Proverbs (Part 091) - Pro 8:15

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15. Pro 8:15 - "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice." A. By me kings reign, i. "Me" in this passage is wisdom personified (Pro 8:1, 12). ii. Kings reign by wisdom. a. King n. - 1. a. The usual title of the male sovereign ruler of an independent state, whose position is either purely hereditary, or hereditary under certain legal conditions, or, if elective, is considered to give to the elected the same attributes and rank as those of a (purely or partly) hereditary ruler. b. Reign v. - 1. intr. To hold or exercise the sovereign power or authority in a state; to rule or govern as king or queen; sometimes in restricted sense, to hold the royal office without being actual ruler, to have a limited or nominal sovereignty. iii. Kings reign by wisdom in two different ways. a. Firstly, God in His wisdom ordains and sets kings over men (Dan 2:20-21). (i) Even the basest of men reign as kings by wisdom in this sense (Dan 4:17). (ii) The powers that be are ordained of God (Rom 13:1). (iii) God promotes a man and sets him up over other men as king (Psa 75:6-7). (iv) Nebuchadnezzar was one such king which God gave a kingdom, and he reigned by wisdom in that sense (Dan 2:37). b. Secondly, good kings exercise wisdom as they reign. (i) The kings of Israel were to write themselves a copy of the scriptures, read them, and govern by them (Deut 17:14-15, 18-20). (ii) The scriptures were their wisdom and understanding (Deut 4:5-6). (iii) When king Solomon began to reign he asked God for wisdom so that he could judge the people and discern between good and bad (1Ki 3:9). (iv) The throne of a king is to be established by righteousness (Pro 16:12) which is acquired by walking in the law of God (Luk 1:6). iv. Kings should reign by wisdom, but some don't as Israel's history showed time and again. a. Rulers are supposed to be wise men who are "able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness" (Exo 18:21). b. "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2Sa 23:3), which is the beginning of wisdom (Pro 9:10). c. On the contrary, princes that lack understanding and wisdom are oppressive and wicked rulers (Pro 28:16). B. and princes decree justice. i. Princes decree justice by wisdom. a. Decree v. - 1. trans. To command (something) by decree; to order, appoint, or assign authoritatively, ordain. 2. Law. To pronounce judgement on (a cause), decide judicially (obs.); to order or determine by a judicial decision; to adjudge; absol. to give judgement in a cause. b. Justice n. - I. The quality of being just. 1. The quality of being (morally) just or righteous; the principle of just dealing; the exhibition of this quality or principle in action; just conduct; integrity, rectitude. (One of the four cardinal virtues.) II. Judicial administration of law or equity. 4. Exercise of authority or power in maintenance of right; vindication of right by assignment of reward or punishment; requital of desert. ii. God is just and right (Deut 32:4). a. God's word is wisdom (Pro 2:6). b. It establishes what is just and right (Eze 18:5-9). c. Wisdom acquired from the word of God, and especially the book of Proverbs, enables a king to give just decrees (Pro 1:3). iii. Good and wise kings decree justice by the wisdom of God. a. Good king David executed judgment and justice unto all his people (2Sa 8:15). b. Wise king Solomon did judgment and justice in his kingdom (1Ki 10:8-9). c. Jesus Christ, the King of kings (1Ti 6:15), and the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24), established His kingdom with judgment and justice (Isa 9:6-7; Jer 23:5). iv. When societies degrade, kings stop decreeing justice and start perverting it (Ecc 5:8).