Does any passage from the Bible well describe the times in which we live? I think Isaiah 3:1-12 does. Isaiah 3:4-5 summarize the passage.
Isaiah 3:4-5 Good News Translation (GNT)
4 The Lord will let the people be governed by immature boys. 5 Everyone will take advantage of everyone else. Young people will not respect their elders, and worthless people will not respect their superiors.
Think about the people who lead us. Are they serious about serving the people or serving their own self interest?
Consider we the people. Is everyone taking advantage of everyone else? Are not our leaders just like everyone else?
Anyone can pick an example their own, but here is something that is currently getting lots of coverage in the corporate news media. That’s the hacking into Sony’s computer systems. The hackers want to stop the showing of The Interview, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. USA Today has the timeline here.
The BBC has the current details. After President Obama criticized Sony for not releasing the film, Sony responded.
Responding to the US president’s comments, Sony Pictures chief executive and chairman Michael Lynton said the studio had not made an error in cancelling the release.
The US president said Sony made a mistake in not releasing its film “We have not given in, we have persevered,” he told CNN.
A Sony statement said the decision had been based on “the majority of the nation’s theatre owners choosing not to screen the film”.
“Without theatres, we could not release it in the theatres on Christmas Day. We had no choice,” the statement added.
“It is still our hope that anyone who wants to see this movie will get the opportunity to do so.” (from here)
So how does this episode indicate the immaturity of our leadership?
- Sony Corp. has responded with the courage expected from children. Did Sony change its mind about releasing the film in response to terrorist threats? Did it change its mind again in response to public pressure? Or is this large media organization simply unable to properly express itself in a press release?
- As Lessons from the Sony hack (www.washingtontimes.com) attack by John Lenczowski indicates, the attack on Sony is part of a pattern. What may surprise some about the Sony attack is the sheer brazenness of it. Yet this problem was predicable. The more involved our government gets in providing social goods and services, the less our leaders care about the job they are suppose to be doing, ensuring the security of our people in their God-given rights. Hence, our Internet systems tend to be far less secure than they could be.
- Because our leaders lack firm resolve, they may actually be encouraging North Korea’s crazy behavior. Check out Here’s the real reason North Korea hacked Sony. It has nothing to do with The Interview (www.vox.com).
On the other hand, the content of The Interview indicates something about us. As We Saw ‘The Interview’ Weeks Ago, And It’s Clear Why North Korea Hates It (www.businessinsider.com) indicates, at best The Interview is a movie for giddy, immature boys. Of course, now the movie is supposedly required viewing: Why North Korea’s Sony hack made ‘The Interview’ required viewing (www.engadget.com). If this kind of stupid stuff is all it takes to get us to watch a bad movie, we can’t blame Dear Leader Kim Jong Un.
Citizen Tom 
I, personally, read the ESV, which states the following:
“And I [the Lord God] will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable” (Isa. 3:4-5 ESV).
Though the verses appear to be relevant today, context is important, that is, God was speaking about His judgment on Judah and Jerusalem for their rebellion against Him. Nonetheless, a lesson can be learned from this matter, namely, people lacking experience in government lead to degeneration and irresponsibility. I think we all would concur this issue is increasing. After all, what experience does Obama have other than. . .well. . .I cannot think of any real world experience. Ha!
I agree that when we try to apply Bible prophecy to our own time we have to be careful. So why am I doing it? I have several reasons.
1. The Founders often attributed their good fortune to divine providence.
2. The passage before Isaiah 3:1-12 provides a context for it. That context suggests that bad behavior — arrogance and inadequate respect for the commandments of God — increases the possibility to that God will forsake those he once favored. Check out Isaiah 2:6-22.
3. Hence what Isaiah 3:1-12 suggests to me is somewhat different that what you said (perhaps inadvertently). Societal degeneration, the overt choice to behave selfishly, leads to the selection of inexperienced leaders. Because we (as a people) no longer revere the Bible and its teachings, more and more of us exhibit degenerate behavior. We don’t try to choose the best leaders. Instead, whether it is right or wrong, we choose leaders who promise to give us what we want. Therefore, God does not give us the wisdom to choose good leaders. He just allows us to choose what we want. So it is that we now get too many leaders who behave no better than spoiled brats.
Remember the difference between King Saul and King David. King Saul was the choice of the people of Israel. Out of kindness, God chose King David to replace King Saul.
Hear, hear!
I like that translation! It expresses our reality quite well!
Agreed!
In my opinion, all the parties in this fiasco are immature, as in the meaning of lacking the knowledge to discern between the wisdom and folly of their actions.
Regards and good will blogging.