Proverbs 28: 2
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers; but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
It seems to me that when the people of a Nation do not know the ways of the Lord, and rebel against His ways, then they wind up with several different shades of political opinion, and those of each pursuasion try to assert authority; leading to "many rulers." This is chaotic.
But when a leader stands out as one with the ability to see through all the shades of opinion to discern the right way to lead the people, his authority will be able to govern with justice and equity, maintaining order.
That is how I understand these verses. This concerns the governance of a Nation, a whole country. But it's the people of that Nation that determines what form of political power will have the authority to rule them.
People who know the Lord and His ways will set up leaders who will govern according to the needs of the people.
But when the people are foolish and only care for themselves and this World's things, then they will allow evil men to ascend into power in the Nation, and govern in a way that takes advantage of the people, using them only to grow the coffers of those in power.
So the individual people do best to live their own personal lives in a right and responsible way, paying attention to not only their own affairs, but also aware of what they can do to promote godly leaders into power, to have authority to rule righteously, to the benefit of all.
O my Father, please be with Your children in every Nation, to strengthen us for the troubles to come, and to do what we can in every realm to encourage the good, and elevate the righteous.
And remind us to pray for those who have the power of authority over us, whether in a local or a national level; to pray for them individually to come to You, Father, and to govern us righteously and justly; so that we will have the freedom to live our lives according to the Love wherewith You have loved us.
And may Your righteousness reign in our hearts and in our halls of power.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
