8–Degeneration of a Nation

The result of the unrepentant sin will be young and inexperienced leadership assuming control and oppressing everybody. The people will not respect them and will not subordinate themselves to this nonsensical leadership. This will result in anarchy and a state of affairs wherein everyone will consider themselves capable of exercising authority, thereby forcing their will on their fellow citizens. This is definitely anarchy. God will send an evil spirit among them too (as Judges 9:23), which would make them, prone to bring harm to each other, and their princes, being children, will take no care to restrain the oppressors or relieve the oppressed, nor will it do any good to appeal to them (because every man to be his own avenger), and therefore they bite and devour one another and will soon be consumed one of another. There will be no leadership control.

When respect for the elderly, experienced and wise is denied, moral anarchy closely follows. The young will fight against, that is, they move to harm the aged. Respect for old age by them is viewed as the old law and the fear of God, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:32). When all authority passes, respect for age also passes. One evidence of the degeneration of a government, country, and people is seen in the manner in which the elderly are treated. What is here pictured is a social war of all against all including those whom God has honored with the blessing of long life. The elderly should be honored with expressions of civility.