“For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.” (Proverbs 28:2)
In our form of government, we choose by election who our leaders will be, and the leadership we choose reflects the spiritual condition of our nation. As did Israel, our nation vacillates between conservative and liberal; godliness and godlessness. As idolatry increased, their kings enjoyed brief reigns, but holiness was rewarded with longevity. The northern kingdom lasted for 204 years having had 19 kings averaging just over 10 1/2 years per king. During the same 204 years, the southern kingdom had just 12 kings averaging 17 years per king. During the consecutive reins of Asa and Jehoshaphat (father and son who were relatively good kings of Judah), Israel (the northern kingdom) had more than seven kings in the same period of time. Therefore, because of God’s blessings, Judah as a kingdom lasted 135 years longer than Israel.
In order for Jeroboam to do the things he wanted to do, he did away with the biblical line of priests, and chose wicked men who were idol worshipers to be his priests. “Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.” (2 Chronicles 13:9). As our nation gets farther from God, increasingly wicked men are elected because men want to do what is right in their own eyes. “After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.” (1 Kings 13:33).
Our political swings are becoming more frequent and intense as radical policies require radical responses, and only revival can arrest the slide. If a nation continues to reject God, political instability will increase and the division of our citizens will deepen. A return to God is a return to His blessings. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)
