Biju Phillip - July 19, 2026
/Transcript
Good morning. And we thank the Assembly for the warm welcome that we have had and the opportunity to be with you all for the last three months in fellowship, and we look forward as family to have fellowship, and also thankful to the oversight for the opportunity to stand before you with the Word of God and let us sit prayerfully that God may guide us as we look to his word. As we can see, the topic today that I want to consider with you is leadership under God from the Book of Proverbs, and as we examine this topic of leadership, I want to first of all try to fit this subject into the overall structure of the Book of Proverbs. You know, if you look at Proverbs, it's not just a collection of wise sayings, but it is carefully designed to develop a godly character in individuals so that the person can be wise enough to take decisions when it comes to practical life.
So the central purpose is preparing the next generation. So when Solomon wrote this book, the sayings, the idea behind was that to equip his son or the younger generation to grasp the wisdom of God from a godly, divine perspective and apply that when that person grows up into adulthood, and I just want to see how it fits into this book on the overall structure of the book. Verse one to nine, if you look at it, it consists of extended discourses in which Solomon repeatedly addresses his son with the affectionate expression "my son." So in first nine chapters, maybe one to eight, we see this expression "my son."
So these chapters contain the father's instruction directly addressing to his own son, giving a solid foundation for the child, spiritually and morally, as the child enters into adulthood. So that's the chapters one to nine, and we see this expression "my son," and the idea was that to enable the child to avoid evil compromise, God is hard from evil and choose the path of righteousness as a person, as a son grows up. So that's the first section, but from chapter 10 onwards maybe to 29, we see there's a change in this book dramatically. There's no longer discourses, but we see short, memorable sayings or proverbs, and we see a shift from "my son" to "a wise son."
So this change is really significant as we look at the overall structure of this book. So it started with "my son," now he's talking about a wise son, and it moves from instruction. So in the first part is the instruction, now he turns to application. He is giving the child in the early years a time to develop his character and learning wisdom so that the child can live wisely by applying the wisdom.
So in this section, it's no longer telling his son what to do, he is describing how does a person who has the wisdom of God can practically live in this world. So we see that clear distinction here, and I want to think about this as we go into the topic this morning. And also, when we, as I said, Solomon said, "my son," and it brings us to the New Testament, who would be the wisest son? As we read in Isaiah, God gave his son, God gave his son, and we see that as Lord Jesus Christ was living in this world as the son of the father.
And maybe we can look at him and see him as a wisest son. In fact, heaven declared, the father declared, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." So what Solomon was thinking about shaping his son, we see its practical implementation or fulfillment in the person of Lord Jesus Christ, the wisest son who ever lived up on the face of this world. So we see this fulfillment, and also when we think about the leadership, we see that it is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Lord Jesus Christ.
Now when it comes to his application, now we know that we may not have an opportunity to sit in an earthly throne and be a king, or where is his application? You know, when we look at our spiritual life, God has entrusted us with leadership roles. Teachers have roles in their families, mothers shape the hearts of the young children, the elders, the oversight, shepherd the church, the believers, and employers have responsibilities in the workplaces, teachers have influence on their children, so every Christian has some role of leadership as we live in this world. So it may not be reserved entirely for the kings, but this truth applies to each and every believer when God has entrusted us, each one of us, with various roles and responsibilities to influence the life of others.
So we have this wonderful application in our spiritual life. Now as we look at this topic of leadership under God, the book of Proverbs talks about leadership from God's perspective. So as we see, as we look to this, go through this topic, God looks at leadership from a different perspective that we don't see in this world. Rather than emphasizing on the political skills, or organizational ability, or personal sexes, Proverbs focuses on moral and spiritual character of the leader.
So it is completely contrast to what we see in this world. You know, we see power, prestige, and prominence is what influences the leader, but the scripture or the Proverbs gives to us a different picture of leadership. And God gives responsibilities to these leaders and they are accountable to God and they exercise their responsibility to being faithful to God and the person receives their responsibilities and continues being faithful to God. So the true leader, as we see from the scripture, this king, is not established by his military power, wealth, popularity, but truly upon righteousness.
So that's what we're going to see, the idea of the leadership from the book of Proverbs. And when we come to the New Testament, this truth has this highest expression fulfilled in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. As I said, the world measures leadership by power, prestige, and position. That, you know, refines the meaning of leadership through his humility and his servanthood.
And in fact, Mark 1043 says, "Whosoever will be the greatest among you shall be your servant." So that's the standard. That's the standard the scripture portrays before us, the mark of a great leader. And we will see that being fulfilled in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So let's look more detail into this topic. So I just made an outline of what we're going to consider this morning concerning leadership under God. I want to look at it under four bullet points. The divine source of leadership, the purpose of leadership, the character of Godly leadership, the accountability of leadership from the book of Proverbs.
And I wanted to look at an example from the Old Testament, Nehemiah. And I also want to conclude by looking at its fulfillment in the person of Lord Jesus Christ. As we look at it just briefly before we go into the details of that, one thing that we understand is when we come to leadership based on the scripture, it is appointed by God. God is the one who appoints leaders, kings.
And there is a purpose behind God giving the person responsibilities. So it is for the good of the people. And God wants to see certain characteristics in that person, godly leadership that is contrary to the world standards. And we see that being truly open to us from the book of Proverbs.
So we see these things. And ultimately this leader, the one god entrusts power and position and that person is responsible to God. And we see and we'll look at Nehemiah how he was not a king, but God raised him to be a leader and he was truly faithful to God and we will look at that against this outline. And we'll see finally the comparison between the ideal leader portrayed in Proverbs with our Lord Jesus Christ.
So let's look at the first point that is leadership is appointed by God. So that's the first thing that we need to understand when you talk about a leader. It nor be the king or anybody else, you know, God has placed us in responsible position and when we fulfill that position or the responsibility of this position, one thing that we need to keep in mind is that it is God who has placed us in that position. It originated with God, it was God's idea.
And that's the first thing that we understand and acknowledge. And we see that in Proverbs chapter 8 verse 15, "By me, wisdom, kings reign and the princes decree justice." Now when we come to Proverbs chapter 8, wisdom is personified and ultimately pointing to the wisdom of God by which God governs the world and we also see that kings don't independently govern but they are given the responsibility, they are given the authority by God and every ruler, judge or governor they are responsible to God. So and also we as we go through Proverbs the term or the words that being used is not only limited to king, it could be princes, rulers or, you know, other words have been used to convey this idea of leadership.
And there are also other scripture portions that also highlight that leadership, the authority comes from God as we see in Daniel chapter 2 verse 21, it says that, "And he changes the times and the seasons, he removeth kings and seteth the kings, he giveth wisdom unto the wise and to the knowledge to them that no understanding." So God is in control, he is the one who sets up kings and removes kings, he is actively participating in the course of this world history. And also when we come to the New Testament, Romans 13, 1 says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God, the power that be our ordained of God." So Paul recognizes the authority of God, it is God who places kings and rulers in the position to execute his will upon this world.
And also when we come to the gospel of John chapter 19 verse 11, Jesus told Pilate, Jesus said, "Thou could not have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above; therefore, he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin." So Lord Jesus Christ is turning Pilate, "No, I'm standing before you, and you are able to stand before me is because God allowed." So it is God who allowed Pilate to take the responsible role, and we see that God is in ultimate control. So the first thing is authority originates from God, and second expectation is the leadership access to administer justice.
Again, by me, verse 16, chapter 8 verse 16, "By me princes rule, and nobles, and even all judges of the earth." So we see that the reason why God has put them in responsible position is to administer justice. God wants them to rule in truthfulness. The defining character of their leadership is righteousness, and that's what God expects from that leader.
When God places that person in the role, God expects the person to execute the responsibility in truthfulness to God. So it's not the power that the person possesses, but it is how faithfully that person uses that power to accomplish God's righteous purposes. And now let's go to the second point that is the purpose of leadership. What is the purpose of leadership?
So we have seen the source of authority, and immediately after that, it also talks about the purpose of leadership. First thing that we notice here is that it is not for the benefit of the leader. Most of the time, as we see in this world, leaders, they are self-promoter leaders, and they want to use the people for their benefit. But as we look at the scripture, God plays these leaders in the responsible positions for the good of the people.
In Proverbs 1428, it says, "In the multitude of people is a king's owner, but in the want of the people is the destruction of the prince." So God entrusts the leaders with responsibility so that they can do what is good for the people, and not to extract from the people, but to serve the people. So that's the idea of godly leadership. They are to take care of the people.
They have to be more concerned about the welfare of the people. It's not their own wealth, fame, their strength, their army, but it is for flourishing the people, for making people so that they can live a peaceful and quiet life. So that's the expectation. And when we look at our Lord Jesus Christ, Mark 1045, as we have looked at, "The Son of Man came not to be minister, but to minister."
Lord Jesus Christ came so that he can help others, God can be the servant, and we see that being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then second point that we see here under that is leadership requires concern for the people. So they have to be really concerned about the people, Proverbs 2914, "The King that faithfully judge the poor, his throne shall be established forever." So he should have a great concern about the people, especially most of the society's people who are overlooked are the poor, oppressed, and the defenseless, but it is a responsibility of a godly leader.
The purpose that God wants to fulfill in that person's life is that he would take care of the poor, the people who are oppressed, who don't have opportunities, it is a responsibility of the king to take care of that. And if the king does that, his throne will be established forever. And in other words, from Proverbs 3119, "Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." The poor and needy, again being emphasized, it is the responsibility of a great leader to support these people, and to help them, and to show or execute righteousness.
Now let's look at the character of a godly leader. This is stewardship, so we see leaders have given all these resources into them, and they have to be truthful to God, and they have to exercise that, and God expects a certain level of character in their life. So Solomon gives us a certain extent of characteristics in their lives, and we can see that in Proverbs 16, the first thing that he mentions there is, "The leaders must exercise righteous judgment." Proverbs 1610, "A divine sentence is in the lips of the king, his mouth transgresseth not in judgment."
So the divine sentence, look at the expression divine sentence, as if God is talking, God is bringing the message, the words that are coming out of the lips of the king is equal to what God is bringing before the people. So he has to exercise the righteous judgment as if God is directly intervening in the affairs of the people. So the king's judgment is expected to reflect the character of God, and every decision should be guided by truthfulness and fairness and wisdom. It should be true not only when we think in terms of king, but in our own homes and church and workplace and government, everywhere.
We need to see this righteous judgment when we are to discern something. We have to look at it from God's perspective. And second thing characteristic of a golden leader is, "The leaders must practice honest dealings." Again, Proverbs 1611, " Adjust weight and balance are the lords, all the weights of the bag are his work."
So second is the honest dealings. It talks about weights and balances. It talks about the transactions, it talks about the society, the marketplace, and leaders must show integrity. They must be truthful when it comes to finances, making decisions, evaluating others.
So it has to be a perfect standard, a standard that aligns with the values of God. So just weight and balances. We know that even today, morsels, track sashins are traced back to a perfect standard, and that's what God expects from us as well. When we make that transaction, one thing God wants to see is that it aligns with his character.
What we do, how we conduct our business, does it reflect worldly character? Is it aligned with the standard that God has for us, or is it based on the scripture? So that's the honest dealings. Then we have, third thing, "Leaders must love righteousness," Proverbs 1612, "It is an abomination to a king to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness."
So it has to be, for the throne to be secure, it has to be established by righteousness. Historically, when we look at the children of Israel, whenever there was wickedness and deviation from the truthfulness of the word, there would be distraction. People are taken out from their own kingdoms, we see the captivity and all these things happened in the history of children of Israel, because they deviated from the standard of God. The next point is, "Leaders must value truth," Proverbs 1613, "Righteous lips are the delight of kings, they love him that speaketh right.
They must value the truth, they may speak the truth." They cannot make foolish decisions, they have to speak the truth, they have to convey the truth based on the word of God. And finally, "Leaders must exercise power wisely," Proverbs 16, verse 14 and 15, "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, his life and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain." So it talks about the final authority of the king.
So what the king makes the decision, that's going to be the final song. He has to wisely exercise his power and he has to discern, he needs to have self-control so that his decision will be truthful before God, so he has to wisely make decisions. And the last point from Proverbs is the accountability of leadership. We started by saying that the leaders were appointed by God, now they execute their responsibilities and finally they are accountable to God, and that's what we see in this section in Proverbs.
Proverbs 29, 2-4, "When the righteous are in authority, people rejoice, but when the wicked bearth rule, the people mourn, whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father, but he that keepeth company with harvest spendeth his substance. The king, by judgment, established the land, but he that receiveth gift overthrow it." So when the king does well or ruled righteously, the nation flourishes, where nation is being strengthened by a wise ruler who would take care of the people. And also Proverbs 20, 26, "A wise king scattereth the wicked, bringeth the will over them.
The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, surging all the inward parts of the belly, mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upholden by mercy." So we see that when the king or when the leader judges righteously, does his actions based on the word of God, we see his kingdom is established, flourishes. And on the other hand, corruption destroys the nation, where Proverbs 28, 15, and 16, as a roaring lion, as a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the poor people, the prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor, but he that hateth cohesiveness shall prolong his days. So corruption, money, and other personal fame, if the leader goes after that, that nation will be destroyed.
And quickly, we'll see the example from the life of Nehemiah. What I did, I used the outline and tried to fit in some of the things that Nehemiah did as a leader and see how he would fit into the mold of what we see in the book of Proverbs. So first thing that we looked at from Proverbs was the divine source of leadership. It was appointed by God.
One thing that we see in the case of Nehemiah was that he truly understood that it is God who gave, given him the responsibility and Nehemiah to 12 C's and my God put this in my heart. He truly understood that the appointment came from God to be the leader, to, to go back and build the wall was directly entrusted by God and he truly understood that. So he understood that God appointed him and to strengthen that, what he did was he prayed to God continually and we see throughout the book of Nehemiah, he continues to pray, maybe short prayers and he's truly depending on God. And the second thing that we saw from Proverbs was that the purpose of leadership, the key was that it exists for the good of the peoples.
So let's see how Nehemiah did as he was engaging in fulfilling his responsibilities. First thing that we see is he carefully evaluated the extent of the damage and strategically formulated a practical course of action. So we see in chapter two, he came, he surveyed the walls, he went through that and he had a good idea of the ruins of that place. He came up with a plan, a course of action and he did it to help the people.
So he did that and after that he was motivating and inspiring others. Now he went to the people and he asked them to join in building that and also we see his delegating responsibilities and giving them specific tasks and also he was protecting the people. We see that enemies came to disrupt the work, attack them, but we see Nehemiah standing to protect them, to help them. So we see that he truly understood his purpose and he was helping the people to achieve his mission.
And also we see the the the goldly character of leadership in Nehemiah and he was first of all he was an example by himself, right? He actively participated in the project, he worked alongside with the people. We see those in chapter four and five when he was working alongside with them and also in chapter five he refused personal gain. He wanted to help people, he did not take from the people but he wanted to supply people with food and other help that he could do.
So we see that character of stewardship being actively played out in his life and finally we see the accountability. He was fully engaged and committed until the work was done in chapter six verse fifteen and sixteen. We see that the continued to engage with the people and we see we saw the results of that so he was accountable to God. So we see the the goldly character of Nehemiah.
He was a great leader and he accomplished his purpose. Now we just want to compare some of the thoughts from the book of proverbs concerning a ideal king or ideal leader and we see that being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. In proverbs eight fifteen and sixteen we have seen wisdom. One thing that we see there was the says by me King's reign God appointed them by wisdom and we see that being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God we see the Lord Jesus Christ who created this universe gaming in this world and he fulfilling his mission and we see the complete wisdom the person in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Second thing is love righteousness the true leader loves righteousness and we see that his ultimate fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ was in verse nine of Hebrews chapter one thou will love us righteousness and hated iniquity before God even thy God. So we see Lord Jesus Christ loved righteousness he want to set up his kingdom based on righteousness and truthfulness and he wants to defend the needy the poor as we have looked at and prime example is Lord Jesus Christ in Luke chapter four we read about Lord Jesus Christ caring for the poor and he want to heal the sick and he want to release the captives so we see this ultimate fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ and also one one thing that we saw in proverbs was judges righteously the kings and we see the Lord Jesus Christ is going to be the righteous judge I mean in John chapter five that we see the Lord Jesus Christ is going to be the just righteous judge for this world and another thing that we have so another thing that we saw from Proverbs was their kings or their ultimate responsibility to God and how they should fulfill their responsibilities and we see that prime example of that in the Lord Jesus Christ when he submitted himself to the father he came down from heaven to do the will of the father says to do not to do my own will but to the will of him that sent me so he want to be ultimately responsible to his father and he became obedient to death even to the death of the Lord. So we see the Lord Jesus Christ the supreme example of leadership God king of kings and lord of lords he came to this world he served others and he fulfilled the desire of the father and completed the work of salvation and he's going to come back as the great king supreme ruler of this world so as we look at this book it gives us wonderful ideas to be how we can be responsible with the responsibilities that God has given us as leaders and to fulfill in our spiritual life so let us understand the authority that God has given us and show wisdom and truthfulness and compassion to others and ultimately let us know or keep in mind that we are accountable to God in the position that God has placed us so may God continue to have be good leaders in the space in the place where God has entrusted us so that you know we can ultimately fulfill his desire his will in the position that God has given us may his great be glorified.
