Here Are My Thoughts

READ: Proverbs 25

“take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.” (Proverbs 25:5)

When I sat down to write this devotional, I assumed I would focus on the last verse of Proverbs 25-“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28) It’s one of the greatest truths in Proverbs, and contains such practical application. But as I read and re-read Proverbs 25, I couldn’t help but fixate on verse 5, which is highlighted above.

Over the course of my life, I’ve had the pleasure of working for some really good leaders-people who were self-aware, emotionally present, strong, and humble. I’ve also served under some not-so-great leaders-people who thought they exhibited the qualities I just listed, but quite frankly, were lacking in at least some of them. Thankfully, I’ve been able to learn a lot from all of them, whether or not I found their leadership style inspiring. I hope the same is true for you.

As I reflect back on the leaders I’ve had in my life, and in thinking about my own leadership journey, I understand that what Proverbs 25:5 hints at is so crucial. What Solomon is saying here is that it is imperative that a leader is highly intentional about the voices they surround themselves with. As he is prone to do in Proverbs, Solomon issues a cause and effect statement-if the wicked are taken away from the king’s presence, goodness and righteousness will flow from his rule. It is implied that the opposite is also true-that nothing good comes from a king who is surrounded by bad people.

I encourage you today to think about your own leadership, and the people that you surround yourself with. If you don’t see yourself as a leader, remember that at the very least, you lead yourself-and therefore, as we’ve discussed before, who has your ear matters. What are the voices around you saying? Are they pointing you towards what is good and righteous, or what is harmful and destructive? Being honest with yourself about these questions matter, not only for you, but for the people you lead. You cannot possibly hope to be a good leader if you aren’t listening to good people. 

What’s interesting about the Proverb we’re focusing on today is that, had Solomon’s own son followed its teaching, it is not an exaggeration to say that the entire course of history could have been different. In 1 Kings, we see the unceremonious end of Solomon’s reign as king of Israel. Because of his disobedience, God literally raises up men to defy him, including a guy named Jeroboam. At the time of Solomon’s death, his son, Rehoboam, took the throne in his place.

Here’s where the story gets good (or really, really bad). At the beginning of 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam and the people of Israel assembled before Rehoboam. These people asked him, in return for their service, to not deal with them as harshly as his father had. Upon hearing this, Rehoboam does something that appears to be wise. Rather than answering immediately, he tells them to come back in three days. He then meets with his advisors-first, a group of old men who had served his father, and then, his friends who had grown up with him. The old men wisely advise Rehoboam to speak and act with kindness, stating that if did so, they would serve him forever. On the other hand, his friends tell him to act harshly towards the people, asserting his authority and dominance. Unfortunately, Rehoboam listened to his friends, and three days later, with the people gathered before him, he informed them that if they thought his father was tough, he would be tougher. Literally, he told them, “My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”

If you know anything about the history of Israel, or have ever read the Old Testament, you know what happens next. Long story short, the Kingdom of Israel became divided, and has remained so. God’s people became disconnected, fractured, and broken- all because their new king didn’t remove the wicked from his influence. Rehoboam’s decision to listen to the wrong people caused countless generations of problems for the people he led. He didn’t listen to the wisdom of Proverbs 25:5.

May we, as leaders, be unlike Rehoboam. May we be wise about who is influencing us, making sure that they are not wicked, so that our leadership can be established in righteousness.

Because who you listen to matters for you. And it matters for those you lead.

-Brett