Biblical Concept: Right And Wrong in a Nation

Prologue:

"It has ever been my hobby-horse to see rising in America an empire of liberty, and a prospect of two or three hundred millions of freemen, without one noble or one king among them. You say it is impossible. If I should agree with you in this, I would still say, let us try the experiment, and preserve our equality as long as we can. A better system of education for the common people might preserve them long from such artificial inequalities as are prejudicial to society, by confounding the natural distinctions of right and wrong, virtue and vice." -- John Adams (letter to Count Sarsfield, 3 February 1786)

"We lay it down as a fundamental, that laws, to be just, must give a reciprocation of right; that, without this, they are mere arbitrary rules of conduct, founded in force, and not in conscience." -- Thomas Jefferson (Notes on the state of Virginia, 1782)

Proverbs 11:10-11; When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is glad shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

Proverbs 14:34; Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Proverbs 16:12-13; It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established on righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and he who speaks right is loved.

Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

Proverbs 17:26 It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

Proverbs 18:5 To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.

Proverbs 24:24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," Peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;

Proverbs 25:5; Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Proverbs 25:26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Proverbs 28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.

Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.

Ecclesiastes 8:14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility.

Hosea 4:4; Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; for your people are like those who contend with the priest.

Amos 5:10-15; Attacking an objective judicial system. Also see Isaiah 29:21; 59:4 and Psalm 50:16-21.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:23 ²³ Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

1 Timothy 2:1-2; First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Romans 13:3-4; For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Compare 13:6-14.

Hebrews 5:14; But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Jeremiah 4:2; And you will swear, “As the Lord lives,” in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; then the nations will bless themselves in Him, and in Him they will glory.

Amos 5:10-15 ¹⁰ They hate him who reproves in the gate, And they abhor him who speaks with integrity. ¹¹ Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor And exact a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. ¹² For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who distress the righteous and accept bribes, And turn aside the poor in the gate. ¹³ Therefore, at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time. ¹⁴ Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! ¹⁵ Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Psalm 50:16-21 ¹⁶ But to the wicked God says, "What right have you to tell of My statutes, And to take My covenant in your mouth? ¹⁷ "For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. ¹⁸ "When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. ¹⁹ "You let your mouth loose in evil, And your tongue frames deceit. ²⁰ "You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son. ²¹ "These things you have done, and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you, and state the case in order before your eyes.

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