SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/31/2013
11:06 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Foolish
Ruler
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Eccl. 10:4-7
Message of the
verses: Just so we understand where
we are going in this section I will quote what Dr. Wiersbe wrote at the end of
his introductory commentary on chapter eleven:
“Having laid down the principle, Solomon then applied it to four
different ‘fools.’”
“4 If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not
abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. 5 There is an
evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler- 6
folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7 I
have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.” (NASB)
“4 ¶ If your boss is angry at
you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can
overcome even great mistakes. 5 There is
another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake
6 when they give great authority to
foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. 7 I have even seen servants riding horseback
like princes-and princes walking like servants!” (NLT)
When God spoke to Solomon in a vision He asked Solomon
wanted and Solomon said that he wanted great wisdom so that he could lead the
people of God. God granted Solomon that
wisdom and he is the wisest man ever to live on this earth other than the Lord
Jesus Christ. Solomon knew that a leader
needed wisdom to rule well. One of our
former Presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson said “A president’s hardest task is not to
do what’s right, but to know what’s right.”
To know what is right requires wisdom.
We see a proud ruler in verse four, and that is not what
a nation needs to have as we well know.
A proud leader will take out his frustrations on those around him, and
that is not good. Solomon wrote the
following in two of his proverbs: “He
who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit,
than he who captures a city (Pr. 16:32).
“Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no
control over his spirit (Pr. 25:28).”
In Proverbs 25:15 we read the following that tells us
that just because the ruler is foolish and proud those who work with him do not
need to be: “Through patience a ruler
can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” (NIV)
Next we will look at another Proverb:
“The fury of a king is like messengers of death, But a wise man will
appease it (Pr. 16:14).”
In verses 5-7 we see the results of a ruler who is too pliable,
and he will put fools in charge because of his foolishness and put the wise
people into lower positions. “Luxury is
not fitting for a fool; Much less for a slave to rule over princes (Pr. 19:10).” 21 Under three things the earth quakes, And
under four, it cannot bear up: 22 Under a slave when he becomes king, And a
fool when he is satisfied with food (Pr. 30:21-22).”
Solomon’s son Rehoboam is an example of what we have been
studying as recorded in 1 Kings 12:1-24, and he would take the advice of
youthful leaders instead of the wiser older leaders and the result was that the
kingdom of Israel was split. Dr. Wiersbe
writes the following at the end of his commentary on this section: “The best rulers (and leaders) are men and
women who are tough-minded but tenderhearted, who put the best people on the
horses and don’t apologize for it.”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: It seems harder for me to pray for bad
leaders and easier to pray for good leaders, but as I think about it the
opposite should be true for the bad leaders need much more prayer.
My Steps of Faith for Today: As a believer I want people to see the Lord
through what I do as I desire to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Memory verses for the
week: 2 Cor. 5:17-21
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who
reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Simon Peter” (John 21:15-17).
Today’s Bible
Question: “Who said ‘Get her for me for
she pleases me well?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
5/31/2013 12:01 PM
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