The Glory of Kings

Proverbs 25:1–2 (ESV) These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

I love this notation about Hezekiah. He copied down the proverbs from Solomon. This no doubt is what led to his reputation as a righteous man.

2 Kings 18:2–3 (ESV) (Hezekiah) was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

Could it have been that Hezekiah not only read the Bible but saw the Bible (Solomon's writings at this point) as speaking directly to himself? And having heard God speak he search out the truth that His Word contained.

When we think about great men, they are true seekers - always searching to uncover another mystery of the universe, the human condition, and how to make things better. The great names through the centuries of men who invented marvels have all helped us but no search is higher or more profitable than the search for God's truth. 

Think of this: God's truth is searchable. The wonderful thing about the Bible is that on the surface it seems to say something else but searching it out reveals so much more. When Jesus calls us to hate our father and mother for His sake He means much more than what it seems. He means to say that He is far more important than they, He is God and He has the right to demand that kind of allegiance. He also means to set Him as our primary identification agent and none other. He also means to show His love for us for He set aside His standing with the Father for our sake. So much more can be said and we've only just begun. 

Consider this line later in Proverbs 25 which is also on the lips of Jesus in Luke 14. 

Proverbs 25:6–7 (ESV) Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, 7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Remember in Luke 14 at the Pharisee's house Jesus watches these religious zealots play games as to who gets the important seats. And Jesus tells them a story no doubt in spired by this Proverb:

Luke 14:8–11 (ESV) “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Now on the surface, the Lord seems to be suggesting good table manners. But there's so much more. First, the banquet that day would be used to point the hearers to the heavenly banquet yet to come. Second, there's the matter of pride which must be eschewed if we are to enter the heavenly banquet. Third, there is the invitation, which is an action of God's grace and therefore removes our ability to boast and clamor for position. Finally, there is Christ Himself, God Himself who took the lowest place so that we could move up higher. He is the one who throws the banquet, the one who pays for us to be there and the one who calls us to come. 

Amen.