A divine decision is in the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in judgment. Proverbs 16:10

Here is a verse that was greatly misused by kings and rulers throughout the middle or dark ages.  They would slightly misquote this passage and state that they had what is called, "the divine right of kings."  This they then used to rule over people in a way that was totally contrary to what Scripture stated.  Let's look at this issue - but also look at a balanced view of rulers and how God uses them in a nation to accomplish His purposes.

The misquote here was due to how the King James version rendered this verse.  The KJV reads, "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth transgresseth not in judgment."  This was taken as meaning that the king cannot make an error in judgment - and that since a divine decision was in his mouth - he could not make mistakes.  This bad doctrinal view was then used to state that no matter how wicked or ungodly a king was - his was a divine rite from God.  The king was not to be questioned in any decision he made therefore, because it was God's decision when he said it.  One can see how this bad exigesis led to horrific abuses by leaders.  One can also see why so much resentment brewed toward the Roman Catholic Church because they supported this view.  Part of their reasoning behind this was because if the king's decisions were divine, then that gave them the right to say that the church then would have to approve every king - and could depose them if excommunicated.  Oh the power that was enjoyed unscripturally by so many who purported to be God's messenger.  It was not until the reformation that this began to be corrected - and the divine rite of kings was reigned in by the proper understanding of this verse - as well as the whole counsel of the Word of God.

In order to understand this verse, we first need to grasp that Solomon is writing to kings here.  The Word of God clearly states that no authority exists except that which is from God.  Yet, this does not guarantee that all rulers will be godly or Christian.  If that were the case we would have to wonder why God couldn't even get that to happen in Israel and Judah.  God is not interested in an earthly kingdom (Jesus said as much in the gospels) but in saving a people for Himself - and for His coming kingdom in heaven.  Thus the natural flow of sin and rebellion will even affect the social institutions of this world and the governments that rule over the affairs of men. 

When Israel rejected God from being king over them - and cried out for a king, "like all the other nations," God warned them what this would bring.  He warned them of the excesses and the danger of having one "man" over them.  As a man, this king was just as affected by sin as anyone else.  This is why God also instructed the king to write out a copy of the Law by hand - so that he would be reminded to obey the Lord and do according to everything that was written in God's Law.  We read about all this in 1 Samuel 8 and Deuteronomy 17.  The reason this is important for us to understand is that God knew they would ask for a king - and therefore he gave command before it ever happened how the king was to live - what was allowed and what was forbidden.  When you read through Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, you see clearly where the kings veered off God's course and subsequently turned evil.  At this point the king was still in authority - but his actions were clearly outside of God's will.  Thus for someone to quote this proverb and say that a king could never err in judgment or in what he says is patently outside the scope of Scripture. 

What is actually said here is that a divine decision is in the lips of the king and that he SHOULD NOT ERR in judgment.  Solomon knew that great power came with the title of king.  That power had tremendous consequences for individuals - but much more than that - for the future of an entire nation. 

He may have remembered the case of the two harlots who came before him.  They argued over which of their babies had died, and which was alive.  God gave Solomon great wisdom as he commanded that the living baby should be cut in half and a half given to each women.  One agreed, while the other who was the real mother, had compassion on her child and said to give it to the other woman rather than killing it.  Solomon, filled with the wisdom of God, knew that the compassion of the one woman showed that it was her child.  He then gave the command to give it to her - for it was her child.  Everyone was amazed at this decision and knew God's wisdom was in him.  In many ways this strengthened his power and authority among the people.  They knew God was with him - and that he ruled with great caution to make the right decisions.

But Solomon also knew of his sins - how his heart was drawn away by foreign women.  God commanded that His people not do this - because these women would turn them away from God to their false gods.  Solomon ignored this command and did his own thing.  He erred in judgment.  The end of this was the eventual destruction of Israel.  The more they turned from God the greater the judgment fell upon the nation.  Truly as king he should not have erred in judgment.

Every leader on this earth should have this verse etched into his psyche.  We have those today who say that there should be a separation of church and state.  I agree with them if they mean that Congress should not establish a national denomination - or a national church run according to the dictates of the government.  But what they have done is enforce the establishment clause of the first ammendment, but have completely ignored the fact that there is also a protection clause.  They are never to prohibit the free exercise of religion - and our founders meant the Christian religion in particular.  They said that a man was not fit to run for office if he was not a Christian.  Our founders said that this nation was predicated on our ability to obey the 10 commandments.  They knew that if God's Law reigned in our hearts (realizing it needed to rein in our hearts) that a plethora of human laws would not be necessary.  We've rejected such things - and as a result - our leaders have rejected God's ways and Word.  It really should be no great shock to us that the nation has and is declining.  The worst aspect of this is that our president and Congress no longer look to God's Word for leadership.  They think that they know what to do from their own thoughts and ways.  This can lead no where except to disaster in the end. 

Our President and Congress need to recapture what is said in this proverb.  They have great power - and God tells His people to honor the power of their governing officials.  But that power is not absolute.  They are under the same Word of God as we are.  They should not err in judgment as they rule over the people.  When they do, they need to realize that their power is NOT absolute.  God, who said we should obey them, is also the One who said that He raises up kings and overthrows them as well.  In his divine providence He has seen nations rise up - and others destroyed and humbled.  In the end we all will answer to Him.  For some He may not do it as quickly as they want, but the fact remains that He ultimately rules over all the affairs of men.  If only our current rulers would recognize this - our nation would turn around to a place of blessing under their leadership.  But as long as they think they cannot err in their own judgment - we are probably not going anywhere good in our future as a nation.

A man will be praised according to his insight, But one of perverse mind will be despised. Proverbs 12:8

Good godly Biblical-sense beats out common-sense every day.  But what is interesting is that often common-sense, which we too often take for granted, comes from Biblical-sense. 

We read here that a man will be praised according to his insight.  This word "insight" is a great Bible word.  The word means to be intelligent and have good sense.  But this is an intelligence that means more than just a mere book knowledge on a certain subject.  It means an insight and understanding that is the gift of God.  We obtain it as we seek God and seek to know God through the way He has revealed Himself through His Word - the Bible.  This is why I stated at the beginning of today's post that common-sense actually arises out of Biblical-sense. 

Since studying Proverbs in depth I've noticed that the counsel that I offer to others has been radically affected.  Rather than offer my own fallible insights and thoughts - I quote from Proverbs and Scripture as a source of counsel.  By the way, this means it is no longer my counsel - but God's Word.  A second "by the way" is in order too.  A good counsellor is not always one with a degree or a certificate - but one with a good working knowledge of God's Word and how it speaks to every issue of life.  Sorry for the digression, I'll get back to the point.  People want that kind of counsel - and they say to me that I have great insight into their problems and situations.  When this is said, I laugh and let them know that without the Scriptures I'm as dumb as a stump.  Any profit they receive is because of God's grace and the way that "Biblical-sense" has affected my "common-sense." When a man is praised becuase of his insight - it is often due to the fact that He is studying and seeking to apply Scripture to life.  My favorite people are my brothers and sisters who are in their 70's and 80's who have studied and sought to live out God's Word their entire adult lives.  They are a treasure chest of wisdom and instruction, rebuke and correction, counsel and encouragement, knowledge and discernment. 

But there is another person out their offering their opinion and counsel.  It is the one of "perverse mind."  The word "perverse" here means to bend or to twist.  It speaks of those who distort things and make them perverse and crooked.  This one will be despised according to Proverbs.  When we see where their counsel leads us we will hate their advice.  The problem is that too often those of "perverse mind" are exalted in our culture.  They are the ones who make movies and television shows that exalt sexual impurity.  They tell us that a sexually immoral lifestyle is the bomb!  We need to try it out and embrace the sexual revolution.  What they don't tell us in their movie portrayals is the truth about sexually transmitted diseases, the truth about broken relationships and broken marriages.  They speak of the pleasure without the payment - the joy without the judgment.  When we finally learn where their perverse counsel has led us - we despise them for it and feel like we've been burned (because we have!). 

Don't seek out the counsel of the "perverse of mind."  Be careful of the way you allow the culture and the world to color your thinking.  We don't say it often enough in the church today, but the culture in which we live is a perverse and godless one.  When we allow the print media and what is sent out over the airwaves to instruct us (and realize that they usually instruct us through what they call "entertainment") we are being taught by the perverse in mind and heart.  Find those who have insight!  Search out and locate those who have "Biblical-sense."  Their counsel may hurt a little at first (especially if you've spent too much time among the perverse of mind) but in the end you will praise them for their insight and counsel.  Don't be surprised though if they blush and defer all praise to the One Who gave us the revelation of Himself in the Bible.  In the end, He is actually the One Who has all the wisdom and great insight.  But that is because He is God!