Tiny Devotional for Saturday, 07-31-2021

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, let’s drink the coffee before thinking about anything else.

It is not for kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the needy.
Proverbs 31:4-5, NASB



Next month, my plan is to talk about the middle third of this six-verse teaching (4-9), and also to reference Kat Williams. So, be prepared.

This month, though, we have a who, what, and why to deal with, and all three MUST be taken together.

The who: kings and rulers. I think it’s safe to include anyone who can affect and implement public policy, and even some in the private sector. Cops, district attorneys, school superintendents, utilities commissioners, elected officials at all levels; let’s say anyone who has discretionary power over private citizens.

The what: dependence on intoxicating drink, but let's include any mind altering substance. Adolf Hitler, for example, didn’t drink, but from 1941 on, was gorked out of his mind on meth, cocaine, opiates, and hormones. 

The why (this is REALLY the important part): it will make you forget the law, and pervert the rights of the poor.

Proverbs is clear: governments MUST protect the poor. That’s also implicit in the Declaration of Independence, that governments EXIST to secure the rights of the people. 

What about those who are drunk on power? May you never fall into the hands of a power-mad cop or a bureaucrat. It’s NOT pleasant. 

How do elected officials avoid it? I don’t know.  

I think we need to keep an eye on them.

Peace be on your household.

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