Proverbs 20:28

Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.

When the Old Testament refers to “the king,” many think of these as prophetic references to Christ. Certainly, the Psalms are taken that way. But the Book of Proverbs is not meant to be taken as a prophetic book. It is a practical book intended to equip a young man to walk in wisdom. Whereas our Lord Jesus Christ indeed is the very wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:26–31), we know that He does and will perfectly fulfill the wisdom communicated to us through His Word.

This text still speaks to godly leadership in the civil sphere. Governments come and go. Empires come and go. Kingdoms rise and fall. What preserves any and all attempts to organize human society is found in these two basic constituents—mercy and truth. Truth is the basis for good law and equitable judgments. If a king would seek laws based in God’s revealed truth and then insist on good witnesses and good evidence for his court cases, he would maintain a stable system of law. But as he gives up any interest in the truth, as he rejects God’s laws, as he willfully misinterprets God’s Word to His own sinful biases, as he fails to adequately punish those who witness falsely in court trials, he gives up his right to rule. His kingdom will eventually collapse. Democracies are even more subject to revolution, anarchy, and collapse when the people have little or no interest in the truth. Often, the leaders are more subject to the ever-changing whims of the people than they are to truth.

But the king must also be committed to mercy. We live in an imperfect world, and should the magistrate pursue every instance of sin committed in every single household in his district, there would be nobody left to govern! Therefore, in a sinful world, a magistrate must allow for mercy. But when does he show mercy? Would it be appropriate to allow every killer and every bank robber to walk out of the courtroom scot-free to continue working their murder and mayhem in the surrounding neighborhoods and towns? On the other hand, wise elders and judges in churches and towns must never be perfectionists. What we are looking for is direction, not perfection. Always, righteous leaders will look to set their people in a good direction. Conversely, it is only tyrants who engage in unmerciful, revolutionary measures to bring about “a better society.” This, by the way, also applies to fathers who lead their families. Should a father fail to know when to show mercy, eventually he will destroy his family. He will push his children too hard, risking rebellion, emotional breakdown, and disintegration. You may recall that this was the legacy of Rehoboam who threatened to beat his people with scorpions (1 Kings 2:11). Subsequently, he lost his kingdom.

Family Discussion Questions:

1. What are the ways in which a government official might show mercy? What would be an example of an inappropriate extension of mercy?

2. How might a father fail to show mercy in his pursuit of truth and justice?