12 It is an abomination to kings
to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous
lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. 14 The
wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. 15 In
the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of
the latter rain. 16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to
get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 17 The highway of the
upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 18 Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better
it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with
the proud. 20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso
trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. 21 The wise in heart shall be called
prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22 Understanding
is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is
folly. 23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to
his lips. (Prov 16:12-23)
It is a rule both material and spiritual that the one holding greater authority
also owes a greater debt of responsibility. The leader of soldiers must also be
exemplary soldiers ready and able to lead the way into the field of battle. A
good leader will never require more of his followers than the leader is able
and willing to do. God has blessed us with wonderful resources and facilities
of the mind and soul. The greater the degree of blessing, the more
investment that is required of those blessings for the good of our fellows. “.
. . unto whomsoever much is given, of
him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they
will ask the more. (Luke 12:48) There is a popular teaching
about these days that we owe unquestioning allegiance to governments since
governments are the administrators of God for good works. But suppose the
government is not an agency of good, but of evil. Is a Christian bound to
follow the dictates of an unGodly law? Of course, he is not! The authority for
all legitimate law descends from God. He gives life and liberty to all who
believe. Any impingement on life and liberty by government, or anyone else, is
a violation of God’s immutable law. In the hierarchy of laws, God’s Law stands
supreme above every other law of man. A nation, bearing rule under the
legitimate laws of God, will be a blessed nation. Blessed is the nation
whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own
inheritance. (Psalms 33:12) Of course, the reverse is true of a nation
whose God is NOT the Lord – cursed are they.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the
throne is established by righteousness. If it is true (and it is) that
thrones of authority are established in righteousness by God (righteous
intent), then any violation of that righteous rule is abomination to God. I
wonder if any may believe that our American government today is very righteous,
or if they have impugned the righteousness of Godly rule and demeanor? God
blessed this nation above every nation of the earth for security, for plenty,
for morality, and for liberty. What has happened? Have we not gone after mammon
in calling ‘good, evil’ and ‘evil, good?’ Have we not demolished the sanctity
of marriage and reduced it to the most vulgar and depraved institution
befitting only the cities of the plain – Sodom and Gomorrah? Have we not
offered our babies in sacrifice to Moloch? Woe be to that nation who has known
the God of blessings, and turned away!
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him
that speaketh right. But suppose the lips of even the king
are not righteous? Is this not also abomination? Look at the favorite verses to
be quoted by those who claim that we must obey the government always – right or
wrong: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there
is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a
terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid
of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do
that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is
the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore
ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
(Romans 13:1-5)
Is any so naïve as to believe that our government today
promotes only that which is GOOD? Do we believe that our government will not
transgress any of God’s Laws? Have we been in a deep coma - if prayer is good,
how does an ordained government interpret its powers to forbid the prayers of
children at morning and before meals at school; or to permit the slaughter of
millions of innocent babies in their mother’s womb; or the labeling of the
filthy sin of sodomy as honorable marriage? God is King of Kings and I can tell
you with certainty that He is not pleased with the unrighteous lips of our
present-day kings and citizens whose vocabulary have become a wealth of filth
and vulgarity.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man
will pacify it. Certainly, we do not seek to provoke unnecessarily
the Caesar in his palace, but who is Caesar in America? Is it not “we the
people?” Have we become so effeminate and meek as to labor at the table
of government to forge the chains of our own enslavement? The anger of the
American citizenry is the equivalent “wrath of a king” in America. When shall
the American stand up in righteous indignation at the gossamer ruse that is
being perpetrated against him? God has given us a very specific counsel: Thus
saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where
is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. (Jer
6:16a), but how have we responded to that counsel? But they said, We will
not walk therein. (Jer 6:16b)
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour
is as a cloud of the latter rain. This is no reference to the
Throne at Buckingham, or the Office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but to the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There be many that say, Who will shew us
any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
(Psalms 4:6) There is only One whose countenance is the Light – the Lord Jesus Christ!
He is the Light of the World! His loving kindness is compared to the latter
rain – that is the rain that comes just before harvest to mature the crop. Do
we not seriously need the latter rain of God’s Holy Ghost today in America and
around the world?
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get
understanding rather to be chosen than silver! In that day when the
“elements melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10b), what will your
treasures of gold and silver be worth? What will your Wall Street portfolio
profit a man in that day? Is not wisdom, like love, eternal and untarnishable? Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:19-21)
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that
keepeth his way preserveth his soul. Though the Narrow Way that
leads up to the Gate of Heaven is not wide, do not worry that space is not
available on it for the great majority of people choose the Broad Way that
leads DOWN to destruction “and many there be thereon.” So, since
few choose the Narrow Way, there is certainly room for you, my friend. In
the early times of Europe, if a man was travelling on the king’s highway
between the hours of sunrise and sunset, was robbed, he could recover all damages
from the government of the country; but if he travelled in any other path or at
any other time, it was at his own hazard and peril. So with God’s Highway,
prepared for the redeemed to travel. If we walk on God’s Highway, we shall have
God’s protection. But woe to us if we choose any other route, or any other way,
to walk than He has directed for us. Just think: a great many of those on the
Broad Way are professed, but not genuine, Christians. They are deceived into
believing that the ways of the world are just another expression of
Christianity.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a
fall. How well I know this rule from my own personal experience.
The proud, following the God of ME, have unmerited confidence in their own
folly. Pride is the God of ME-ONLY, and a haughty spirit is of man’s own
manufacture. It is better to share the Godly company of a family of the shanty
than the mansions of the wicked. Perhaps the words of Thomas Gray (Elegy)
describes it best:
Let
not Ambition mock their useful Toil,
Their
homely Joys, and Destiny obscure;
Nor
Grandeur hear with a disdainful Smile,
The
short and simple Annals of the Poor.
The
Boast of Heraldry, the Pomp of Pow'r,
And
all that Beauty, all that Wealth e'er gave,
Awaits
alike th' inevitable Hour.
The
Paths of Glory lead but to the Grave.
Forgive,
ye proud, th' involuntary Fault,
If
Memory to these no Trophies raise,
Where
thro' the long-drawn Isle and fretted Vault
The
pealing Anthem swells the Note of Praise.
Can
storied Urn or animated Bust
Back
to its Mansion call the fleeting Breath?
Can
Honour's Voice provoke the silent Dust,
Or
Flatt'ry sooth the dull cold Ear of Death!
Perhaps
in this neglected Spot is laid
Some
Heart once pregnant with celestial Fire,
Hands
that the rod of Empire might have sway'd,
Or
wak'd to Extacy the living Lyre.
But
Knowledge to their Eyes her ample Page
Rich
with the Spoils of Time did ne'er unroll;
Chill
Penury repress'd their noble Rage,
And
froze the genial Current of the Soul.
Full
many a Gem of purest Ray serene
The
dark unfathom'd Caves of Ocean bear:
Full
many a Flower is born to blush unseen,
And
waste its Sweetness on the desart Air.
Some
Village-Hampden, that with dauntless Breast
The
little Tyrant of his Fields withstood;
Some
mute inglorious Milton here may rest,
Some
Cromwell guiltless of his Country's Blood.
Th'
Applause of list'ning Senates to command,
The
Threats of Pain and Ruin to despise,
To
scatter Plenty o'er a smiling Land,
And
read their Hist'ry in a Nation's Eyes,
I recommend that, if you haven’t done so, you find the entire poem and read.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to
divide the spoil with the proud. Better to share Godly company in a
shanty than dwell with the wicked in their mansions. Whatever nature of company
you share at the point of death is probably the same company you will enjoy in
eternity – choose well.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso
trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. Wisdom often requires patience
and forebearance, but such patience will pay ten times more than a hasty
disposition. Trusting in the Lord, regardless the outward circumstances,
edifies the heart where happiness is born.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness
of the lips increaseth learning. “Those who, in the
confidence of superior capacities or attainments, neglect the common maxims of
life, should be reminded that nothing will supply the want of prudence; but
that negligence and irregularity, long continued, will make knowledge useless,
wit ridiculous, and genius contemptible.” Ben Johnson. The
ability to speak and teach with eloquence does, indeed, improve the
comprehension of the listener.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
but the instruction of fools is folly. Though all others around
reject the understanding of a wise man or woman, that understanding will yet be
a fountain of living waters to the owner. It is my fixed opinion that true
understanding is not even sought by 90% of professed Christians and an even
larger present of those who do not claim Christianity.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning
to his lips. What a wonderful truth this is! O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak
good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Matt 12:34) Of course, heart of the fool also teaches HIS mouth so that no
thing of any worth is spoken from that foolish heart. But the words of a wise
man are always profitable for learning – and quite rare today.
