Proverbial Teachings: Chapter 16 Kingly Verses

As a view is narrowed and content brought closer,
certain details arise in the foreground, mid-ground, and background.

The role of a king is not always tea and crumpets, bread and circuses, demand and decrees.

The role of a king is much more.

Depending on the era in time, the tribe, and the century, the role of a king included or had at least one or several (or all) of these additional roles: sovereign, prophet, priest, judge, teacher, warrior.

In the current age, kings do not lead their armies into battle... the warrior role having been long retired.

Although violent pretenders arise in dry and arid places, or in somewhat civilized urban settings, their efforts reflect an era already past, previously fulfilled, and put to rest.

But ambitions rarely rest.

The role of a king is alluring to the proud, the arrogant, those desiring to be acknowledged or honored.

Many have become 'kings' by force, while few have been bestowed such honor from Above.

What is quite paradoxical is how whether by force or by right, intrigue or by right, conspiracy or by right... any such king is still utilized by the will above all wills.

In other words: God Almighty still utilizes any person and brings about His will, despite the rebelliousness of pretender kings.

What are some insights from the proverbial teachings of the 16th chapter regarding a king's role?

The lips of a king speak as an oracle, 

   and his mouth does not betray justice. 

      Kings detest wrongdoing,  

         for a throne is established through righteousness.  

      Kings take pleasure in honest lips;  

   they value the one who speaks what is right.  

      A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,  

         but the wise will appease it.  

      When a king’s face brightens, it means life;  

   his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.  

      The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,  

         and their lips promote instruction.  

      Better a patient person than a warrior,  

   one with self-control than one who takes a city.  

- Proverbs 16: 12-15, 23, 32

It is written a king detests wrongdoing.

When king David came to face his own sin, he was broken and repented immediately (having been temporarily deceived by sin).

Consider how the Law of the Lord has gone throughout the world, whether written on the hearts of men by the Spirit, or in writing and in influencing all governments of men.

It is written that a throne is established through righteousness.

Although the testimony does not mention Abraham being a 'king', consider the fact of what God had established through him and his son Isaac.

Let us read a short portion of what God had declared to Abraham:

Then the Word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.  

He also said to him, “I Am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.”  

- Genesis 15: 4-7

The term 'heir' denotes a lawful establishment of entitlement or rank being passed from one person to another.

God mentioned to Abraham that his offspring, his royal family, will be more than the counting of stars in the sky.

Notice the land was a secondary mention.

Consider how the rest of humanity who derives their direct heritage from Abraham have indeed inherited all corners of the earth, in lawful (and economic, cultural, et al) terms establishing a dominion, either by force or by right, but truly under their order.

It could be said that Adam was the earth's first 'king', and all who followed in the way of the Lord since Adam were those who inherited the right... their possessions or public positions being secondary to their spiritual station established by God's hand.

Noah was the continuation of this kingship on earth when God refreshed the earth (and humanity) with a new beginning, a new age, and a new covenant.

Regarding the current age, notice the last verse from the 16th proverbial chapter about a patient person being better than a warrior, and someone with self-control better than one who takes a city.

That verse shows the teaching of love (love is patient) was already present in that age and era.

The fulfillment of such a teaching was realized in Yeshua the Messiah, declared from Above to be the King of kings from eternity.

God as King has always been, in human terms, high priest, prophet, warrior, teacher, and so much more.

God as King revealed in the fleshly Temple (Messiah) left a legacy of kingship with His disciples.

Consider how Abraham's name was changed by God when God established His covenant with him.

Consider also the countless followers of Messiah have also had their names changed when the covenant came to them.

They did not change their name on their own, but it was changed by God and according to what God had done.

Simon became Peter, and it was likely Peter who was the first earthly king of the royal priesthood established by God's hand.

Notice all who, along with the other spiritual kings and princes, reigned with Messiah for a thousand years, first in the flesh... and then in the Spirit from Above alongside the King of kings.

These kings are likely mentioned in Revelation, and perhaps some of the 24 thrones are occupied by those who were previous kings of certain tribes from the one tribe in the age before Messiah, and perhaps some others are those kings from the beginning of the one tribe (now called Zion - the Church) in the age of Messiah:

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the Voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with some One sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.  

- Revelation 4: 1-4

Notice how in the Spirit, God's justice and order is inescapable.

This is why the righteous on earth, all who are included in the kingdom of God and all who are occupying positions of honor as fellow royal brothers and sisters, are to always lead with love and grace towards all others... just like Messiah exemplified.

It is by God's decree that judgment begins among the kingdom citizens, and it is by God's judgment that His judgment from the throne in heaven judges those outside the kingdom.

Although Abraham was father to the tribe that would become Israel ... and from that tribe God would raise Messiah, revealing Himself as the King of kings from eternity ... Abraham in humility cooperated with pretenders or those holding temporal positions of power.

This is a unique teaching that reflects the verse about patience and self-control, while those temporal kings are likely the agents who bring wrath as messengers of death.

A last mention of kings - consider the clarity between two men who are both kings, while one is obvious, the other is perhaps veiled to fleshly eyes.

This is a noted pattern of revelation from Joseph to Yeshua into the current age.

If only God would open the eyes of all believers to reveal how this pattern has also continued into the age of Messiah.