10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [e]err in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales belong to the Lord;
All the [f]weights of the bag are His [g]concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [h]spring rain.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his [i]life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
This seems an odd section, after all, which of us is a king or ruler? However, we need to remember that proverbs was written to Solomon’s sons, giving them guidance for life, but also for ruling properly. So it should come as no surprise that he gives them some tips for what a king’s rule should look like.
Truthfully, if we look around our world, this kind of ruler is pretty hard to find, probably impossible. Why is this standard so difficult for those in power? I think the answer is in the final verse, pride. This is an often quoted verse, which was written especially to Solomon’s descendants, the rulers of Israel. Yet there are two things we can glean from this still, even for all of us unlikely to be king or president.
First, we do have a King who fits this description and this king is our father. His judgments are just, and His throne is established on righteousness. In the light of His face is life, His favor like a cloud with the spring rain.
Second, we are his children, his heirs, and these words were also written for our benefit. For anyone who has a leadership role, small or great, honesty and justice are difficult ideals. Even for us parents dealing with our children, these are lofty ideals, and ones that we can only achieve with the help of our Father.
Unlike Solomon, who could only pass along his writing, our King and Father is still with us. He offers his wisdom (v. 16), and while we ought to watch our way (v. 17), He also watches with us. He is right there, every step, ready to help us when we need it–and He knows exactly when we do. Do not be afraid then, except for a good and healthy fear, but find light and life in his face (and in his words) as He smiles upon you.