December 29th, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Leadership, Discipline and Torah

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

“Teach me Your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path…” (Psa. 27:11). Show me how to lead others the same way.

Read Proverbs 29:1-27

[1] Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy. [2] When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. [3] A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. [4] By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down. [5] Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet. [6] Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad. [7] The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. [8] Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. [9] If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. [10] The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright. [11] Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. [12] If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked. [13] The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both. [14] If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. [15] A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. [16] When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. [17] Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. [18] Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. [19] Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond. [20] Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. [21] A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. [22] An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. [23] Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. [24] The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify. [25] Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. [26] Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice. [27] The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“It is in our public, civic existence that we Christians are prone to sin and fall short of God’s glory” (unknown).

Think Further

The sayings in the first half of this chapter continue to focus on the art of being a just leader. Such a person is one whose work makes the lives of others better, lending stability (4) and having an impact on the tone of society around them. People no longer have to face the depredations of petty officials who feel no responsibility for the lives of those they affect (2,12). Paradoxically, just rule is in the interests of the ruler anyway, for it is much less likely to foment discontent among those who are ruled (14). Petty tyrants—whether in government or in the office—can’t seem to learn this.
A just society does not emerge accidentally. The shift to the more homely concerns of the second half of the chapter begins to answer the question of how just leadership is formed. First, the just leader is developed through patterns of life in the godly household, patterns of steady discipline (15) and godly example (18). Second, we need revelation/instruction, the law (18), which to the ancient sages meant both the ways of God revealed in Scripture and a sense of God at work in his world. Any other focus turns out to be a “snare” (25). Similarly, if we rely on our ability to manipulate our leaders to our own ends, verse 26 points us to the final source of fair play.
As in the previous chapter, lest we be complacent we are reminded that “the Lord gives sight to the eyes” of both the poor and the oppressor (13). This may inform the powerful that in God’s eyes they are no better than those they rule, but it also reminds the rest of us that we too exercise influence over others.

The sayings in the first half of this chapter continue to focus on the art of being a just leader. Such a person is one whose work makes the lives of others better, lending stability (4) and having an impact on the tone of society around them. People no longer have to face the depredations of petty officials who feel no responsibility for the lives of those they affect (2,12). Paradoxically, just rule is in the interests of the ruler anyway, for it is much less likely to foment discontent among those who are ruled (14). Petty tyrants—whether in government or in the office—can’t seem to learn this.

A just society does not emerge accidentally. The shift to the more homely concerns of the second half of the chapter begins to answer the question of how just leadership is formed. First, the just leader is developed through patterns of life in the godly household, patterns of steady discipline (15) and godly example (18). Second, we need revelation/instruction, the law (18), which to the ancient sages meant both the ways of God revealed in Scripture and a sense of God at work in his world. Any other focus turns out to be a “snare” (25). Similarly, if we rely on our ability to manipulate our leaders to our own ends, verse 26 points us to the final source of fair play.

As in the previous chapter, lest we be complacent we are reminded that “the Lord gives sight to the eyes” of both the poor and the oppressor (13). This may inform the powerful that in God’s eyes they are no better than those they rule, but it also reminds the rest of us that we too exercise influence over others.

Apply

Think of the people who have influenced and are influencing you for good. Thank God for them. Then think of the ones you influence. Ask God to use you to help them live a godly life also.

Closing prayer

I thank You, Lord, for each godly influence I have had in my life. Help me to always be aware that others looking at me will be influenced by my words and actions, too.

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