Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."
While it’s always critical that all Scripture is viewed with God’s Authorship in mind, it is very important that we always ask ourselves when reading a Biblical passage what person is speaking, to whom is he speaking and when is he speaking. This literary and historical context is essential in understanding any given Scripture. The book of Proverbs is one of the easiest books of the Bible to answer those questions since we know that Solomon is speaking, or writing, in the overwhelming majority of it during his reign as king of Israel and that he is often writing to his son in line for the crown. These obvious details matter to even a straightforward proverb like this.
Assuming this proverb was especially intended for Rehoboam but generally intended for the people of Israel during Solomon’s reign, the king was declaring the real reason for the nation of Israel’s success. 1 Kings 10 details the prosperity, fame and power of Israel during Solomon’s reign. It was so great that it took the breath away from the distinguished Queen of Sheba. 1 Kings 10 records the exceptional amounts of gold, silver, ivory, spices, lumber and exotic animals that were accrued during the reign. It speaks of Israel’s fleet of ships and horse-powered chariots. It said it best when it concluded this way, “So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom” (verse 23). In such a prosperous and powerful kingdom such as that, it would be very tempting to see themselves as invincible and unstoppable. With milk and honey flowing and buildings going up everywhere, it would be tempting to conclude that their nation could only get stronger. With a strong military protecting its wealth, it would be tempting to see their land as impenetrable and unbeatable. A nation like Israel’s at the time of Solomon could easily assume that they were the world’s superpower when in reality, they were not.
The world’s true superpower in Solomon’s day wasn’t a physical nation. The world’s true superpower in any day isn’t a nation of men. In fact, it’s not even a nation or a people. It is something far more powerful than mere mortals. To be the superpower of our world, you have to possess more power than any military. To be the superpower of our world, you have to have more of an impact than any economy. To be the superpower of our world, you have to have more influence than any politician. To be the superpower of our world, you have to possess more power to control the masses than any technology. Besides God Himself, or even Lucifer, what could possibly possess that much power? What could exalt nations among the nations of our world? What could demote and diminish nations among the nation of our world? What made Israel the greatest of nations in Solomon’s day? What could make Israel the least of nations in his day? The answer is SPIRITUALITY.
Solomon wanted his son and all of his people to know that they were the greatest of nations because of their righteousness - not because of their strong economy. He wanted them to know that they were exalted above all of their neighbors because they were a righteous nation - not because they were a militarily-strong nation. He wanted them to know that they were prospering as a people because they were prospering within their religion and relationship to God. Their economy was strong because their worship was sincere. Their neighbors feared them because they, as a nation, feared God. Their buildings were going up because the smoke of their sacrifices were going up. The world looked up to them because they were a peaceful and just people. It was righteousness that exalted them – not physical strength, superior intelligence or sheer willpower.
The Israelites needed to know that they weren’t above the Power of Spirituality. Spirituality is more powerful than any amount of muscle power, fire power or willpower. No one is strong enough to overcome the consequences of spirituality. No nation is powerful enough to conquer the natural effects of spirituality. No military can defeat its power. No economy can overcompensate for it. Righteousness exalts a nation no matter how the other nations feel about it. Sin is a reproach to “ANY” people, no matter how they feel about it. There are no federations of nations that have the authority to remove the reproach of sin. There are no allies of nations that have the authority to veto the promotion of a nation that righteousness brings. When righteousness makes a decision, it is final. When sin declares something, it is final. Any objections aren’t considered. Any motions aren’t acknowledged. Spirituality is the highest authority in our world and the greatest power in our world. Every superpower in human history has had to answer to it.
Regardless of how strong Israel’s economy was at the time of Solomon, she wasn’t above the consequences of sin. No matter how strong her military was at the time of Solomon, she wasn’t above the power of sin. No matter how much Israel’s neighbors didn’t like her exalted position in the region, they were beneath the power and authority of righteousness. Spirituality can’t be bound or bridled. Spirituality can’t be fought and defeated. Spirituality can’t be controlled and changed. Spirituality always has been and it always will be our world’s superpower. The nations of our world answer to it and it rules with the LAW of SOWING and REAPING, which in Galatians 6:7, states, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” A nation that ignores God and participates in national sin will be marked with reproach. A nation that obeys God and chooses national righteousness will be put in line for a promotion. This is the Law of the Superpower of our World.
Israel would learn this lesson the hard way and sadly, within one generation. While Solomon’s father, David made some terrible moral mistakes, he led the nation righteously, especially as it pertained to worship. Israel worshipped the one true God, as directed to in the first great commandment of Judaism. Solomon carried that moral torch when he became king and as a man of peace and wisdom, he built the great Jewish Temple. The monotheistic and righteous nation of Israel was exalted during both reigns of David and Solomon. In time however, Solomon’s heart was turned by women away from monotheism to polytheism. He began to worship other gods and many in the nation followed him down that unrighteous road. The great Solomon would not be great enough to overcome the power of Spirituality. The mighty nation of Israel would not be strong enough to overpower the strength of Spirituality. Shortly after Solomon’s death, his son experienced a rebellion and the great nation would be tragically divided. Once at the top of the world, Israel came crashing down in a matter of weeks. The once exalted people of Israel were now seen with reproach. They may have been the greatest of nations but they were never the world’s superpower – Spirituality was.
America would be wise to take heed to the lessons of Scripture and to the ironic proverb of King Solomon. America has been widely viewed as the world’s superpower but Scripture plainly tells us that we’re not above the power of spirituality. Only righteousness exalts a nation and it doesn’t care how big or how bold its military is. Only righteousness exalts a nation and it doesn’t care how large or how influential its economy is. National sin will bring reproach to “any” people, no matter how patriotic or courageous a people it is. National sin will be stain “any” people, no matter how educated or prosperous a people it is. Spirituality is our world’s true superpower and we would be very wise to bow before it.
Assuming this proverb was especially intended for Rehoboam but generally intended for the people of Israel during Solomon’s reign, the king was declaring the real reason for the nation of Israel’s success. 1 Kings 10 details the prosperity, fame and power of Israel during Solomon’s reign. It was so great that it took the breath away from the distinguished Queen of Sheba. 1 Kings 10 records the exceptional amounts of gold, silver, ivory, spices, lumber and exotic animals that were accrued during the reign. It speaks of Israel’s fleet of ships and horse-powered chariots. It said it best when it concluded this way, “So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom” (verse 23). In such a prosperous and powerful kingdom such as that, it would be very tempting to see themselves as invincible and unstoppable. With milk and honey flowing and buildings going up everywhere, it would be tempting to conclude that their nation could only get stronger. With a strong military protecting its wealth, it would be tempting to see their land as impenetrable and unbeatable. A nation like Israel’s at the time of Solomon could easily assume that they were the world’s superpower when in reality, they were not.
The world’s true superpower in Solomon’s day wasn’t a physical nation. The world’s true superpower in any day isn’t a nation of men. In fact, it’s not even a nation or a people. It is something far more powerful than mere mortals. To be the superpower of our world, you have to possess more power than any military. To be the superpower of our world, you have to have more of an impact than any economy. To be the superpower of our world, you have to have more influence than any politician. To be the superpower of our world, you have to possess more power to control the masses than any technology. Besides God Himself, or even Lucifer, what could possibly possess that much power? What could exalt nations among the nations of our world? What could demote and diminish nations among the nation of our world? What made Israel the greatest of nations in Solomon’s day? What could make Israel the least of nations in his day? The answer is SPIRITUALITY.
Solomon wanted his son and all of his people to know that they were the greatest of nations because of their righteousness - not because of their strong economy. He wanted them to know that they were exalted above all of their neighbors because they were a righteous nation - not because they were a militarily-strong nation. He wanted them to know that they were prospering as a people because they were prospering within their religion and relationship to God. Their economy was strong because their worship was sincere. Their neighbors feared them because they, as a nation, feared God. Their buildings were going up because the smoke of their sacrifices were going up. The world looked up to them because they were a peaceful and just people. It was righteousness that exalted them – not physical strength, superior intelligence or sheer willpower.
The Israelites needed to know that they weren’t above the Power of Spirituality. Spirituality is more powerful than any amount of muscle power, fire power or willpower. No one is strong enough to overcome the consequences of spirituality. No nation is powerful enough to conquer the natural effects of spirituality. No military can defeat its power. No economy can overcompensate for it. Righteousness exalts a nation no matter how the other nations feel about it. Sin is a reproach to “ANY” people, no matter how they feel about it. There are no federations of nations that have the authority to remove the reproach of sin. There are no allies of nations that have the authority to veto the promotion of a nation that righteousness brings. When righteousness makes a decision, it is final. When sin declares something, it is final. Any objections aren’t considered. Any motions aren’t acknowledged. Spirituality is the highest authority in our world and the greatest power in our world. Every superpower in human history has had to answer to it.
Regardless of how strong Israel’s economy was at the time of Solomon, she wasn’t above the consequences of sin. No matter how strong her military was at the time of Solomon, she wasn’t above the power of sin. No matter how much Israel’s neighbors didn’t like her exalted position in the region, they were beneath the power and authority of righteousness. Spirituality can’t be bound or bridled. Spirituality can’t be fought and defeated. Spirituality can’t be controlled and changed. Spirituality always has been and it always will be our world’s superpower. The nations of our world answer to it and it rules with the LAW of SOWING and REAPING, which in Galatians 6:7, states, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” A nation that ignores God and participates in national sin will be marked with reproach. A nation that obeys God and chooses national righteousness will be put in line for a promotion. This is the Law of the Superpower of our World.
Israel would learn this lesson the hard way and sadly, within one generation. While Solomon’s father, David made some terrible moral mistakes, he led the nation righteously, especially as it pertained to worship. Israel worshipped the one true God, as directed to in the first great commandment of Judaism. Solomon carried that moral torch when he became king and as a man of peace and wisdom, he built the great Jewish Temple. The monotheistic and righteous nation of Israel was exalted during both reigns of David and Solomon. In time however, Solomon’s heart was turned by women away from monotheism to polytheism. He began to worship other gods and many in the nation followed him down that unrighteous road. The great Solomon would not be great enough to overcome the power of Spirituality. The mighty nation of Israel would not be strong enough to overpower the strength of Spirituality. Shortly after Solomon’s death, his son experienced a rebellion and the great nation would be tragically divided. Once at the top of the world, Israel came crashing down in a matter of weeks. The once exalted people of Israel were now seen with reproach. They may have been the greatest of nations but they were never the world’s superpower – Spirituality was.
America would be wise to take heed to the lessons of Scripture and to the ironic proverb of King Solomon. America has been widely viewed as the world’s superpower but Scripture plainly tells us that we’re not above the power of spirituality. Only righteousness exalts a nation and it doesn’t care how big or how bold its military is. Only righteousness exalts a nation and it doesn’t care how large or how influential its economy is. National sin will bring reproach to “any” people, no matter how patriotic or courageous a people it is. National sin will be stain “any” people, no matter how educated or prosperous a people it is. Spirituality is our world’s true superpower and we would be very wise to bow before it.
Posted in Proverbs Commentary
Posted in Solomon, Rehoboam, National, Patriotic, America, righteousness, sin, Spirituality, Galatians, David, Idolatry, Superpower, Nations, Nation, Country, People
Posted in Solomon, Rehoboam, National, Patriotic, America, righteousness, sin, Spirituality, Galatians, David, Idolatry, Superpower, Nations, Nation, Country, People
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