Proverbs 14:34-35 

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. ³⁵ A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.

Controversial

         Can you recall a story about slave people who become a powerful nation?

The story of the Israelites has been controversial to begin with. They were former slaves in Egypt. They conquered nations stronger than they, and occupied land of Canaan for their own good. So, how could slave people become powerful independent nation? It’s not by their own intelligence or physical strength but because the Lord God Almighty favored them over other nations they conquered.

         Together, let us reflect on what the Lord required in Deuteronomy 4:6-8.

 ⁶Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” ⁷What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? ⁸And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

The Lord brought Israel out of the Egyptian slavery but they rebelled. Their children, however, chose to obey the commands and decrees of the Lord, and they entered the promise land. Truly, it’s favorable for us to obey the Lord.

         We believe that God is intelligent beyond human comprehension. Anything that God does is manifestation of his wisdom. We cannot readily appreciate his commands because our human brain cannot understand his purposes. We can only follow godly decrees when we rely upon the Holy Spirit for empowerment.

         Obedience to the instructions of the Lord is righteousness that God favors. The Israelites under the leadership of Joshua entered the Promised Land. They were wise to follow the commands of the Lord. Interestingly, the name “Joshua” literally means, “The LORD saves.” Similarly, we enter the promised heaven when we abide in the leadership or lordship of Jesus our Savior.

         By faith in Christ, we confess our sins. We believe that the Lord took our sins and punished them on the cross. We believe that the shed blood of Christ on the cross washed away all our sins. We are now adopted children God. Christ freed us from the slavery of sin that brought us condemnation and disgrace.

1.  Disgrace

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

         Any sinful activity is disgraceful that brings sinners into condemnation. In contrast, when we obey the Lord, he exalts us before him. Obedience to the Lord is righteousness the pleases him. When God is pleased, he favors the obedient believer who follows his decrees. Anyone that God favors is blessed exceedingly.

How do you interpret what it says in Ecclesiastes 9:11? ¹¹The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

         Naturally, we rely upon our physical attributes and mental abilities. Can you seriously accept that anyone whom the Lord favors is few steps ahead of others? The story of the young man David and the giant Goliath should remind us that physical strength has advantage but faith in the Lord brings sure success.

         It narrated in 1 Samuel 17:32-33, ³²David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” ³³Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

         David testified that he killed a lion and a bear that carried off his sheep. He sincerely believed that the Lord who rescued him from the lion and the bear will rescue him from the hand of the giant Philistine Goliath. King Saul dressed David in his armor and put a bronze helmet on the head of David. David said that he cannot used the armor of King Saul because he was not used to them.

David killed the giant Goliath with sling and stone because the Lord was delighted with him. Maybe, that event inspired him when he said in Psalm 37:4,

⁴Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

         Taking delight in the Lord is practically manifested in our obedience to his commands which is wise decision. By his wisdom, God commands what is best for us. Therefore, anyone who honestly obey God have the Spirit of wisdom. We obey God when his Spirit of wisdom is at work in us, and he is delighted in us.

2.  Delight

            ³⁵A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.

Normally, those who serve the king are called servants. In other cultures, servants of the king are not ordinary employees. They are officials: Official Butler, official cook, official baker, official driver, official security, official gardener. People who are not officials of the king need to get appointments to see him, but officials of the king can easily approach him when they needed his instructions or advice.

         There was a time when Joseph the son of Jacob was imprisoned in Egypt because of false accusation. Sometime later while Joseph was still confined in prison, it narrated in Genesis 40:2-3, ²Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, ³and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.

         This story narrated that those Egyptian officials had dreamed one night.

Joseph interpreted their dreams and it happened just he interpreted them.

         Let’s reflect of what happened to the interpretations of their dreams in Genesis 40:20-22, ²⁰Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: ²¹He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—²²but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.

Servants or officials of the king have no concern about food, shelter or clothing because everything they need are well provided by the king. Servants of a king have favorable privileges but it is beneficial to serve the king discreetly.

Certainly, if you are looking for better employment, you would choose a company that provides you the best benefits you can get, right? But it is more favorable to you if you discreetly do your responsibilities, or else you will be laid off. Pray that his Holy Spirit guides you always to be responsible employee.

Who is your favorite Bible character? Learn from Prophet Daniel. Daniel became a prominent figure in Babylon beginning from youth until he grew old. He was wiser than magicians, sorcerers, philosophers, and other long time political leaders in the land. He was wiser than his contemporaries. He was exceptionally favored by kings more than the other governors or experienced political leaders in his generation. How many kings did Daniel serve? Five successive kings.

Where did Daniel get his wisdom? Reflect on what Psalm 111:10 says,

¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

If “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” how can we increase in wisdom? Do you accept that Christ is the wisdom of God? His Spirit of wisdom reveals more of his will as we consistently follow Christ. Practically, as we follow the statutes of God discreetly and obey his decrees sincerely wisdom increases.

Let us reflect on Psalm 19:7, ⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Surely, it is foolishness to disobey any law that is favorable to us, right? Traffic laws are beneficial to motorists. To ignore traffic laws is foolishness.

Students: Do you like it when your teacher gives you pointers for review? Your teacher tells you the lessons you must review for exam. You trust your teacher tells the truth, and you obeyed. Likewise, when your boss tells you to finish your work, you obeyed because you trust that your effort will be rewarded eventually.

Similarly, anyone who follows the law of Lord is wise. Does it mean that anyone who cannot obey the law of the Lord has no wisdom? Faith in Christ makes us wise so that we gladly obey him. When the Holy Spirit inspires us, we can understand that the law of the Lord is favorable to us so that we obey.

We obey God because his commands are open-secret for his blessings.

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