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The Land Transgression???

Hi my friends,
I've taken some time off over the last month from writing, primarily just to take a break - a writing vacation - but the summer is fleeing quickly, and it's time to get back to writing.

At the beginning of May I began reading the Psalms and Proverbs - a chapter of each day.  This of course means I'm in my third reading of Proverbs, and about 2/3 of the way through the Psalms.  I have found this to be one of the more enriching times in scripture I've had in a while.

Today I read from Psalm 90, and Proverbs 28...here's an interesting verse that made me stop and ponder a bit.
Proverbs 28:2 (ESV)
2  When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. 


The "land"???  How does the "land" sin?
Some other translations may or may not help clarify the statement:

 Proverbs 28:2 (NIV)
2  When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order. 


Proverbs 28:2 (NRSV)
2  When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order.

Proverbs 28:2 (NLT)
2  When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. 


Proverbs 28:2 (NCV)
2  When a country is lawless, it has one ruler after another; but when it is led by a man with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong.  


Confusing?  A Bit...yes.  "a land", "a country", "a nation"???  The Hebrew word is erets which is overwhelmingly translated "land" or "earth".  It is also translated "ground", "soil" and "country".

The other confusing thing is "transgression", "rebellious", "rebel", "moral rot"!!

It causes me to stop and muse a bit.  The land itself cannot sin.  There can be weather and climate problems, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, etc...  Yet the context suggests that what can happen is from the people who are in leadership.  Rulers, government, are the real issue.
It leads to a simple observation - when a nation's leaders ignore, willfully or passively so, God's word, it places itself on a path of destruction.

People will always blame God for calamities, problems, division, and violence.  Yet perhaps the need is for our leaders... the President, Congress, Supreme Court Justices, Govenors, Legislators...all those who are meant to be leaders in our nation, to examine whether or not they care about God's word... Just musing.

Peace



Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi Elliot, i find the 'many rules' bit of the verse interesting. It is as if we citizens need lots of rules when we lose our ability to make sound judgment for ourselves. It made me ponder the debate in the UK about legislation v freedom that seems to rattle around.
August 8, 2013 at 3:13 AM
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