LESSON 1, INTRODUCTION:

Today we begin a journey through Proverbs 16:10-15. Each verse seems to have some reference to the King, which historically would have been the King of Israel. Or the King of Judah after the split occurred between the north and the south.

"A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain" Proverbs 16:10-15

The Bible I've used all my life is known as the King James Version. I wonder how that venerable old gentleman reacted when he first read these words. With warm appreciation no doubt.

In each Lesson now, the Lord willing, we will cover this Text, a verse at a time. Sometimes that method of teaching and preaching is called "exposition." Then in addition to the word definitions and grammatical data and spiritual application ... we will notice a fact or two about our Bible. About the King James Version.

Including some facts about the man himself, the Monarch who commissioned this great translation in the first place.

This should be, with the Lord's help, a profitable journey.

Join us!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, VERSE 10:

This morning we're going to notice Proverbs 16:10, the first part of a six verse paragraph concerning the King. That's the leader of a nation of individuals. "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment."

While few today would make such a statement, insinuating that the "king" is virtually infallible in his role as judge of the nation he serves, the Bible says so quite clearly!

Again: "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment."

When the king speaks, our God is so great, so mighty, that He can place "His Words, divine words" in the king's very mouth!

Words of judgment that apparently are flawless! To "transgress not" literally means "to not make a mistake!" Or "not to act unfaithfully!"

In other words, God can work through this King to achieve His, I mean God's, Own goals! The kings lips here virtually spill forth the very oracles of the dear Lord!

Now this verse must be held in balance with other Scripture. It tells the truth. It is God's Word. But other verses in Scripture also allow the fact that ungodly kings may well render foolish judgment. Time and time again.

Briefly, this proverb presents the ideal King and I think in the best sense points forward to the coming of God's King to earth some day! And that King is the Lord Jesus Christ our wonderful Saviour!

He indeed fulfills the verse perfectly! "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment."

Amen!

                    --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, here is an interesting fact we recently learned while studying the life of King James I of England, the King who gave us the King James Bible. The monarch was so brilliant he could, one biographer said, "watch, listen and speak simultaneously." He often was found doing up to five things at once! Another writer said that King James could get more work done in an hour than most men could in a day. Sounds interesting!

LESSON 3, VERSE 11:

The verse we're studying today seems to have nothing to do with a king or his kingdom. Yet it is inserted by the Holy Spirit into what is unquestionably a "King" paragraph in Proverbs.

There must be some kind of linkage then between verse 11, our text, and its preceding verse or successive verse. Here is that trio, with today's verse underlined: "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." From Proverbs 16:10-12.

Looks like we are here being told that an honest king, a truly good man in office, will neither himself be wicked ... or allow overt wickedness to run rampart in his land!

So the conditions in verse 11 will prevail. "A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work."

This is a seventeen word description of a godly economy. A business world in which righteousness prevails. A godly marketplace!

If this king, the "hero" of Proverbs 16:10-15, or at least the "subject" of these verses ... guides his nation to be honest in its buying and selling and trading, its daily financial affairs ... he will be obeying the Will of God! The God who placed him, the king, on the throne.

Again: "A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work."

A pound needs to remain 16 ounces, exactly, whether the merchant is buying or selling!

Same with a bushel or a gallon or whatever measuring system is in use. These are universal principles.

If the financial life of a country is in order, pleasing to God, the king and his government are merely acting out God's Standards on that land, that blessed land!

Translated into our lives today, let's pay our bills! Let's to the best of our ability do so on-time! Let's not try to deceive anyone else ... out of their money or property or any other kind of possessions.

Wow!

What a pertinent lesson for the day in which we live. A lesson we all, as Christians, can practice daily.

When I do right financially, I also do the will of God!

"A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work." 

Amen!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

A unit of Scripture about the King, Proverbs 16:10-15. And I'm reading and preaching it out of the King James Version of the Bible, first translated at the suggestion of, or at least with the permission of, King James I of England. I think he was very pleased with the Bible that resulted from the fifty-plus scholars he appointed for the task! Especially elated must he have been with this "King" block of verses from Proverbs. They place the King, if he's godly, in very excellent light!

We learned something the other day from a biography of King James that was interesting. Of all the titles the King could have demanded, his was rather simple. King James was not interested in being dubbed "Your Highness" or "Your Grace" or "Sovereign." Not even the more common "Your Majesty!" He preferred the simple accolade "Majesty." Except it was back then spelled "Majestie!" In fact, that's the title of one of the more recent biographies of the Monarch, just "Majestie." That's a brief name for such a complicated man. The man through whose influence our great Bible was translated.

LESSON 4, VERSE 12:

Oh that today's verse were heeded by this world's leaders. It would change the course of history.

"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." Proverbs 16:12

The noun "abomination" is spelled "toebah" in Hebrew and means "a disgusting thing." When preaching I sometimes define it as something that makes God "sick," nauseated really!

The verb "to commit" is spelled "asah" in its basic form. It means "to accomplish or fashion or make a thing." Here it's an infinitive, meaning "to practice" these wrong things. Maybe not just a one-time mistake, then a quick return to godliness.

"Wickedness" is the oft-recurring "resha," meaning outright "sinfulness," and proudly flaunting that wrong in the Face of Almighty God.

It should make the king sick when wrong is condoned in his domain. It certainly does so to the Lord.

Once again: "It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness."

"Throne" is the word "kisse," suggesting merely a "seat or stool." But here a royal and dignified kingly seat is indicated. Hence, his throne.

The verb "is established" means "made firm, made stable, fixed, able to endure." This is "kun" in Hebrew.

And the absence of wickedness here is associated with righteousness. That's not all righteousness is, but it's a good starting place. "Tzseddaqah" means that which is "straight" in God's Eyes. Non-offensive to the Almighty.

What encouragement to a king ... to do right and live properly. To avoid wrong and cleave to holiness! "It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." 

This advice will work for any leader!

King, President, Prime Minister, whomever is in authority.

Amen!

                     --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Each Lesson in this series has included a brief fact or two about the King who first read these lines. That's King James I of England. He was born June 19, 1566. That would make him about 45 years old when the king James Bible was first published. He was such an influential King that the whole era of his reign assumed the adjectival form of James, the Jacobean Age! James of course is a shortened form of the name Isaac gave his son Jacob.

LESSON 5, VERSE 13:

The King in our Proverbs 16:10-15 Text is a godly man. The very King who was sitting on the throne of England when the Bible was translated into the most popular version of all time happens to be King James I, formerly King James VI of Scotland.

God's ideal King, the personification of Proverbs 16:5-10 once again, is a man who loves good speech! Who is devoted to right talk, clean conversation. God tells us in today's verse: "Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right." Proverbs 16:13

Now overall the whole Book of Proverbs is heavily dedicated to instructing us about our tongues. About a right vocabulary. One Preacher years ago called these "how-to-talk" verses "tongue tamers!"

God loves good speech too. He requires it of his followers. And he Himself is of course Perfect in this area. He never speaks wrongly!

"Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right." The word "delight" translates "ratzson" in Hebrew, which means "acceptable, pleasurable, desirable." Righteous lips, the words we daily speak, bring God much happiness and joy and contentment!

If you want the King to love you, don't be a rebel! Don't be dirty-mouthed! Refrain your tongue when it seeks to go astray.

And like so much Scripture that describes the right kind of prophet or priest or, as here, King ... no human can completely live up to such a high standard. We all fail. We all come short of God's expectations.

That's why in this Age of Grace, this Church Age, in which we live ... after Jesus' Death and Burial and Resurrection and Ascension to Heaven ... and after His sending the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to indwell His saints ... we have Help talking right!

What an encouragement verse 13 ought to be to us, what an incentive to be holy in all we say. "Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right."

And the greatest King of all, the One Who is most delighted in His subjects' righteous lips ... is Jesus Christ our dear Lord!

He is the King of Kings!

               --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

King James of England, the sponsor of the Bible that honors his name to this day, had a speech impediment. He never could talk clearly and this became a real issue with him. He felt inferior as a result of this problem. Or at least so say his biographers.

Some think the King tried to compensate for this weakness, especially as a Head of State, by concentrating on his intellectual abilities. That he did very well! He became a scholar in Latin and Greek at an early age, an author too. And at each meal the King ate, a chapter of Scripture was read and thoroughly discussed! And what meals were served at the palace, usually thirty courses of meat. But the historians do say that when the King was dieting he cut back to twenty-four courses. The privileges of Royalty! Yet, come to think of it, if you are saved ... you're a child of the King yourself! The Real King, King Jesus!

LESSON 6, VERSE 14:

Our study verse for today is powerful. And to the few individuals throughout world history who happened to be kings, especially powerful. You will  know what I mean as soon as you read it. "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it." Proverbs 16:14

In other words, do not make the King mad! To not rebel at any of his commands! Do not oppose him!

But surely the Text presupposes that a godly man is ruling or woman. I'm sure this would apply to Queens too.

The noun "wrath" is "chemah" in Hebrew and means "hot." This is fervent, boiling anger! "Fury" and again "rage" are common translations of the word in our Bibles.

If you make the king real mad, you may be killed! "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death ...." This was certainly written during the days of absolute monarchy, not democracy.

So, don't be foolish or silly or short-sighted. "But a wise man will pacify it." That is, the King's wrath. Keep the man happy!

The verb "pacify" is "kaphar," an old verb meaning "to cover." This is actually the word for making atonement in the Old Testament! Propitiate the King!

For a little bit, taken secularly, this verse might even enter the realm of politics. But truthfully the Bible does not do so. Other than clearly delineating for us right and wrong. And that line of demarcation must remain no matter what, politics or philosophy or anything else aside!

Then, how can our Text for today be applied? "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it."

Here's a way, maybe the best way. Let the "King" here, a Hebrew word which means the "reigning" one, be a Picture of Jesus Christ the Son of God!

Jesus is King, King of kings!

He's sitting at the Right Hand of God this very second!

Then the verse is gloriously accurate in every way. To rebel against Jesus is a mistake, a big one! His "wrath," although He is primarily the God of Grace, is a terrible thing to encounter.

And a wise man or woman will pacify it!

How so? By the Blood of the Lamb! God is today satisfied with me and I'm delivered from His wrath ... because I've been saved by My Lord's vicarious Death on Calvary!

Oh yes. "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it." It's certainly true of Jesus.

Amen!

                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Another fact or two about King James of England, born in 1655. As you know he's the namesake for our Bible, the faithful King James Version. Well, on March 24, 1603 he was proclaimed King of England, less than eight hours after the death of Queen Elizabeth. His name at birth was James Stuart. And he had previously been King of Scotland. It had been forty-five years since a monarch had been crowned in England! London's population was around two hundred thousand then. Forty thousand British tried to get into his coronation court! He was in many respects a great king, though he was entirely human. He reigned successfully for twenty-three years too, until his death March 27, 1625. And his greatest single contribution to humanity, without question, was the Bible that is so well-known and loved to this day, the King James Version of Scripture in the beautiful English language. Thank God for that wonderful Book!

LESSON 7, VERSE 15:

For the past seven days we've been studying a rather obscure Text in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs. Here it is again, the whole Paragraph from Proverbs chapter sixteen.

"A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain." Proverbs 16:10-15

Today we've arrived at the pericope's end, it's last verse. "In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain." This is verse fifteen.

First notice that the term "latter rain" is used elsewhere in the Bible. Six other places that I've counted. It is an expression that has prophetic implications. In Israel the rains of spring are called the "former" rains. And the rains of fall are called the "latter" rains. The early rains help the wheat and barley crops. The latter rains help the fall crops like figs and dates and pomegranates.

Now as far as bible prophecy is concerned, the "early" rains or "former" rains happened at Pentecost! When the Holy Spirit came at the Birthday of the Church! The "latter" rains will happen when Jesus comes again, the great Revival of holiness that will occur in those future days! The Millennium and such!

Back now to our "King" verse: "In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain."

If the King, and folks this looks far beyond King Saul or Solomon or Hezekiah, this has in mind King Jesus! If the King "smiles" at you, the idea behind "the light of his countenance," you will enjoy life! Here concerning Jesus ... that's eternal life! The noun "countenance" or in Hebrew "paniym," precisely means one's "face," at least it does so 390 times in the Bible.

"In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain." 

And "favour," in Hebrew "ratzson," actually means the King's "delight, desire, good-will or pleasure!" If you're in the King's "graces," King Jesus we're thinking today ... the refreshing rains of the Holy Spirit and God's Refreshing Touch and His future Second Coming will fall and flow all around you!

This is nearly a Revival Verse! I'm getting excited just thinking about it. I am so glad that one day Jesus smiled on me and saved my lost soul from Hell! I'm thrilled that my Lord's Face, His sweet Countenance, smiles my way!

I do believe, totally by His amazing Love and Grace and Mercy, that I today walk in the light of Jesus,' King Jesus,' Smile! And that I, by being washed in His Blood, a believer in His Name, am in His Favour ... and the latter rains are about to begin!

Hallelujah!

                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

No doubt all these "King" Verses, putting the monarch in such an honored position, pleased the first King who read them! That would be King James I of England. The man who commissioned the new translation of the Bible into English back in 1604. Fifty something scholars, experts in Greek or Hebrew, some of them in both ... worked the seven years necessary to make our King James Bible, that beautiful and eloquent work, a reality! And oh how God has blessed the fruit of their labors.

We have long forgotten, if we ever knew them in the first place, names like Lancelot Andrews and Edward Lively and John Harding or John Duport. And how about Thomas Ravis and William Barlow? All were King James translators. Yet we will never forget the Bible they left us!

Let's all thank God for Scripture today!

By the way, did you know they also translated and inserted into the middle of the King James Bible the Apocrypha? That's the fourteen Books the Catholics yet use today but we Baptists never touched at all! King James, his skilled translators, a wonderful printer even ... yet all were human! The Apocrypha is not a God inspired document! It's our dear Lord and His precious Word alone Who are Perfect!

LESSON 8, CONCLUSION:

Today we conclude these Lessons about the "King." As he is set forth in Proverbs 16:5-10. And our concluding thought centers around yet another verse from the Old Testament's premier Book of Wisdom. Here's Proverbs 21:1. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

Let me tell you about one of those Kings, with "melek" being the Hebrew noun here. It means "one who reigns!" He's King James I of England. And he's the person who commissioned the translating of the Bible into the English Version that now bears his name. The King James Bible!

Our verse suggests that God can "turn," in Hebrew "natah," a thing! Big things like rivers of water, the very course those truly massive things take! And this same God can change the path a little thing, a human heart, can take as well! "Natah" means "to spread, extend, incline, stretch."

God quietly "spoke" to King James of England, turning his heart to allow a translation of the Bible, way back in 1604 it started. Not completed until 1611, the Bible is still a best-seller in many places today, over 400 years later!

This British Majestie, King James, was never more royal than when he guided this gigantic task. So say many of his biographers anyway.

Today with all our study resources it's easy to do what I'm about to ask. Read, no longer printed in our King James Bibles, the "Dedicatory Epistle to the King." It was originally published at the front of the Book. Then next read the "Preface to the Readers."

You will see how Proverbs 21:1 is illustrated in these documents. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

And if our God is that great, He can still "turn" things today!

Praise His dear Name!

                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Thanks for studying with us!