Question
When governments fail in this, they disrespect God, His will; human life and they will eventually fall. I was wondering where this could be found in the Bible, it would be helpful with some classes.”
Answer
I did not find that exact quotation in the scriptures. But the scripture does teach:
Prov 11:11 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. (KJV)
Prov 14:34 34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (KJV)
A notable practical example is Sodom and Gomorrah, in Genesis 18-19.
Gen 18:20-21 20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. (KJV)
Gen 19:12-13 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. (KJV)
Gen 19:24-25 24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. (KJV)
Paul spoke about the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah in Romans 1:18-32.
Peter also spoke about the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah:
2 Pet 2:4-10 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (KJV)
In many other passages the scripture teaches us that God does care when governments are wicked. The following passages speak about the wickedness of God’s own nations of Israel and Judah. These passages also speak about other wicked nations:
Jer 18:6-10 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. (KJV)
Dan 4:17 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (KJV)
Daniel speaks of the judgment on the kingdom of Belshazzar because of his wickedness (Dan 5:18-31). This is where Belshazzar saw the fingers of a man’s hand writing on the wall.
Amos 9:8 8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. (KJV)
There are many other scriptures along these lines, but these examples give you the flavor.
Deuteronomy chapter 28 goes into detail about what God will do for His people Israel if they obey His words (Deut. 28:1-14), and then goes into detail about what He will do to them if they rebell against Him (Deut 28:15-68).
By David Baize
