A Ruler Who Listens to Lies - Proverbs 29:12

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards”, and in chapter twenty-nine and verse twelve of Proverbs Solomon shared what happens, “if a ruler hearkens to lies” where we read,

If a ruler hearkens to lies,

all his servants are wicked.

The verse begins, “If a ruler hearkens to lies, ...” Solomon began with the words, “if a ruler” or “whether and in case a person whether male or female exercises dominion, power and reign” “hearkens to lies” which means “takes heed, listens and pays attention to deception, fraud and wrong” the following will be true. Solomon considered the idea of a royal leader giving heed to falsehoods and deceptions the following will occur.

The verse goes on to say, “... all his servants are wicked.” Solomon continued with the words, “all his servants” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of his, the ruler's, menial attendants, bondmen and waiters” “are wicked” which means “exist as criminal, guilty of crime, evil and hostile to God”. Solomon said every one of the menial attendants belonging to the “ruler who listens to lies” exist as evil and hostile to God.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how leaders are not to pay attention to fraudulent speech or every one of their “servants” will be evil. God said, “you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor”(See Exodus 20:16), and He commands us to obey His law. Because we violate His commandments, we have sin in our lives. This is why God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all of us, and if we yield our live to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and make us aware of “rulers” who listen to fraudulent sayings and have evil attendants because they do. 

Next time Solomon says, “the poor and the deceitful man meet together”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".