By Quin Hillyer at PJ Media;

Among the options for this week’s readings is a passage from the Wisdom of Solomon that should be a watchword in these days when people seem to seek in their leaders an image of power rather than of wisdom and justice.

The chronicler writes to God that His “strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all.” And: “Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose. Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind….”

Wouldn’t it be nice to be governed “with great forbearance,” instead of with the bombast of a strongman, or the officiousness of a niggling bureaucrat, or the overweening vanity of a self-important legislator, or the brute force of an over-armed S.W.A.T team?

Even apart from formal government, in our schools and businesses and various organizations, we all run into petty tyrants and preening popinjays, eager to make everybody within even the smallest realm of authority aware that they are the top dog within that realm.

Of course there’s something to be said for a firm and steady hand on the tiller (please forgive my run of clichés); yet we must remember that it is possible to be firm and steady, and energetic and creative and inspirational, without being overbearing.

If even the Lord uses His authority not with a heavy hand but with “mildness,” then why should those in petty earthly authority “lord it over” other people who are under their sway?

Our God is a God of righteousness leavened by kindness, of strength so powerful that it need not be exercised — because the example of forbearance is morally more powerful than the exercise of brutish power….

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