29 in 30 for 30

"When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people grown." v. 2

"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." v. 7

"If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever." v. 13

I've never ruled a kingdom. Have you? The closest I've ever gotten was the Kingdom of Hyrule (if you don't get that reference, you're dead to me).

Proverbs 29, as I've quoted above, has a few things regarding the rule of kings. Now, in our context it's hard to equate the meaning of kingdoms since we live in a democracy. The people have the power to vote and all that jazz. This is continued in Proverbs theme of living in Righteousness/Wisdom or Folly/Wickedness. These are proverbs of observation of what we all see in the world on our smart phones or computers or television screens every day: The results of following the path of wickedness/foolishness.

- The ISIS situation
- The revolution in Ukraine
- Broken systems of government, including our own
- Trails left behind from murders, and victims of sexual abuse
Yes, the list continues to grow.

What does this have to do with kingdoms? Well, first, that list of atrocities that happen across the globe? No one in their right mind approves of such things, except for the "...bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright." (v. 10)
Coming from an Evangelical Christian point of view, we as believers mourn these evils just as much as the next person. We should not take delight in any person who suffers or dies, no matter who that person may be. Those are unnatural things.

Ultimately, I believe the Kingdom of Jesus will redeem all things. He will rule with a just and fair hand. When we feel like we're fighting a losing battle against injustice:

"The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD give sight to the eyes of both." v. 13

This should reassure the oppressed that justice will come. This should also serve as a warning to those serving the kingdom of darkness that their time is running out!

In the Kingdom of Jesus, which we as Christians are to represent while on earth, means we seek to better the world around us, because Jesus seeks redemption of all things. We are to love one another, as the music video suggests. But I would go one further on the "Kite String."

This wisdom we've been reading about in Proverbs? It's the string that ties us. The wisdom of God that created the universe and the resurrecting power of the Spirit of God, who resides in us, is the string that ties us.
We are only free in the way God sees fit. He's God. Who are we to argue what freedom really means? He wants us to follow the heart, soul, and mind of Christ because being in unity with God is the very reason we were created!

I look forward to the day we can soar, freely worshiping and fellowshipping with the One who has known be before I was even in my mother's womb.

29 years, 364 days, 14 hours, 53 minutes.... that seems like awhile.


But eternity, freely being a son of God, will be longer... and much better. May the string that holds me never be snapped.