Comment: The laws of several modern societies are based on the Holy Bible. The concept of human rights – right to life, dignity, freedom of speech, association, religion, disavowal of capital punishment, preference for reforms of criminals than retribution, principles of service, law and order, values of hard work, temperance, sobriety, thrift, abstinence from wasteful consumption and so on – have long been enshrined in the Scriptures and have served humanity well over time.
For a nation to be truly great, the leaders and their subjects must have the fear of God. The qualities of selflessness, fairness, diligence, love for one another, patience, endurance and so on and so forth should be upheld. King David says: “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” – 2 Samuel 23:3.
When Nehemiah became the governor in the land of Judah, his fear of God and compassion for the people made him succeed as the Scripture states, “…But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. – Nehemiah 5:14,15.