Proverbs 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honor: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

Leaders Need To Understand God Made Them, And God Is Watching

Though the Bible tells us that:

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

The King, the Politician, the Business Leader or CEO, even the Pastor must realize that the Lord Who installed them is the Lord they must report to. God places leaders in leadership positions. “the powers that be are ordained of God”.

If God has placed you in a leadership position it is wise to always remember that this is a stewardship and not a possession.

Kings and those in authority have forgotten this principle, and have suffered for it. We are told “In the multitude of people is the king’s honor”. The divine purpose of the KING or the leader is to protect the people’s freedom, to insure that the people are held in safety so that they might find their purpose in Christ. The King of Great Britain, George III, allowed overtaxation of British subjects and settlers in the “New World”, that is, the North American colonies. In 1765 the King enacted “The Stamp Act”, which required the colonists to purchase and place a stamp on every sheet of paper, documents, and even playing cards. All thirteen colonies protested so forcefully that the Stamp Act was quickly repealed. The King didn’t learn from that mistake, and in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed – and war declared.

in the want of people is the destruction of the prince

Illustrate: What a King does – or doesn’t do – will reflect on his legacy. The Biden Administration for years failed to protect and serve ALL the citizens of the United States by endorsing open borders, lawlessness, and catering to sexual confusion even in our military. When the King fails to protect the MULTITUDE of people, it is no surprise when the PRINCE (the Vice President) is cast out. All people, even lost people, know when their safety is at risk. God creates nations to allow for the promotion of His Gospel. Paul, in his sermon at Areopagus, preached:

Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV) {God} has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him

Nations are formed, and their boundaries established, not by man but by God. Borders are secured so that its citizens can live in peace and harmony, so that people will be given an opportunity to “seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him”. It’s all about the Gospel.

Anything that detracts from God’s mission of promoting the Gospel of Christ will bring about God’s wrath on that leader & nation.

Preach! The purpose of feeding the homeless is to lead them to Christ and His Gospel. The purpose of all leadership, be it in business, Church, or politics, is to lead people to Christ and His Gospel.

The Bible is filled with stories of Kings who honored God, and saw the growth and blessing of their kingdoms. It is also filled with stories of those Kings who dishonored God saw the loss of their kingdom and authority. Compare, for instance, King Hezekiah and his son King Manasseh. King Hezekiah loved the Lord. The Bible says:

2 Kings 18:5-7 {Hezekiah} trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. 6 For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth

We all go through valleys and ditches. When the Kingdom of Judah was threatened by Assyria, Hezekiah sought God through the Word of God and Prayer. His prayer is found in

2 Kings 19:15-19 (KJV) … O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. 16 Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. 17 Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.

Hezekiah remembered that, though King, he was but a steward of God’s people. Praying, he sought God’s direction. He asked that God save Judah from Assyria, “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only”. This is the Gospel. How did God respond? God fought for Israel. The Bible says that – as the Assyrian Army waited for daybreak to attack and destroy the House of Judah, that God sent a lone angel to do battle. We read:

2 Kings 19:35-37 … it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 37 And it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

God not only killed the Assyrian Army, He killed Sennacherib through his own sons. God honored Hezekiah because the King honored the Lord.

On the other hand we see that Hezekiah’s son Manasseh was an evil King:

2 Kings 21:2-6 … he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

Manasseh forgot that his authority derived from God. His evil provoked God to destroy Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:13-18). Those who will not honor God in their leadership will be demoted by God. As the Bible says:

Daniel 2:21 (NKJV) {God} changes the times and seasons; He REMOVES kings and RAISES UP kings …

One other point we can take away from this text is found in Adam Clarke’s Commentary. He noted the phrase “IN THE MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE”, and wrote:

“ It is the interest of every state to promote marriage by every means that is just and prudent; and to discourage, disgrace, and debase celibacy …”

God gave us marriage for the perpetuation of humanity. One of the first commands God gave Adam and Eve was:

Genesis 1:28 (KJV) … Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over

Human sexuality was not given for recreation, but for procreation. When the birth rate drops below the replacement fertility rate, which is generally considered to be 2.1 children per woman, the population will decline. Our fertility rate is down to 1.787. Why? Because of poor leadership, and tolerance of sexual perversity as opposed to Biblical standards.

Our country is slowly perishing.
Poor leadership is destroying the family,
Promoting sexual perversity and unhealthy lifestyles.
Ungodly leadership is to blame.

Control Your Temper

Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath {ap̄} is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

It is the nature of our God to be “slow to wrath” or to anger. The Prophet said:

Nehemiah 9:17 (NKJV) … You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger {ap̄}, Abundant in kindness

This is a constant theme throughout the Old Testament. King David wrote:

Psalm 103:8 (KJV) The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger {ap̄}, and plenteous in mercy.

The Prophet Joel told Israel:

Joel 2:13 (ESV) rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.

Anger is justified only when all other sources have been used. The anger that God expresses never overcomes His wisdom and justice, but the anger we fall into and allow can make us depart from righteousness and into the flesh. When we are angry, we must always place a leash on it. The Bible says:

Ephesians 4:26-27 (KJV) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

Uncontrolled anger opens the door to the devil in your life. He rides in on hot waves of anger and unforgiveness, leading you away from God. Uncontrolled anger from His children grieves the Holy Spirit Who indwells us (Ephesians 4:30, GRIEVE NOT the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the Day of Redemption).

We who are saved by Grace and indwelt by His Spirit are to follow the pattern Christ has given.

What saith the Scripture?

1 Peter 2:23 (AP) When Jesus was REVILED, He did not REVILE those who reviled Him; When Jesus SUFFERED, He did not threaten those who hurt Him. Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father, the Righteous Judge.

Our Lord Jesus “humbled Himself, and became obedient to God to the point of death, even the death of the Cross” (Philippians 2:8). Rather than be angered, Jesus trusted that God would balance all things in the end. Christians are called to “put off ANGER and WRATH, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language” (Colossians 3:8). These things are inconsistent with the Kingdom of God and its subjects. We are told “as God’s chosen children, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER … as Christ forgave YOU, so YOU MUST DO ALSO. (Colossians 3:12-13).

When the Apostle described the works of the flesh as opposed to the works of the Spirit, he stated:

Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Of the various works of the flesh the various states of uncontrolled wrath or anger are called:

Hatred – echthra = to be an enemy, to hate
Variance – eris = to strive or contend with someone
Wrath – thymos = to be wrathful or indignant, to boil over
Strife – eritheia = to be contentious, back biting

Those who quickly “lose their temper” do foolish things. Anger is generally non-conducive to growth or blessing. Keep anger in check.

Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 14:30 A sound HEART is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

The “SOUND HEART” is a reference, not to the pump in your chest, but to the center of your soul. Our God looks at the “HEART” of man to determine our spiritual status. The Scripture says:

1 Samuel 16:7 the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Again, God is not speaking of the pump in your chest – but the center of your soul. The “HEART” is the thinking and reasoning part of your soul.

Proverbs 2:1-2 (NKJV) My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding

Proverbs 4:4 (NKJV) {My father} taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words …

We apply the promises of God to our hearts (Psalm 119:10-11). We either receive the Word of God in our hearts – or we reject that Word, to our detriment.

Proverbs 5:12 (NKJV) … How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction!

Zechariah 7:12 (NKJV) … they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.

A heart that is in tune with God and His precepts will be happy, productive, and the body will be healthier. My commentary, the Constable Soniclight Commentary on Proverbs notes:

“A “tranquil heart” at peace with God promotes good health, but a heart full of “jealousy,” that is in turmoil, weakens a person like rotten bones. Modern science has attested the truth of this proverb: stress shortens life, but tranquility lengthens it. Moses’ relationship with God was tranquil because he trusted and obeyed the LORD, even though the Israelites were a source of some stress in his life. He lived an unusually long time (120 years old, see Deuteronomy 34:7). Absalom, on the other hand, was not right with God, and he died prematurely (29 years old, see 2 Samuel 18:14-15).”

Most of life is lived based upon your attitude of being. If you wake up miserable, out of touch with your God and your creation, your day will be miserable. We are told “envy (is) the rottenness of the bones”. The victim mentality or the pity party will ruin your day. Rather than allow a bad attitude to rule your heart, reject envy and other negative emotions and praise God for what He has given you. Your attitude – the attitude you allow in your heart – shapes your success or happiness.

Illustration: While a young mathematic student at University of California, Berkeley, George Dantzig got to class late one day. On the blackboard were two statistical mathematical problems that needed solutions. Copying the problems in his notebook, Dantzig went home and solved the statistical problems. From Wikipedia:

“According to Dantzig, they “seemed to be a little harder than usual”, but a few days later he handed in completed solutions for both problems, still believing that they were an assignment that was overdue. Six weeks later, an excited {Professor} Neyman eagerly told him that the “homework” problems he had solved were two of the most famous unsolved problems in statistics. He had prepared one of Dantzig’s solutions for publication in a mathematical journal. This story began to spread and was used as a motivational lesson demonstrating the power of positive thinking.”

We can let our hearts go negative, and never accomplish anything. Or we as believers in Christ can focus on the Lord, believing that “I can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Fill your hearts with God’s Word and God’s promises.

Care For The Weak

Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor.

God gives to His children grace, and expects us to be gracious to others. Those who oppress the poor “REPROACHETH” his Maker. The word for REPROACH is the Hebrew ḥārap̄ (pro. Khaw-raf’), which means “to blaspheme, to mock or defy”. Those who help hold down those who are already downtrodden are the wickedest of people. Wicked Queen Jezebel encouraged her husband Ahab to steal land from poor Naboth, then had him killed by stoning – a horrid death! (see 1 Kings 21). God watched this. Then He sent the Prophet Elijah to Ahab’s palace with these words:

1 Kings 21:19 (KJV) Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

God watched over Naboth, just as He watched over Lazarus. When the rich man who oppressed Lazarus died, the Bible says:

Luke 16:23 (KJV) … in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments

Where was Lazarus while the rich man burned? “He was comforted, but the rich was tormented” (Luke 16:25). Jesus said “you have the poor with you always” (Matthew 26:11), and further said “whenever you will, you may do them good” (Mark 14:7). God places the poor on this earth for our growth as believers. There is a special blessing for those who care for the poor.

Psalm 41:1-2 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.

Jesus said “the POOR have the Gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5). Those with nothing are much more responsive to the Gospel than those who have much. Poor people are often discounted and discouraged, but God loves the poor.

Though Saul did his best to kill King David to keep him from ascending the throne, once Saul and his son, David’s best friend Jonathan was dead, David sent messengers out. He asked:

2 Samuel 9:1 (KJV) … Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth. His name means “out of my mouth comes reproach”. He was a cripple, the last child of the house of Saul. David brought him to his table, and restored all the lands that Saul owned to him. David blessed that young man, poor as he was, and was blessed because of it.

When you study the lineage of Christ, you find out that there were three considered poor: Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth. Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites, and Ruth was a Moabite (see this). God loves and uses the poor. As our text says:

he that honoureth Him hath mercy on the poor

You honor God when you have mercy on the poor. They need love and the Gospel of salvation just as much as any do.

May God bless His Word in your heart today!