The king's favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully. Proverbs 14:35

Anyone who has ever worked knows the difference between receiving the favor of your boss versus receiving an angry rebuke or tirade. Today's proverb reminds us that when we serve others - especially a king or person in high authority - it is good to be prudent in how we perform our duties.

The king will show favor to a servant who acts wisely. The word for "wisely" here is the Hebrew word, "sakal" which has as its root meaning to act with prudence. One who acts wisely takes time to consider his actions. He ponders what the consequences are for a word that he speaks or an action that he takes. He wants to understand and have insight into what he does. Any leader loves having such a servant or employee. They are not quick to rush into things and as a result make fewer mistakes. They are good employees because they honestly think of the good of the company - and are prone to being selfless toward others.

The king or boss in a situation will react with angrer though toward someone who acts shamefully. The idea behind this word is to cause shame or disgrace. Leaders know that when someone is not thinking and not pondering their choices - they will inevitably walk into a lot of problems. These particular problems are enough to shame a boss - or disgrace a king. It should not shock us therefore to learn that the king or boss reacts with wrath against this one. They are not only falling down on the job - but they are failing in a way that is bringing shame and disgrace on the business.

The foolish man acts without taking time to think about what is about to do. He has even less knowledge of the potential consequences for what he is doing. He does not want any restraint upon himself. The wise man looks things over and is careful to make a decision consistent with what is best for his authorities. That is why the king shows him such favor.

In a multitude of people is a king's glory, But in the dearth of people is a prince's ruin.   Proverbs 14:28

A king is not a king unless he has a kingdom over which to rule. A kingdom will not exist where the people are not fruitful and multiply. Therefore it is wise for kings to encourage their people to grow in number. Today's proverb handles this situation - but the implications of this proverb are fascinating, especially when applied to what is happening in both the United States and Europe.

The simple meaning of this proverb is obvious - a king needs people to have his kingdom flourish. When there is a multitude of people under his rule - he is blessed, but when there is a declining population within the kingdom - it points to the ruin of his son. The son will have a far smaller kingdom over which to rule - or possibly none at all.

As I stated at the beginning of this post, this has amazing ramifications for both our nation and the nations of Europe. Both places have declining populations when it comes to the original population of the countries. As a result of this both of these regions are trying their best to maintain population growth by immigration. The problem is that as the numbers of immigrants grow, they are having more and more influence in the policies and direction of the nation. Give this direction a few more years - and soon Europe will be different - completely different than their forefathers. The United States is not that far from this development either. Why is this happening to these once great nations?

For a king to continue to rule over his own people, he has to encourge his own people to multiply in their families. If they do not, the indigenous people of the land will begin to dwindle in numbers. The result of this will be that a different group of people will begin to rise up and rule the land. All this happens because the people do not have children. Or, in our case, they only want 2.4 children or less. That is what has happened in our nation. We have become a people who do not believe that having multiple children is a blessing. This all began with people espousing a worldview that did not value children. We became a people so interested in our own comforot and our own pleasure that we decidd that children were no longer a blessing of the Lord. We came to the conclusion that the man whose quiver if full of children is not blessed at all. In fact, we decided children were a burden - an unnecessary burden - and within a couple of generations - an unwanted burden.

According to the humanistic worldview - this was a wonderful development. We were supposedly choking the world to death with our overpopulation - our poluting - and our urban sprawl. So when people bought this unbiblical view, they stopped having childen, or they did what was necessary to reduce the number of children they have. Everything seemed wonderful and the planet would be saved. But over time, the dearth of children began to weigh heavy on our society. Now we face problems as our system is imploding. It is doing so because we no longer have far more families coming up, because we do not like or enjoy the thought of having multiple children. Programs like Social Security require a larger generation of younger people than in the older generation. Even our national character - is shifting from being European and western to being either Mexican or Islamic.

A wise set of leaders would have had a biblical worldview. That worldview remembers that God said to be fruitful and multiply. The whole concept of overpopulation is foreign to God. He promises to supply our needs if we will live for His glory and obey His Word. But since those things have been jettisoned just as we have done with His view of children and family - we are facing the "dearth of a people."

An interesting thing about this passage is that it says that the prince is ruined by this. The king is to rule not just with an eye toward himself - but toward his sons - and his grandsons. That is a fascinating thing to see here. It is fascinating because one of the curses of our current political fabric is that we only see the immediate future as important. Most of our elected officials actually only see the next election cycle as important - therefore they plan only to keep people fat and happy til past the next election. All the while as we are doing this - the princes of our future (our children) are having their future ruined by the selfishness of the current generation.

Wisdom means that rulers think ahead - they think long-term - and honestly, they should think biblically. To do otherwise is to think in a way that God will not bless. This, more than the economy or any other factor, is what will bring about the blessing or the dearth of our society and its people. We should always remember the verse, "Blessed are the people who are so situated. Blessed is the nation who's God is the Lord."

The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces. Proverbs 30:28

What is the exceeding wisdom that the lizard has for us?  We are told of four animals here - all who demonstrate wisdom by their existance and practics.  We come now to the fourth and final animal - the lizard.  What does he have to teach us?

First we read that the lizard is not the most intimidating of animals in the world.  He can be grasped with the hands.  His natural defenses are not very effective.  Thus he is able to be caught and grasped with a human hand.  The lizard is not given a great deal of weapons at his disposal.  The lizard spoken of here is usually the common ones that you seek on the walls in homes.  He has no sharp claws or teeth - and the ones mentioned here have no venomous bite or sting to deliver.  Yet we are told that he is in the palaces of the king.  

The lesson for us is an interesting one.  Though we may feel weak and defenseless, we can still be in high places.  The lizard teaches us though that if we are to be in such places, we will need to be humble and come in such a way as is fitting for our situation.  If the lizard were to come to the king's palace and seek to knock down the door - he would be a fool.  If he decided to battle his way into his presence with his great strength - he would be deluding himself.  If he decided he would come showing his comeliness and beauty - he would be blind to the fact that he is a lizard.  The lizard uses none of these tactics.  Instead he is humble and comes quietly.  He remains on the wall and chooses not to be boisterous and draw attention to himself.  Because this is how he comes - he can be in the presence of the king.

The lizard teaches us that great strength can be had in something as inauspicious as humility.  God says that He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  There is something about a humble man that can disarm even a king.  Therefore if we want to be received and come even to a king's palace - we need to learn humility.  With the humble comes great favor.  Jesus told us that when we come to a banquet we should not seek the place of honor - and take a seat next to our host.  That would be coming in pride and arrogance - stating that we are viewed highly in our own mind.  The warning was that when our host comes, he would see us in such a proud position and completely overlook us.  When he would see someone far more humble taking a seat beneath himself - the host would invite him to sit where we are.  At that point we would be humiliated and have to go to the very last seat in the sight of all those present.  Instead we should adopt the attitude of the lizard.  Jesus said that we should take the lowest place at the table.  Then when our host sees us taking such a humble place, he would request for us a better seat - and we would be honored before all at the banquet.  This is where our Lord told us that God opposes the proud, but honors the humble. 

Exceedingly wise is the lizard, who embraces humility.  Wise indeed he is to come quietly and without fanfare.  Thus he is in king's palaces.  Wise also is the man who in life chooses to humble himself, not just to be exalted, but who truly sees himself humbly.  We are counselled to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and he will exalt you (James 4:10).  So be wise - be like a lizard - humble yourself - and be blessed by the Lord.

The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will appease it. Proverbs 16:14

The knock on the door resembled more like someone trying to break it down.  As he drew near to open, Daniel knew that this was no friendly visit by the sounds coming from the other side of the door.  He could hear the sounds of a chariot - and the all too familiar sound of armor and swords striking each other.  This was a military visit - and it did not sound as if it would be positive.  As he reached for the handle of the door Daniel said to himself, "Calm Daniel, respond with calm and confidence in your Lord."  As the handle moved to open the door a prayer also went up to heaven, "God, please help me respond wisely." 

As the door opened Daniel was astounded by what he met.  It was a military escort - and it had come for him.  Daniel knew things were bad when he saw Arioch, the commander of the king's bodyguard leading the way.  "The king had commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be executed," was the announcement that Arioch made at Daniel's doorway.  "I am sorry Daniel,  but I must put you in chains and escort you to the executioner immediately." 

"Why is this decree so urgent, Arioch?"  Daniel replied.  "Have we done something wrong - for when I last knew - all was well with the king and the wise men."  Arioch then told Daniel of the dream - and the command from the king that the one who interprets the dream must also be able to first tell the king what the dream was.  When the wise men present balked at this - and tried to bide their time - the king became furious and commanded that this be done to all the wise men.

Daniel sent a quick prayer to heaven again, "HELP LORD!"  Then a passage from the writings of Solomon came to mind, the fury of the king is messengers of death, but a wise man will appease it.  "Give me wisdom Lord to appease this request." 

"Arioch," Daniel spoke, "would you first take me to the king that I might request a time when I may come and declare the dream and the interpretation to him?"  From the look on Arioch's face Daniel knew that he was wary of this request.

"Daniel, my friend," the captain said, "He is furious right now - and not in any mood for delays or schemes. He is very disturbed about this dream and wants an interpretation." 

Daniel was amazed at his own boldness and faith as he answered, "Then that is what I shall give to him." 

As Arioch took him to the king Daniel continued to pray for favor and for God's power to appease a very angry king.  He also knew that when he returned to his home, he would have to call Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah to prayer as well that God would grant him the ability to know the king's dream and its interpretation.  "This will be a true test of our faith - and of our trust in Jehovah to protect and keep us here in Babylon," Daniel would say.  "Yet He has been faithful so far to offer us His gracious protection."

The king or whatever the supreme leadership position is called in any state - holds with it a tremendous amount of power and authority.  When that person is furious - it is not a good thing for the ones at whom his anger and rage is directed.  To approach him with respect, honor, and wisdom is absolutely necessary.  Depending on the laws of the region - that anger could mean death.  That is why examples like that of Daniel - where a gracious, submissive, appeal to authority and God's provision is definitely in order.  We can thank God for this godly example, for it gives us hope in what otherwise might be a hopeless situation.  The wise will learn from it - and repeat it as they go into every situation trusting God and relying on the wisdom of His Word to not only guide them - but also go before them to appease anger and wrath - and make a way for grace and peace to prevail.

Luxury is not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes. Proverbs 19:10

There are certain people who do not need to serve as a ruler over a people.  We might think that it is a good thing for the "everyman" to rise to power, but if the "everyman" that does this is a fool - it will end badly. 

The fool who begins to enjoy luxury - will wind up being very difficult to live with in the end.  He will view his luxury as what is due him - rather than a blessing and a priviledge that has been given to him either by others or through hard work and application of himself to a task.  That is why such luxury is not fitting for him.  It isn't right for him to have it - because he does not appreciate it.  It does more harm to him than good in the end because he will begin to think he deserves it - everyone owes him what is necessary to live a life of luxury. 

I'm going to take the risk of offending some at this point in this proverb.  This passage illustrates why a welfare state is harmful to a populace.  I know there are cries made at this statement that we do not provide a life of luxury to those on welfare.  True - their standard of living is not that of kings - but we are fundamentally harming them by not having them work or do something to get it.  In order for us to develop properly in a moral sense, we need to work - we need to DO something.  When we don't, we do not appreciate what is given to us.  Then we begin building a mindset that people owe us something - and that will become toxic in the end.  In time we will think they owe us more and more - and gratefulness for what we do have will be all but extinct in our thinking.  When that way of thinking grows in our minds - we are quickly descending in wisdom and in any kind of spiritual growth. 

Just as luxury is not fitting for a fool - so also is it for a slave to rule over princes.  We in America are not used to the whole idea of nobility.  We fought an entire war to make sure that we did not have a king who could rule over us without the consent of the governed.  But, there is a wisdom to having the wiser in society rule over us.  To have a person rule who does not know wisdom - who does not know the matters of state - who does not understand the necessity for good economic policy - and most of all justice - is to invite serious problems in that land.  It is also a historical reality that when a slave or a commoner comes into power - the problem is too often that they want revenge for the wrongs they suffered - rather than to govern all the people with wisdom and integrity.  I do not support the ascendency of a king in our land - but I do fully support not electing fools to office.  It is wisdom to elect the wise to rule over us.