Day 719: Triumph or fear? - Proverbs 28 vs 11 - 16

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.12  When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise people hide themselves.

13-14 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Blessed is the one who fears the  Lord always, but whoever  hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15-16 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. Proverbs 28:7-11 English Standard Version

As I'm sure you will have noticed, many of the proverbs appear to be individual sayings. A verse doesn't always stay on the same subject as the one before or after it. But within a group of verses a common subject often emerges. Did you pick up such a link in today's verses?

I noticed that vs 12, 15, and 16 were all about good or bad rulers. It struck me too that vs 11, 13, and 14 show what it is that will make someone a good or bad leader, whether it's in the home, the office, or the world of politics. What does vs 12 say about the political realm when it comes to good or bad leadership?

How true that is. When Kingdoms or Governments fall into the hands of ungodly people then righteous people tremble. We see that in Communist countries where those who the Government doesn't like have to keep a low profile. I believe we are facing such times in many western democracies too. Most countries in Europe have turned to the wisdom of man rather than the wisdom that comes from God. We see this also in the current leadership of the USA as they push all sorts of gender distortions into law and criminalize those who dare to differ.

So politicians who promote wickedness can indeed be as ferocious as lions and bears. What is that causes them to become cruel oppressors of the people? (vs 15-16)

Greed and a lack of understanding. Whether it's Kings of olden times or modern day politicians, the love of wealth is what causes many of them to become arrogant and unjust. When I arrived in the UK it wasn't long before I heard the locals referring to Parliament as 'the gravy train'. But I suspect it's no different in most countries of the world. The bottom line is that such leaders lack the understanding that comes through the wisdom God gives. Verse 11 puts it well when it says: “A rich man is wise in his own eyes - but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.”

The New Living Translation paraphrases that verse as: “Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.” Riches and positions of power often make people think they have all the answers. Many become arrogant in their imagined wisdom. But people with the understanding that comes from God's word see right through them. What is it, according to vs 13-14, that leads someone to taking God's wisdom on board?

Every now and then we read or hear how someone in a position of power comes crashing down because some 'skeleton in the closet' has come to light. It’s happened to religious leaders too! Sins that were covered up and never repented of are found out by their enemies or the media and a scandal erupts. But if a man or woman chose the fear of God rather than the favour of the world, they wouldn’t have such skeletons. King David tried to cover his scandal, but the prophet Nathan brought him to his senses and he confessed his sins and sought God's mercy. So vs 16 urges us to not harden our hearts against the Lord, then we will be kept from the calamities that bring those who are wise in their own eyes crashing down.