass and achieve. Their victory will also be our victory and their failure will also be our failure which is why we must pray for them all.
Today we don’t have kings that wear a noble garment or that literally sits in a palace, but those we elect to their offices are no different from the kings in the Bible, they all exercise a measure of rule or authority in their offices. President Aquino and Justice Corona are both kings that we elected but President Aquino is the chief leader of the land. Therefore, if Corona is wise, he should rather submit and support the decisions of Pres. Aquino instead of becoming an obstacle to the plans of the present administration. This is where the importance of praying for those in authority comes to play because when our leaders do well, we will also be happy. A wise leader does not only follow what the majority or the rich likes to do, but he decides to follow what is just and what is right for the people he serves. Position is given for service not for accumulation of riches, show of power or selfish ambition. Those who seek to serve others are also the happiest bunch of people I have seen.
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Posted by Edison Macusi. Posted In : Word for the week
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