“What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” – Stephen Covey

Welcome to my fourth and final post about leaders. In my first post, “Who Will You Choose? The Righteous? Or the Scoundrel?” I presented what the Bible says is the role of a leader. A leader serves, is an overseer, and holds promise. Next I described the qualities of a Godly leader, in “Who Will You Choose? The Righteous.” A Godly leader is humble, just, selfless, and lives according to the golden rule – treat others as you want to be treated. Then, “Who Will You Choose? The Scoundrel,” detailed God’s warning signs of corrupt evil leaders. A leader that is corrupt, oppresses the poor, abuses their authority, and is untrustworthy. Today’s post discusses God’s judgement of leaders and will explain what our role is concerning our leaders and those in authority over us.

In the book of Isaiah God gives several warnings to His people. See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows… Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness. But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed, and those who desert the Lord will be consumed (Isaiah 1:21-23, 27-28 NLT). Childish leaders oppress my people,…O my people your leaders mislead you; they send you down the wrong road…The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgement on the elders and rulers of His people: “You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor. How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust” (Isaiah 3:1-3, 8-9, 11-12, 14-15 NLT). In a single day the Lord will destroy both the head and the tail, the noble palm branch and the lowly reed. The leaders of Israel are the head, and the lying prophets are the tail. For the leaders have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction. (Isaiah 9:14-16 NLT). What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. They deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and take advantage of orphans… What sorrow awaits Assyria, the rod of my anger. I am sending Assyria against a godless nation, against a people with whom I am angry. Assyria will plunder them, trampling them like dirt beneath its feet. But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is my tool; his mind does not work that way. His plan is to simply destroy, to cut down nation after nation… After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish His purposes on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, He will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him – for he is proud and arrogant (Isaiah 10:1-2, 5-12 NLT).

The book of Jeremiah also warns of God’s judgement. And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor (by unrighteousness in the Hebrew). He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor. He says ‘I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red. But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king. Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why the Lord blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the Lord. “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty. You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly”… I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied, ‘Don’t bother me’  You have been that way since childhood – you simply will not obey me. And now the wind will blow away your allies. All your friends will be taken away as captives. Surely then you will see your wickedness and be ashamed. It may be nice to live in a beautiful palace paneled with wood from cedars of Lebanon, but soon you will groan with pangs of anguish – anguish like that of a woman in labor (Jeremiah 22:13-17, 21-23 NLT). “What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people – the shepherds of my sheep – for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,” says the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds: “Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgement on you for the evil you have done to them (Jeremiah 23:1-2 NLT).

Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side – leaders whose decrees permit injustice? They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them (Psalm 94: 21,23 NLT). I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel. You are supposed to know right from wrong, but you are the ones who hates good and loves evil… Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble. Do you really expect Him to answer? After all the evil you have done, He won’t even look at you!” This is what the Lord says: “You false prophets are leading my people astray. You promise peace for those who give you food, but you declare war on those who refuse to feed you. Now the night will close around you… Listen to me, you leaders of Israel. You hate justice and twist all that is right. You are building Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption. You rulers make decisions based on bribes; you priests teach God’s law only for a price; you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord. ‘No harm can come to us,’ you say, ‘for the Lord is here among us.’ Because of you Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins. A thicket will grow on the heights where the Temple now stands (Micah 3:1-2, 4-12 NLT).

Each of the posts in this series has posed the question “Who will you follow?” As I have said throughout this series, if each of us listed good leaders, bad leaders, and evil leaders none of them would be exactly the same. Our lists would be based on our own interests, experience, preferences and viewpoints. No matter who comes to mind when you think about good, bad, and evil leaders, there are three things we all must do. Honestly, the first two are difficult if you do not support the one in authority, and the third can be driven by our own agendas and not God’s word. So here are our roles when it comes to those in authority over us:

1. Honor those in authority. Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said (Ecclesiastes 10:20 NLT).
   • Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone (Titus 3:1-2 NLT).
   • Everyone must submit to governing authority. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God (Romans 13:1 NLT)
2. Pray for the leaders. Remember your leaders who taught the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith… Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God (Hebrews 13:7,17 NLT).
   • I urge you, first to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT).
3. Vote for godly, righteous people. Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders (Deuteronomy 1:13 NLT).
   • Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, gave him this advice,“But select from all people capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace” (Exodus 18:21-23)
   • But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings and discontent. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend time teaching the word of God. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word (Acts 6:1-4)

A lot of scripture has been quoted in this series, but this is only a small excerpt of God’s Word. Entire chapters throughout the Bible illustrate the destruction of leaders and people who live outside of God’s instruction and the benefits of those living out His word. So, let’s review what we’ve learned. Josiah, had plenty to eat and drink. He was just and right in all his dealings. That is why the Lord blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. We now know that the role of a leader is to be an overseer, hold promise, and serve others. One of our roles is to pray for leaders who are humble, treat people justly, and are selfless. Pray that God will give our leaders understanding and wisdom. When selecting leaders, we are to be watchful and aware of red flags, such as those who take bribes and demand payoffs. We are to select leaders who are capable, honest, and well-respected, not childish leaders who oppress the poor. Do not choose leaders who abuse their authority. Avoid voting for the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. Those that deprive the poor of justice and deny the rights of the needy. God will judge leaders who prey on widows and take advantage of orphans. Corrupt leaders are proud and arrogant, build injustice through unrighteousness. They have eyes only for greed and dishonesty. They murder the innocent, and reign ruthlessly.

Remember, what you do has a far greater impact than what you say. God is warning us in the scriptures above that our leaders are misleading us; they are sending us down the wrong road. They have led us down the path of destruction. They promise peace for those who give them something in exchange, but declare war on those who refuse. Today’s spiritual leaders are supposed to know right from wrong, yet they are leading God’s people astray. They teach God’s law only for a price; prophets won’t prophesy unless they are paid. Isn’t that why Jesus cleared the temple? Are your church leaders building on a foundation of murder and corruption? The building might be beautiful and state of the art, but a beautiful palace does not make a great king.

So, I’ll ask one more time. Who will you choose? The Righteous? Ones who are capable and honest, who fear God and hate bribes? Someone that is well-respected, known for their wisdom and understanding, and are full of the Spirit? Will you choose a leader that is always available to listen to people’s concerns and work to find a solution.

Or will you choose the Scoundrel? Whose decrees permit injustice? The one who gangs up against the righteous and condemns the innocent to death? Those who destroy the very people they are expected to care for? Who deserted them and drove them to destruction? Are you going to choose someone who hates good and loves evil? Who hates justice and twists all that is right? Rulers who make decisions based on bribes?

Bottom line: be aware, honor, pray, choose.

Until another day,

AC