Topic: The Tyrant And The Greedy
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that you sanctify my spirit, soul and body as I read your word in Jesus name.
Scripture: Proverbs 28:15-28
Question(s) for Reflection
• Is there any command for me to obey?
The nations of Africa are replete with tyrannical rulers. Some of them came to power to ‘liberate’ their people from tyranny.
At the end of their second term in office, they change the constitution. Twenty, thirty years later, they are still on the ‘throne’ ‘rescuing’ their people while silencing all oppositions. Notice how the poet describes such tyrants in vs.15&16a. ‘The reproach implicit in the comparison (of tyrannical rulers) with wild beast is explicit in v.15.
The tyrant in God’s eye is subhuman’ (Derek Kidner). It is the reason many people go into hiding or run away from the country, leading to massive brain drain (v.28).
Eagerness to get rich (vs.20,22) has pushed many into various types of crime – drug pushing, kidnapping, armed robbery, embezzlement of public and private funds etc. Instead of going in this direction and living with the torment of guilt (v.17), what should we do (v.19)?
Hard work pays and whatever we earn through that route lasts. Building your castle in the air brings only regrets at the end. And, when God blesses the labour of your hand, be generous. Remember the poor (vs.22&27; cf. Proverbs 19:17).
Practice/Word Application
• Meditation: We all are leaders, at work, kitchen, church, etc. Does your leadership show that you are a child of God?
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
• Pray that the church may stand up against every form of tyranny and greed. • Ask the Lord of grace for greater success in the coming week than in the passing week.
Prayer for the week
Pray for the church of God, that the gate of hell will not prevail against her, despite the persecution she is facing. Pray for brethren in the Northern part of the country. Pray for God’s Grace Ministry.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Ephesians 3: 8-13; Psalms 18-19; Acts 13:1-25
Scripture Union Daily Guide 17th July 2021. Scripture Union is an international, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God
