Pro 16:14-15 | KingComments | STEP | A series of proverbs about kings follows in these verses. What is said of a king and of kings in these verses is perfectly put into practice by the Lord Jesus, both now in His government in hiddenness and soon, when He will reign openly over the world. Kings are the representatives of God on earth ( ). God wants their speech and actions to express His characteristics as a righteous Ruler. This also applies to the speaking and acting of believers in this age, for they are a royal priesthood ( ) and made to be a kingdom ( ). They do not yet have governmental duties, but they do have the dignity of kings and should behave accordingly. The first and foremost duty of one who rules is to make righteous decisions ( ). A king must make righteous judgments in disputes. When there is “a divine decision is in the lips of the king”, it refers to an official judicial verdict by him in his capacity as king. Such a verdict cannot be appealed, nor is it necessary. It is literally an “oracle”, a judgment of God, because he represents God. It does not mean that he is infallible, but it makes it clear what kind of responsible function he has. Similarly, when we serve with our gift of grace, we too are responsible that our speaking should be “as utterances of God” ( ). Also here the word “utterances” is literally “oracles”. The king who is aware of his high position and great responsibility will “not err in judgment” with “his mouth”. This applies perfectly to the Lord Jesus. Err in judgment is a judgment contrary to the truth. In that case, a king acquits the guilty and condemns the innocent. God never does that and neither does the Lord Jesus. A believer who lives in fellowship with God and Christ will never do that either. is between verses that deal with a king and kings. Therefore, this verse applies primarily to them. They must be completely honest, incorruptible. It is not a king who determines what is honest and dishonest, but God. God is the sovereign Ruler of morality, not the king. God is the source of honesty and justice in all human relationships and actions. The proverb is about “a just balance and scales” and about “the weights of the bag”. The law of the LORD states that the means of weighing must be just ( ; ; ; ). God has given man the ability to work with weights and measures. It is due to Him that they are there. Just as He teaches the farmer how to work the land ( ), He also teaches the merchant and everyone who trades. He makes regular buying and selling possible because He has given to man the skill of weighing. This enables him to earn money honestly and thus provide for his livelihood. Because man is sinful, he must be told not to use deviant, that is, false, weights and measures. He must be trustworthy. This applies above all to those who have exemplary functions such as kings, but also parents, elders, teachers. Cunning merchants had light and heavy weights for dishonest transactions. They used light weights when they had to sell something, bringing less goods than what was paid for. In our time, we can think of keeping and double accounting, always showing as evidence the account that provides the most benefit. Reliability in commercial transactions must also be there when it comes to spiritual matters. If there are considerations to be made in a spiritual matter, it must be done fairly. Sympathy or antipathy should not play a role. The matter itself must be looked at, without regard to persons. It is also important to present the truth of God’s Word in a balanced way and not to emphasize certain truths at the expense of other truths. A righteous king not only does justice, but it is also “an abomination” to him “to commit wicked acts” ( ). He abhors adultery and murder committed by others, but also abhors those sins for himself. What is wrong for others is certainly wrong for kings, who are supposed to punish the wrong. If they themselves would commit wicked acts, it would endanger their throne. Righteous government determines the stability of rulers. Therefore, kings abhor committing criminal acts. The government of the Lord Jesus responds perfectly to this ( ). God-fearing kings love righteousness and not hypocritical flattery ( ). Flattery is commonplace in palaces, but is despised by him who rules in the fear of God. People who are honest and forthright are valuable to country leaders. Political leaders know that without such people, the society over which they have authority turns into chaos. Only when the truth rules, government is well done. A king who wants to rule righteously will include trustworthy people in his government. When a king’s fury is kindled, there is a threat of death emanating from it ( ). The manifestations of his fury are messengers of death to him or those over whom his fury is kindled. Those who are the objects of his fury would do well to behave wisely. Only wisdom offers an opportunity to escape death as a result of the king’s fury ( ). God’s fury is ignited against sin. He sends out the warning of the judgment of death through messengers. Those who listen to those messengers and acknowledge that His judgment is justified, and thereby take their proper place before Him, see that there is a wise Man, Who has worked atonement. Christ appeased the fury of God over sin for everyone who believes, by suffering the fury of God’s anger in the place of every one who believes. As a result, everyone who believes and accepts the atonement is also wise. belong together. A king has power over death ( ) and life ( ). is the flip side of . Against the dark fury of a king whose threat is death is the light of His face with the outcome being life. This light shines from God’s face for all who are reconciled to Him through the work of Christ. He who lives in the light lives true life. Light and life belong together ( ). On those who walk in the light of His face rests His favor. It means that they live in fellowship with Him. As a result, a great blessing emanates from Him for them. He is to them “like a cloud with the spring rain”. In Israel, the late rain is the rain that falls just before the harvest. This gives the harvest a final boost of growth to reach full maturity. It is also a picture of the coming of the Lord Jesus for His people ( ) and, in addition, a picture of Him Himself ( ). The greatest blessing of living in the light of God’s face is fellowship with Christ. This works spiritual growth and a looking forward to His coming. In a prophetic sense, it points to the blessing Christ will bring to the earth in His reign on earth. Under His righteous government, the land will know a prosperity it has never known before ( ).

‏ Proverbs 16:14-15

The Characteristics of a King After God’s Heart

A series of proverbs about kings follows in these verses. What is said of a king and of kings in these verses is perfectly put into practice by the Lord Jesus, both now in His government in hiddenness and soon, when He will reign openly over the world. Kings are the representatives of God on earth (Rom 13:1-7). God wants their speech and actions to express His characteristics as a righteous Ruler.

This also applies to the speaking and acting of believers in this age, for they are a royal priesthood (1Pet 2:9) and made to be a kingdom (Rev 1:6). They do not yet have governmental duties, but they do have the dignity of kings and should behave accordingly.

The first and foremost duty of one who rules is to make righteous decisions (Pro 16:10). A king must make righteous judgments in disputes. When there is “a divine decision is in the lips of the king”, it refers to an official judicial verdict by him in his capacity as king. Such a verdict cannot be appealed, nor is it necessary. It is literally an “oracle”, a judgment of God, because he represents God. It does not mean that he is infallible, but it makes it clear what kind of responsible function he has. Similarly, when we serve with our gift of grace, we too are responsible that our speaking should be “as utterances of God” (1Pet 4:11). Also here the word “utterances” is literally “oracles”.

The king who is aware of his high position and great responsibility will “not err in judgment” with “his mouth”. This applies perfectly to the Lord Jesus. Err in judgment is a judgment contrary to the truth. In that case, a king acquits the guilty and condemns the innocent. God never does that and neither does the Lord Jesus. A believer who lives in fellowship with God and Christ will never do that either.

Pro 16:11 is between verses that deal with a king and kings. Therefore, this verse applies primarily to them. They must be completely honest, incorruptible. It is not a king who determines what is honest and dishonest, but God. God is the sovereign Ruler of morality, not the king. God is the source of honesty and justice in all human relationships and actions. The proverb is about “a just balance and scales” and about “the weights of the bag”. The law of the LORD states that the means of weighing must be just (Lev 19:36; Deu 25:13; Amos 8:5; Mic 6:11).

God has given man the ability to work with weights and measures. It is due to Him that they are there. Just as He teaches the farmer how to work the land (Isa 28:23-29), He also teaches the merchant and everyone who trades. He makes regular buying and selling possible because He has given to man the skill of weighing. This enables him to earn money honestly and thus provide for his livelihood.

Because man is sinful, he must be told not to use deviant, that is, false, weights and measures. He must be trustworthy. This applies above all to those who have exemplary functions such as kings, but also parents, elders, teachers.

Cunning merchants had light and heavy weights for dishonest transactions. They used light weights when they had to sell something, bringing less goods than what was paid for. In our time, we can think of keeping and double accounting, always showing as evidence the account that provides the most benefit.

Reliability in commercial transactions must also be there when it comes to spiritual matters. If there are considerations to be made in a spiritual matter, it must be done fairly. Sympathy or antipathy should not play a role. The matter itself must be looked at, without regard to persons. It is also important to present the truth of God’s Word in a balanced way and not to emphasize certain truths at the expense of other truths.

A righteous king not only does justice, but it is also “an abomination” to him “to commit wicked acts” (Pro 16:12). He abhors adultery and murder committed by others, but also abhors those sins for himself. What is wrong for others is certainly wrong for kings, who are supposed to punish the wrong.

If they themselves would commit wicked acts, it would endanger their throne. Righteous government determines the stability of rulers. Therefore, kings abhor committing criminal acts. The government of the Lord Jesus responds perfectly to this (Psa 45:6-7 ; Psa 89:14a).

God-fearing kings love righteousness and not hypocritical flattery (Pro 16:13). Flattery is commonplace in palaces, but is despised by him who rules in the fear of God. People who are honest and forthright are valuable to country leaders. Political leaders know that without such people, the society over which they have authority turns into chaos. Only when the truth rules, government is well done. A king who wants to rule righteously will include trustworthy people in his government.

When a king’s fury is kindled, there is a threat of death emanating from it (Pro 16:14). The manifestations of his fury are messengers of death to him or those over whom his fury is kindled. Those who are the objects of his fury would do well to behave wisely. Only wisdom offers an opportunity to escape death as a result of the king’s fury (Ecc 10:4).

God’s fury is ignited against sin. He sends out the warning of the judgment of death through messengers. Those who listen to those messengers and acknowledge that His judgment is justified, and thereby take their proper place before Him, see that there is a wise Man, Who has worked atonement. Christ appeased the fury of God over sin for everyone who believes, by suffering the fury of God’s anger in the place of every one who believes. As a result, everyone who believes and accepts the atonement is also wise.

Pro 16:14-15 belong together. A king has power over death (Pro 16:14) and life (Pro 16:15). Pro 16:15 is the flip side of Pro 16:14. Against the dark fury of a king whose threat is death is the light of His face with the outcome being life. This light shines from God’s face for all who are reconciled to Him through the work of Christ. He who lives in the light lives true life. Light and life belong together (Jn 1:4).

On those who walk in the light of His face rests His favor. It means that they live in fellowship with Him. As a result, a great blessing emanates from Him for them. He is to them “like a cloud with the spring rain”. In Israel, the late rain is the rain that falls just before the harvest. This gives the harvest a final boost of growth to reach full maturity. It is also a picture of the coming of the Lord Jesus for His people (Hos 6:3) and, in addition, a picture of Him Himself (Psa 72:6). The greatest blessing of living in the light of God’s face is fellowship with Christ. This works spiritual growth and a looking forward to His coming.

In a prophetic sense, it points to the blessing Christ will bring to the earth in His reign on earth. Under His righteous government, the land will know a prosperity it has never known before (Psa 72:15-17).