6-13-12. Proverbs 25a. A Ruling Rightly Given

Proverbs 25:1-15
Key Verse: 25:11

Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF                Wednesday, June 13, 2012

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.”

Dear Lord, heavenly Father, thank you for your love and blessing on our lives. Thank you for helping me to spend quality time with three of my kids at the root beer social. I pray that I may be a very relational shepherd and father and friend. Thank you for granting me time to write daily bread. Please help me to grow spiritually through a study of your word. Lord, help us as a family to grow spiritually. Please illuminate my heart through your word today. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

1. A godly leader (1-7).
Verses 1-3 read, “These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. 3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.” God has hidden secrets. There are secrets of the kingdom heaven. A godly person needs time to search for God’s will alone in order hear what God is saying and to lead his people well. Nowadays it does not seem like a priority to seek out the secret things of God. People think that there is nothing to search out and find. They think it not worthwhile to seek out the secret things of God. They would rather have more quality time in front of the computer screen, facebooking, or simply having fun with friends. These things are all ok, but not to the detriment of our spiritual life or our relationship with Jesus and his word. A truly noble and wise leader admits that there are treasures to be had in God. Jesus once told us a parable that the Kingdom of God is like someone who found a treasure in the field and when he found it he sold everything he had and went out and bought that field. So too are the secrets of the kingdom of God. I pray for all my kids to eagerly search out the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

A godly leader must purify their hearts and their associations. Look at verse 4-5, “4 Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; 5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.” If we are to grow in godly leadership we need to purify our hearts. The Bible says that a young man can keep his ways pure by living according to the word of God. Jesus says that we can be sanctified by the word of God. We need to get the dross out of our hearts and then pure metal can be formed within. This comes through repentance and faith and discipleship. Then our hearts can be purified. I need to keep my heart pure so that I can be a shepherd and a house church leader of the flock of God.

We must also purify our associations. This does n not mean drive people away. It means to change our relationship with them. It means to have an identity as a shepherd and a Bible teacher and a Christian friend. This is purifying our associations. We can not change others, but we can change ourselves. Jesus never drove away any who came to him. But he remained holy and pure in his relationships with others. And with God’s help so can we.

A truly great leader is humble. Look at verse 6, “ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; 7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.” We should have humble hearts before God and leaders. We should not exalt ourselves, rather others should recommend us. It is wrong to think you are more than you are. This is called having an elevated sense of grandeur. We need always to keep in mind who we are. We are forgiven sinners. We are children of God and servants of God, by the grace of God alone. We are who we are simply because of Jesus Christ and his grace on our lives. We stand because Jesus makes us stand. When we have this attitude and this humility we can be thankful and we can serve God in any capacity as God sees fit.

2. An apt word (8-15).

Here Solomon emphasizes the importance of a spoken word. Look at verses 8-10, “What you have seen with your eyes 8 do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame? 9 If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence, 10 or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.” Hasty witnesses and betraying another man’s confidence are not acceptable in any case. We need to be careful of our words and the effect that they have on others. We may think it is our right to voice our opinions, but our rights end when we hurt others and when we slander others. A good leader holds their tongue until they have prayed a lot and made the right judgment. Maybe saying nothing is a lot better.

A good leader speaks words of wisdom and justice. Look at verses 11-12, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given. 12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.” We can have wise words and rulings when we have the words of God and the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will teach what to say and how to say it. I have experienced this truth time and time again, especially counseling those who have undergone unimaginable suffering. When we give wide words of God at the proper time, then there is great freedom and release of heart to the listener. I pray to have the right words to give people at the proper time.

A good leader is one who gives the trustworthy message. Look at verse 13, “13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.” We have been given a message to give to the people. It is called the Gospel. We need to be a trustworthy messenger because Jesus has sent us. Our words must be true to the Gospel and not deviate because we want to elevate our own ideas about those of God’s. That is the very definition of pride.

A good leader carries through with what was promised. Look at verse 14, “Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given.” I have done this and regretted it for decades. We must carry through with what we have promised. Then we can be people truth and we can be known for our “follow through”.

A godly leader is patient and gentle. Look at verse 15, “ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” A gentle tongue looks weak, but it can break a bone. I need to learn this. This is where I fall. May God have mercy on me to be patient and gentle in my dealings with others.

Prayer: Lord, remove wickedness from my heart. Let me be a godly leaders and a trustworthy messenger of Jesus Christ.

One Word: Give right rulings