Advice for Those in Authority
Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
The man that is being described here is not much of a king. The concept that is being described here is that if a ruler is not very popular amongst those he rules over, how can he effectively rule?
The second line points us to a prince who has the pathway to become a king but fails to make it there because of a lack of approval.
The advice here is for a ruler to speak and act in a way that wins over the majority of those in your rule.
A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
At first glance we would take the advice of this proverb not to be for the ruler but those who sit under the rule or serve him. However, I think what we can draw for the sake of the ruler is that they should surround themselves with those who respect their office and don’t do anything that might put shame on the position that they serve.
Ahab is an example of this. 1 Kings 16:29-34
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.
A good ruler is going to consider that what laws they are enacting are a reflection of the Lord’s action as God has put him in that place. Rule with justice, wisdom, and right action at all times.
It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.
The man who rules well for quite a while will do so because of a pursuit of righteousness. This is what cements his place and keeps challengers from creeping in. The righteousness is both a reflection of his own conduct as well as the manner in which he rules.
The other side of the coin is that if a person in authority does not rule in righteousness, others will despise him and seek to put him out of his role as leader. The reality is that a ruler must first seek to set an example for how the people ought to live and then to rule in a just manner.
A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.
A wise ruler is going to make a distinction between those who do evil versus those who act in a righteous manner. There should be both recognition of those who are wicked as well as just punishment for those who break the laws of the land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
A wise king will show mercy when it is appropriate and justice when it is time. This is what preserves the man and sustains him while he is in his office. Finding the line between mercy and justice is oftentimes difficult but for a rule must be firmly established.
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
We often describe the things of God as being a mystery (Deuteronomy 29:29) but a ruler ought to judge with as much information as possible, and being transparent about why they have ruled in the direction they went in.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.
Once again, it a good ruler who is just in all ways. However, in this case it is vital that they rule in such a way to give the poor and marginalized in the community a fair shake. These are the weaker members of society and are deserving of equity.
This is the standard that we ought to hold those who sit in various roles in our government.
