Proverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
But a wise man will pacify it.
The Hebrew word used in the place of ‘pacify’ has a much deeper meaning. It is the word ‘kaphahr’, coming from its lexical root: atonement. This word is also used when Jacob, returning from exile at Laban’s house prepares to enter the Promised Land. Jacob knows that Esau his brother waits for him to kill him. Jacob then wisely decides to send his kingly brother caravans of gifts in order to appease or ‘atone’ for his anger. Jacob succeeds.
The idea is also illustrated as David confronts Saul. Saul desires David’s death. Saul pursues David with an army in hopes to catch and kill him. During the night, David sneaks in Saul’s camp, but instead of killing him, he takes a token of his nocturnal presence. The next day, David displays these tokens to Saul on a nearby hill; and Saul sees David a more merciful man than he, he is convicted and goes home.
We need to recognize the ‘kings’ in our lives: those who are in authority over us. Such are government offices, and even people to whom we have to be subjects in business or social ventures. Retailers say, ‘The customer is king’, and this policy, motivated of course by profit, provokes wise retailers to serve all customers well and wisely in spite of their sometimes-capricious anger.
When challenged by authority, to challenge that authority is not wise. In such cases, wisdom dictates to bring resolution by finding a way to atone for that challenge. May we, like Jacob and David of old, be wise. Though we may not agree with the ‘kings’ in our lives, may we at least recognize them as God’s pattern for us, and find the wisdom to address them with kingly respect. May we offer the gifts of atonement that provoke love instead of anger, peace instead of war, life instead of death.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
But a wise man will pacify it.
The Hebrew word used in the place of ‘pacify’ has a much deeper meaning. It is the word ‘kaphahr’, coming from its lexical root: atonement. This word is also used when Jacob, returning from exile at Laban’s house prepares to enter the Promised Land. Jacob knows that Esau his brother waits for him to kill him. Jacob then wisely decides to send his kingly brother caravans of gifts in order to appease or ‘atone’ for his anger. Jacob succeeds.
The idea is also illustrated as David confronts Saul. Saul desires David’s death. Saul pursues David with an army in hopes to catch and kill him. During the night, David sneaks in Saul’s camp, but instead of killing him, he takes a token of his nocturnal presence. The next day, David displays these tokens to Saul on a nearby hill; and Saul sees David a more merciful man than he, he is convicted and goes home.
We need to recognize the ‘kings’ in our lives: those who are in authority over us. Such are government offices, and even people to whom we have to be subjects in business or social ventures. Retailers say, ‘The customer is king’, and this policy, motivated of course by profit, provokes wise retailers to serve all customers well and wisely in spite of their sometimes-capricious anger.
When challenged by authority, to challenge that authority is not wise. In such cases, wisdom dictates to bring resolution by finding a way to atone for that challenge. May we, like Jacob and David of old, be wise. Though we may not agree with the ‘kings’ in our lives, may we at least recognize them as God’s pattern for us, and find the wisdom to address them with kingly respect. May we offer the gifts of atonement that provoke love instead of anger, peace instead of war, life instead of death.
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