Take Heart

There is a Proverb of great wisdom that I think applies today:

"When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan." Proverbs 29:2

Solomon's son, Rehoboam found this out the hard way when he taxed and made the yoke on his people Israel even heavier than this spendthrift father. How did the people react to his lack of compassion? Here is an except from Wikipedia:

"The people, led by Jeroboam feared that Rehoboam would continue to tax them heavily - as had his father Solomon. Jeroboam and the people promised their loyalty in return for lesser burdens. The older men counseled Rehoboam at least to speak to the people in a civil manner (it is not clear whether they counseled him to accept the demands), but the king sought advice from the people he had grown up with; they advised him to show no weakness to the people, and to tax them even more, which Rehoboam did. He proclaimed to the people,

"Whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, so shall I add tenfold thereto. Whereas my father chastised (tortured) you with whips, so shall I chastise you with scorpions. For my littlest finger is thicker than my father's loins; and your backs, which bent like reeds at my father's touch, shall break like straws at my own touch."

Jeroboam and the people angrily rebelled; the ten northern tribes broke away and formed a separate kingdom, Israel, which was also known as Samaria, or Ephraim^. The realm Rehoboam was left with was called Judah, after the Tribe of Judah that formed the largest part of the population."

So Rehoboam was left with half of the Kingdom he once held. We all know that lying, bribes and special favors were also prominent in the government of that time. The widows and orphans were routinely cheated and abused. The Glory of Israel, Yah Almighty sent his prophets to tell them to mend their ways or face exile. They did not listen and so were scattered to the four corners of the globe. Only when King Yeshua returns will righteous government be fully realized over the earth.

Deut. 24:17 warned...."Do not deprive foreigners and orphans of their rights; and do not take a widows garment as security for a loan."

PRAYER: Almighty God, You care for all people but especially the weak and the oppressed. You oh Yah are the champion of all such ones who call on Your name! Give our nation righteous authorities who will govern according to Your will. In Yeshua's faith, Amen.