Proverbs and the Framers of the United States Constitution both shared the Wisdom of Proverbs in Chapter 11, Verse 14: “[V]ictory is won through many advisers”. Proverbs repeats this Wisdom in Proverbs Chapter 15, Verse 22, and in Proverbs Chapter 24, Verse 6.

Hence, the Constitution requires a declaration of war by Congress. Article I, Section 8, paragraph 11.

This requirement guarantees that many advisers—the entire Congress itself—must decide the momentous question of going to war.

Furthermore, this requirement guarantees that many advisers—the American people themselves (indirectly by electing Congress)—must decide the momentous question of going to war.

Over the years, this decision by the Congress and the American people has been exercised in additional ways such as resolutions authorizing force by Congress.

Nevertheless, the Wisdom of the Bible and the Constitution must be followed:

The decision to go to war must not be made by the President alone (even though he or she is given the Power of Commander in Chief in Article II, Section 2).

Contrary to this Wisdom of the Bible and the Framers, the decision to begin the War against Iran began without any form of approval by the Congress. Furthermore, it is clear that large numbers of Americans (including many people who have supported Trump in the past) oppose his decision to begin the War with Iran).

Why doesn’t Trump seek the insights of many, diverse perspectives?

A sycophant doesn’t count as the kind of adviser required by Proverbs—a sycophant who automatically agrees with Trump and to whom Trump automatically says, ‘You’re fired!’, if they don’t parrot his talking points.

Such sycophants are not advisers. They are puppets!

Trump loves such puppets because of his arrogance and pride. The Prophet Isaiah warned that such arrogance and pride led to Satan being cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14) and to the downfall of Babylon (Isaiah 14:3-23; accord Revelation 18:1-24).

The Bible warns that pride and a haughty spirit come before destruction and a fall!  (Proverbs 16:18).

Similarly, since pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, the pride and arrogance of Trump, MAGA, and the United States risk the  destruction and downfall of Trump, MAGA, and the United States.

Therefore, Trump, MAGA,and the United States need to reject arrogance and pride, humbling themselves and praying, so that God will heal our land. (my paraphrase of 2 Chronicles 7:14).

Trump, MAGA, and the United States need to humble themselves so that they listen to the Wisdom of the Bible, the Constitution, and many wise advisers, saving themselves from destruction and downfall.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you believe that success— including victory in war—requires many advisers? How? Why?

Do you believe these advisers can be sycophants who automatically agree with the President? Why?

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For related ideas, please read my blogs “Use the Ways of the First Amendment, Not the Ways of the Second Amendment” and “How Do We Build a Civilization That is Good—That Is Very Good?” and my books Visions of America, Visions of the Church, at pages 49-52, 66-101, 191-199; and Lighting the World, at pages 83-87.