Today we begin a passage that studies some additional sayings of Solomon that were copied down by the men of King Hezekiah. The main theme of today's study has to do with having a humble spirit before our God. This is the same type of humble spirit Christ had.
"I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest---and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man." (Proverbs 24:30-34) We already know by now how much Solomon dislikes laziness. He's seen laziness in action as he tours his nation. He's seen fields covered in weeds with the walls around them broken down. He knows that the owner of these fields is living in poverty and going hungry. It makes him angry, for he knows there are women and children who don't get enough to eat at night because the main breadwinner isn't providing for them. God has done His part; He provided the fields and gave the ownership of them to the tribes of Israel. But some of the citizens have not done their part in cultivating the fields the Lord blessed them with. This is nothing but sheer waste and it upsets Solomon to see it. He says he has observed these things and has "applied my heart to what I observed". He didn't merely notice it and go on his way, but he took these problems to heart and learned from them so he himself would not be lazy and so he could teach his son not to be lazy.
"These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable." (Proverbs 25:1-3) The king is comparing his office to that of the one true King. The citizens don't always know what the king is doing, but they are welcome to understand more of him and of his laws. We don't always know what God, the King of kings is doing, but that shouldn't keep us from continuing to search the Scriptures and to try and discern God's will for our lives.
"Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness." (Proverbs 25:4-5) In ancient times it was common in many cultures for the new king to put to death the family members and supporters of the previous king. This was so the new king could rule without opposition. We don't see this custom in ancient Israel, but from time to time a new king had no choice but to banish or put to death a troublemaker who kept threatening the throne. In 1 Kings 2 we find King David about to go to his grave, and he warns the young King Solomon about potential enemies of the throne. He reminds him of certain evildoers in the nation and tells him to keep an eye on them. We can tell from 1 Kings 2 that what David would really like to do is order his son to have these men executed, but Solomon is now king, so David respectfully leaves it up to him how to deal with evildoers. It turns out that Solomon had no choice but to put to death certain men who were a threat to him. In reading the text I get the idea he would have preferred not to have to resort to violence, but his enemies left him no choice.
"Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among his great men; it is better for him to say to you, 'Come up here,' than for him to humiliate you before his nobles." (Proverbs 25:6-7) Jesus preached a similar message in Luke 14:7-11 when He spoke about having a humble spirit and about not being selfish and taking all the best places for ourselves. He concluded by saying, "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (v 11) Who would know better than Jesus that those who humble themselves will be exalted? He humbled Himself more than anyone ever has, leaving all the glory of heaven to take on the image of man and to die in our place. Because He was so willing to humble Himself, God the Father exalted Him and gave Him the highest honors and the name above all names.
The Apostle Paul had this to say about the humble spirit of Christ, and he used it as an example of how we are to behave toward each other. We are not to be selfish and take the best for ourselves and leave others out. We are to esteem our fellow man as highly as we esteem ourselves. "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)
If Jesus Christ was willing to have a humble and obedient spirit, how much more should we have humble and obedient spirits? If we belong to Him, we ought to look like Him. If we want to honor Him, we must have the same attitude He had. God will honor those who humble themselves before Him, but He will oppose the proud. (James 4:6) God gave His own Son the name above all names because Jesus was willing to be humble. He was willing to be identified with lowly creatures such as us. He was willing to serve us and to love us sacrificially. Obedience is a form of sacrifice, and it is a sacrifice our God will honor. Let's strive to be obedient to Him and to esteem our fellow man as Christ esteemed them.
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