What examples today reflect the "error that proceeds from the ruler"? The Verse in Focus “There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error that proceeds from the ruler: Folly is set in many high places, while the rich sit in lowly positions. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.” Grasping the Core Idea • When leadership departs from godly wisdom, foolishness gains official approval. • The resulting upside-down order puts the unqualified in power and pushes the capable to the margins. • Such inversion harms every layer of society, confirming Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan.” Modern Examples That Mirror This Error • Governmental decrees that redefine marriage, family, and gender contrary to Genesis 1:27 and Matthew 19:4-6, then compel citizens to celebrate the change. • Judicial rulings that protect abortion as a right while restricting public expressions of faith, reversing Isaiah 5:20’s moral boundaries—calling evil good and good evil. • Educational policies elevating ideological propaganda above factual learning, sidelining parents (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) and replacing wisdom with fashionable sentiment. • Corporate boardrooms prioritizing profit and cultural approval over ethical responsibility, endorsing agendas hostile to biblical truth (1 Timothy 6:10). • Media platforms amplifying sensational folly, censoring voices that stand for righteousness, and normalizing behavior Scripture calls sin (Ephesians 5:11-12). • Religious leaders seeking cultural favor by denying core doctrines (2 Timothy 4:3-4), thus placing error in the pulpit and truth outside the sanctuary. Consequences Observed Today • Confusion: people struggle to discern right from wrong, echoing Judges 21:25. • Injustice: those who uphold biblical standards face penalties, while wrongdoing is excused or rewarded. • Instability: families, economies, and communities falter because foundations are removed (Psalm 11:3). • Loss of blessing: nations that reject righteousness forfeit God’s favor (Proverbs 14:34). Living in Light of the Passage • Anchor convictions in God’s Word, regardless of shifting cultural decrees (Psalm 119:89). • Pray for those in authority, that wisdom may replace folly (1 Timothy 2:1-2). • Model godly order in home, church, and workplace to offer a contrast to the surrounding confusion (Matthew 5:16). • Speak truth with grace, trusting that Scripture remains the standard even when rulers err (Acts 5:29). Scriptures Reinforcing the Lesson • Isaiah 3:12 – “Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you.” • Proverbs 28:15-16 – “A wicked ruler over a poor people is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.” • Jeremiah 10:21 – “The shepherds have become senseless; they have not sought the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.” • Psalm 2:10-12 – A call for kings and judges to serve the LORD with fear, lest His wrath be kindled. |
    |