Proverbs 28:11-16 What should we pray for?
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Goliath was a rich man who was wise in his own conceit. David was a poor man that had understanding and searched him out. Jericho thought they were a rich city with a great wall, Joshua was a poor man who had understanding and searched them out. The same was true of Pharaoh and Moses. If you have a calling, a mission, you don’t need to worry about being poor. Instead, like James said, pray for wisdom and understanding, that is what you need.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
The wicked don’t talk about being loved, they talk about “being feared”. These see “men hiding themselves” as a worthy goal. But for us who are called our goal is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.
13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
The end does not justify the means. Rather, the Lord’s blood justifies the sinner who confesses and forsakes his sins. Do not think that because “your heart is good” or your “goal is good” that therefore it justifies you hiding your sins and covering your transgressions. Your transgressions are like a person with a nazarite vow getting shaved. You start at 0. However, from the moment you confess and forsake those transgressions the hair of your vow begins to grow again. It is a minor set back. In a few months you will be back in the power of that vow.
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
It is stunning to me that some begin their path fearing the Lord and somewhere along that path they stop fearing alway. They become the unrighteous judge that doesn’t fear God. Why did they harden their heart? They are not wicked, they are not companions of gluttons, they didn’t dig a pit for the upright, but they did harden their heart. You can’t walk the narrow path in your own righteousness, you can only walk by faith in the Lord. These are “good” people who discovered that being “good” is not sufficient, you must be a man of faith. Rather than humbling themselves, admitting they can’t do it in themselves and turning to the Lord, instead they harden their hearts. Without the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts they will fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
Now you have a problem. If you are a ruler without faith you will fall into mischief and become a “wicked ruler”. For example, I was a teacher. If you have a principal who is a person of faith with a vision this person will be on top of what is happening. Going to the principal will help you become a better teacher, the path will be laid out for everyone to triumph in glory. But if the principal is not a person of faith they will not be on top of things, rather they will be reacting to everything that happens, you will see them putting out one fire after another. No one wants to go to that principal, it is like a roaring lion. The faithful leader is like a good shepherd, you will see all the teachers flocking to that principal knowing that staying close to the shepherd protects them from the wolves. The wicked ruler is worse than the wolves.
16 The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
We all lack wisdom, we all lack understanding. If you apply for a job at a school you want to know that the principal has wisdom and understanding, but even if they lack that you can still work there as long as the principal hates covetousness. That is the key. They can always pray for wisdom, but if they don’t hate covetousness have nothing to do with them, find another school.
What should we pray for?
- Pray for understanding. Pray not to be “rich in your own conceit”.
- Pray that Christ would be your hope of glory. Pray that others would trust you rather than fear you.
- Pray for mercy. Do not justify your transgressions.
- Pray for faith to walk this walk.
- Pray for a vision to accomplish your mission.
- Pray for understanding and hate covetousness.