Proverbs 20:8, 26, 28, Three Wise Kings

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December 27, Proverbs 20:8, 26, 28

Hab. 1:13; 1 Kings 3:16-27 “How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.”

Three Wise Kings

Marston wrote, “He’s a king, a true, right king, that dare do aught save wrong.” He is a type of The King that shall yet reign is righteousness.

1. Purity that Exposes (8): Such a king is enthroned by right and for right. He scatters away evil doers with his eyes. He winnows them. This is a harvest figure of separating the grain from the chaff. His eyes see through any and all pretense. His eyes, like a powerful searchlight detect evil motives among his counsellors. When cockroaches are exposed to the light they flee for darkness under the nearest rock. So evil people hate the light of truth and scatter in all directions. They are warned to stay away from such a king. To fool with him will only invite severest punishment. Most kings today do not sit upon thrones of judgment in their own right, but the judges they appoint do. They will be judged one day, for they must answer to a Higher King, the King Eternal whose eyes are like a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14). How shall evil doers stand before Him, at whose presence earth and heaven shall flee away? No place will they find to hide on that Day!

2. Severity that Expels (26): Again the figure is harvesting, a winnowing, but this time wheels are employed for the separating (Isa. 28:27). There is a distinction between vile persecution and just penalty (Rom. 13:4). The wicked are separated from the trusting. Bringing a wheel over them indicates that the wicked are also scattered to break-up any plots they may have secretly entertained (2 Cor. 2:14-17). This was needful not only to preserve the throne, but also to save the whole nation from anarchy. David and Solomon and Asa were such kings. Justice will crush the wicked, and separate them from the godly (Ps. 72:4; 101:8). What a scattering there will yet be when He comes “whose fan is in his hand, … and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff …” (Matt. 3:12)!

3. Mercy that Exonerates (28): Unmerciful severity has been the undoing of many a king in the past. A wise prince administers justice on the principle of mercy and truth. He will spare when he can without betraying Truth, and is not this prophetic of God’s mercy? Was not Mercy and Truth to go before the Prince of the kings of the earth (Ps. 89:14; 101:1)? We saw that By mercy and truth iniquity is purged (16:6). Now mercy and truth preserve the king and also the righteousness of the King of Kings (Rom. 3:26). “We shall never discover the meaning of ‘mercy and truth’ until we ‘look unto Jesus’. We shall never get our ‘iniquity purged’ until we ‘behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world’” (Arnot). In Christ “mercy rejoices against judgment” at Calvary (Jas. 2:13)!

Thought: “Mercy is one of the brightest diamonds in the crown of majesty.”

Prayer: In Thy mercy, O Lord, grant us Thy pity.