Stability

For Thursday, December 27, 2007
Proverbs 28:2

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,
but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
its stability will long continue.

Interestingly the proverb notes that it is when a land trangresses - not a ruler - that it will experience the rule of many rulers. The people are difficult to manage, and so many "rulers" are required to keep order. These rulers may be local chiefs taking advantage of a weak central ruler to form their own little rival kingdoms. They may be government agents using their positions to oppress the people under their authority. Under such conditions, the rulers inevitably battle with each other, trying to undermine one another to gain more power. Thus, there are not only many rulers, but many have reigns cut short through violence and intrigue.

What is needed is a person of understanding and knowledge, a person of integrity who understands people and how to govern them for the welfare of the land. He needs to understand how to deal with his enemies so as not to be undermined. He must be fair, but not naive. He must have ideals, but works towards them in a practical way. He must be aware of the temptations of power and keep his integrity.

The task is difficult, but if he succeeds in maintaining his rule and is patient with the process of establishing just conditions, then he will bring stability to his land. Are you willing to weather the course in your position of leadership? Are you willing to go through the arduous task of patiently observing and then acting with understanding and knowledge? Let us be thankful for our King who faithfully remains on his throne and rules us. Even though we are guilty of transgression, he remains our ruler, keeping stability throughout his kingdom until the day he returns in his glory.

Boldness

For Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Proverbs 28:1

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.

The wicked flee when they believe the odds are against them. Much of their bravado lies in the unfair advantage they exploit. They lie; they cheat; they strike behind the back; they rely on greater numbers and greater strength to fight their battles. Thus, because their confidence lies in what they can see and exploit; when they are alone or cannot see clearly; when they perceive they have no unfair advantage over their enemy, they run away.

David, a man known for courage, expressed well in his psalms the reasons for why the righteous may be bold. Psalm 18 is a prime example. Consider the first three verses:

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

The righteous may be bold because their confidence rests in the Lord. David understood this and tested it. Under such confidence he killed Goliath. Listen to his words before battling his foe.

"For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?... Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:26, 36-37).

Where does your confidence lie - in your ability to calculate the odds or in your faith in the "living God"? Only in the latter will you find a steady peace that weathers the trials of life and keeps you even keel. Only in the latter will you find wisdom to know what to do when faced with dilemmas. for much of our quandaries about how to live are not based on lack of knowledge, but lack of faith. When we peacefully trust the Lord to be our stronghold, then we are free to focus on doing what is honorable.