Keep Your Head Down

(Pro 28:15 KJV)  As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

Political leaders come in many flavors.  They run the entire scale using any measures you want.  You can measure them on competence, intelligence, morality or food preference.  Almost all of the measures will effect us some ways.  Even food.  Remember how President Bush said unkind things about broccoli?  He made life difficult for many parents and vindicated others.  

The issue here is the “wicked” (7563) “ruler” (4910).  Lay aside your protest that we don’t have rulers and look at the idea of wicked.  Some people in authority are evil.  There is no question about that basic fact.  They may be mildly evil.  They may be constrained in their evil.  The evil is still there.  One of the basic ways for the powerless to deal with evil tyrants is to stay out of their way.  I am not an authority on lions or bears but I think if you hear them roar or see them charging it is a little late to do much.

So?  Unless it is required to take a stand, keep your head down.  We live in difficult times for us but we are still in good shape historically.  How it works out is a theological issue.