The King's Heart

For Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Proverbs 25:3

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Consider this proverb in light of 23:1-3:

"When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to appetite.
Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are deceptive food."

The mistake of the diner who dives into his food is that he thinks he understands the ruler. He thinks the ruler offers the food merely out of friendship, not realizing that the ruler is using the meal as a test of the diner's character.

The point of our proverb is that kings do what they do out of calculation. They are not free with their hearts. That would be dangerous for them. They speak and act with design, as did Solomon when he pretended he would split a baby in two. And so it is with persons in position of responsibility. The greater the responsibility, the more careful they will be in speech and conduct. They are not being malicious; they are being cognizant that what they say and do have far-reaching implications.

The is a message to us, on the other hand, not to exert our energies in "out-calculating" the ruler. Act on what you know to be right, not what you think will endear your "ruler" to you. If an employee, then do your work well as unto the Lord. If a student, act likewise. It is the Lord whom you are to be concerned with pleasing, and he has made clear what is appropriate speech and conduct.