Proverbs 29:26
The Ruler’s Favor
1. This is a simple proverb that contrasts confidence in the ruler as compared to confidence in God.
2. It is similar in this sense to the previous proverb, which also contrasted the fear of man vs. trust in the Lord.
1. The expression literally reads, “many seek the face of a ruler.”
2. SEEK:
a. Seek defined: To search or look for; to inquire; make request; seeking someone’s presence or aid.
b. I Kings 10:24 – “And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.”
c. Amos 8:12c – “they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD…”
3. FAVOUR:
a. Defined: Literally it means face.
• However, it was most often used in a figurative, idiomatic sense.
• Face was used as a substitute for the person.
• To be “in the face” of a person meant that his face was looking towards you. You have his attention. He is considering your situation… your life.
• A related idiom was to have someone’s face shine on you. That indicated that he was looking upon you in a favorable way… happily rather than angrily.
b. Num. 6:24-26 – The meaning is well illustrated in its usage here – speaking of God’s face. It was desirable to have God’s face shine upon you.
• “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
c. Thus, seeking the face of the ruler (king) did indicate seeking his favor, as the KJV translates it. It is seeking his approval. It is seeking to have the ruler consider you… consider your situation… your case… and it implies to consider it in a favorable sense.
4. Our proverb speaks of many seeking the face of an earthly ruler.
a. They were seeking the face of the ruler, just as many sought to Solomon—to hear his wisdom.
b. Seeking the face of the ruler was often done to seek his favor, his permission to do something, to seek his approval on a project or a business endeavor, etc.
c. Sometimes subjects sought to the ruler in a legal dispute – such as the two mothers, each of whom claimed the living baby was theirs.
d. Sometimes people sought the presence of the king, simply because being in the presence of the king enhanced their own esteem in their own eyes, and in the eyes of others.
• It increased their prestige.
• It was seen as a way to climb the corporate or royal ladder to be in favor with the king.
• It looked great on a résumé.
e. There were many various motives that drove men to seek the face or favor of the king—some good, some not so good.
f. Often they were selfish… like Haman seeking the favor of the king for his own personal advancement… with no thought for the good of the king or the country.
g. Sometimes, they were noble.
• Esther sought the face of the king in order to save her people from genocide. But it was risky. There was no guarantee that she would receive his favor. She could have been executed.
• Esther 4:16 – “And so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
• Thankfully, Esther not only sought, but received favor from the king.
• Esther 5:2 – “And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.”
5. It is risky seeking the favor of a king.
a. Seeking their favor implies that you are relying upon the goodness of the earthly king to resolve your problem or issue.
b. You are trusting in his wisdom to bring about a good resolution to the issue.
c. It implies that your confidence is in the king.
d. Isaiah 31:1 – There is a “woe” for those who trust in Egypt (the favor of the Egyptian king) to resolve their issue.
e. “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong…”
f. It involves TRUSTING in the strength and power of the king and his “horses” (military might).
g. Our proverb tells us that MANY people do it. They seek the ruler’s face and favor to resolve their problems.
h. But even if they get it, it is unreliable – for kings are often fickle and change their minds.
i. As Christians, we can be guilty of this.
• We can rely on the government to bring about a happy resolution to issues of persecution in this country.
• The confidence past generations of Christians had may not be very reliable in years to come. Don’t put your trust in the king… or the president—regardless of his political party—to do what is right for the believer. The world system is not a friend to grace.
• We may no longer be able to have confidence that the Supreme Court will uphold righteousness… will uphold Christian values.
• The king and his court (the three branches of American government) are not reliable sources of help or favor for the Christian.
• In fact, relying upon man’s help may prove to be disastrous.
• Isa. 36:6 – “Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.”
1. The second part of the proverb tells us where TRUE justice comes from: the LORD. (Jehovah-God)
2. Judgment defined: Justice; the act of deciding a legal dispute or case; a state or condition of fairness in disputes; doing what is right.
3. The fact that Solomon uses the term for “justice” in the second part of the proverb indicates that the one seeking the ruler’s favor was seeking “justice.”
a. Perhaps it was a case of fairness in the marketplace.
b. Perhaps it was a case of respect of persons or prejudice.
c. Perhaps it was a case of corruption or theft.
d. It could have been a case of unfair business practices that were pushing a certain group into bankruptcy.
e. Perhaps the foreigners in the land (aliens; immigrants), who should have been afforded a legal protection according to the Law of Moses, were being cheated or abused.
f. Perhaps the wealthy landowners were keeping back the salaries of their workers—as James describes.
g. Or perhaps there were Jews living in pagan lands who were being persecuted and discriminated against.
h. There was a natural tendency to seek the favor of the king and trust in the king (government officials) to right every wrong.
4. For countless reasons, people often sought the face (favor) of the king.
a. They wanted the king on their side – to hear their side of the story.
b. They wanted the face of the king to shine upon them and treat them favorably.
c. Who wouldn’t? It is certainly not wrong to seek the king’s favor.
d. Human government was established by God for that very reason – to bring about some sort of a sense of justice and fairness in the land… in ANY land.
e. Rom. 13:1-4 – The powers that be are ordained of God to execute justice.
f. It is not wrong to seek the king’s favor… to utilize the legal system… to participate in government.
5. But the point of our proverb is that if you want REAL JUSTICE, then seek the LORD.
a. How much better is it to seek the favor of the Ruler of rulers.
b. Prov. 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
c. God can turn the king’s heart. God reigns OVER any earthly ruler.
d. Haman had the king’s favor—but it didn’t do him much good. God overruled.
e. God is the only One who is reliably and consistently fair and just in all He does.
f. Trusting in a ruler is trusting in a sinner. He may be helpful on some occasions… or he may not.
g. It may be like leaning on a broken reed—that will pierce your hand and provide no support when you need it.
h. Psalm 146:3 – “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”
i. Psalm 118:9 – “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
j. But trusting in the Lord we will never be let down.
k. The bottom line: if you’re in trouble, if you are facing injustice, if you are being treated unfairly, go to God. You will get justice from Him.