Kings and Women
King Lemuel’s righteous mother taught him a vital lesson about leadership. “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings” (Prov. 31:1-3). We can certainly see by today’s news headlines how dangerous it can be for a king or president to give his strength to women. A lack of character in this area destroys kings!
It is interesting that King Lemuel’s mother taught him this lesson. Perhaps a woman can see more clearly how another woman (or women) can destroy a great leader.
There is a deeper lesson here, if we are willing to see it. If we can’t control our sexual lusts, it destroys families, which leads to a deadly problem for the nation.
Many people argue that character in these areas doesn’t really matter. But they have not bothered to seek God’s view. Character is everything—in a president or a people! The life or death of America is at stake concerning this issue!
Even the Chinese leaders understand that a strong nation is built around strong families.
It seems that most Americans are evaluating the White House scandal. So is the whole world. But I have not read one report that deeply understands what it means. And few subjects could be more critical for us to understand.
Newsweek magazine (Aug. 24) reported that more than half of our people didn’t expect our President to tell the truth about the Monica Lewinsky affair. They also don’t think he should be punished for it. Fifty-five percent say they don’t think he has the honesty and integrity they expect in a president. But they still want him to continue in office.
We can see that sexual immorality leads to lying, which leads to breaking more of God’s Commandments. This is how society breaks down.
The people, through votes, ultimately judge the President and our leaders. If our people don’t really care about character sins, then it simply reveals how evil we have become and how dangerously far we are from God’s thinking and way of life.
Many people in other nations are deeply concerned about our rapid moral decline. In the present crisis, those nations dependent upon our protective power are worried. The world needs a powerful America and a strong President. We are the leaders of the free world.
Political commentator Max Soliven, of the Philippine Star, said this of the White House scandal: “This phenomenon, probably, uncovers a far more serious malaise—the decline and approaching meltdown of American society itself.”
All we need do is remove the word “probably” from that quote. There is absolutely a “meltdown of American society”! That is what our people refuse to see.
We don’t know the extent of the White House scandal. Still, the American people don’t truly care, as long as the economy is good. That is because they are so deeply immoral themselves! Other nations can see our sins much better than we can.
But how about God? Is He going to hold us accountable like the Bible says He will?
Sexual immorality reveals a breakdown of the family, the foundation of any healthy and strong society. If we had enough healthy families, the immoral conduct of our leaders would shock us into taking corrective action.
“As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isa. 3:12). This is an end-time prophecy about our people—America and Britain. (Write for our free booklet The U.S. and Britain in Prophecy for proof.) The family is upside down, with women ruling. God says it will “destroy” our society!
“The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people” (v. 13). First, God pleads through the message you are reading now. Then He punishes nationally if we don’t respond. Whether we believe God or not, this is still going to happen!
Generally, we have weak leaders because of family breakdown. God punishes severely for such sins. “For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them” (vv. 1-4). This passage is in the context of upside-down families. God said He would give us “children” to rule over us—men who fail to mature and take on family responsibility.
Boys need a strong father example to become real men, who keep the Commandments of God—according to King David (I Kings 2:1-4).
David committed adultery. God punished him in several ways. The baby conceived from that sinful act died.
David deeply repented of this sin and never committed it again. God and the people of Israel forgave him. He conquered his sexual lust and became a great king.
But his son Solomon lusted for women who turned him away from God. That started the downfall of the nation of Israel.
Nations fall without family character. And if our people don’t care about this issue, the collapse is very near!
