Commentary - Proverbs 28:15

Bird's-eye view

The book of Proverbs is intensely practical, but it is not a mere collection of disconnected moralisms. It is a handbook for living skillfully in God's world, under God's authority. This particular proverb, found in a section that frequently addresses the nature of rule and society, gives us a vivid and visceral picture of what happens when civil authority becomes detached from its divine moorings. Solomon uses animal imagery, a common tool in wisdom literature, to make the point unforgettable. The verse is a stark warning about the nature of tyranny and its devastating effect on the most vulnerable members of a society. It is a political statement, to be sure, but it is a profoundly theological one, grounded in the character of God and the purpose for which He established government in the first place.

The proverb describes a wicked ruler's relationship to a poor or helpless populace. The imagery is that of a predator and its prey. This is not just a description of "bad policy." It is a description of rapacious, violent, and destructive evil. The lion and the bear do not have the good of the flock in mind. Their rule is for their own appetites, and the people are simply a resource to be consumed. This stands in stark contrast to the biblical model of the ruler as a shepherd, a guardian, and a minister of God for good. The proverb forces us to confront the reality of sin in high places and to understand the consequences when men who are supposed to reflect God's justice instead imitate the devil, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

Outline

Context In Proverbs

Proverbs 28 is filled with contrasts between the wicked and the righteous, particularly as their character manifests in public and civic life. The chapter begins by contrasting the flight of the wicked with the boldness of the righteous (v. 1). It discusses the instability that comes from transgression (v. 2), the folly of a poor man who oppresses the poor (v. 3), and the conflict between those who forsake the law and those who keep it (v. 4). The theme of justice and rule is central. This proverb, therefore, is not an isolated observation. It is part of a sustained argument that righteousness is the foundation for a stable and prosperous society, while wickedness, especially in leadership, is a destructive and terrifying force. The very next verse continues the thought, linking a lack of understanding in a ruler with great oppression (v. 16). The context is one of applied theology for the public square.

Clause-by-Clause Commentary

Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear...

The proverb opens with a simile, a comparison. And the comparison is not a flattering one. The animals chosen are not noble steeds or diligent oxen. They are predators, known for their raw, untamable power and their violent appetites. The lion is described as "roaring." This is not a contented lion, basking in the sun. This is a lion on the hunt, a lion whose roar is meant to terrify and paralyze its prey. It speaks of intimidation, of rule by fear. The authority here is not one that invites trust but one that demands submission through raw threat. Think of Pharaoh ordering the Hebrew midwives to kill the male infants, or Herod's furious slaughter of the children in Bethlehem. This is the roar of a king who sees the people not as a charge to be protected but as a threat to his own power to be eliminated.

The second animal is a "rushing" or "charging" bear. If the lion's roar represents the terror of the tyrant's voice and threats, the charging bear represents the tyrant's actions. The bear is not lumbering; it is rushing, charging, attacking. This is kinetic, destructive energy. The image is one of irresistible force and brute strength being brought to bear on the helpless. This is the government that doesn't just threaten, it acts. It seizes property, it conscripts sons, it crushes dissent. The actions are sudden, violent, and heedless of the consequences for the victims. This is the picture of a government that has forgotten its fundamental purpose.

Is a wicked ruler...

Here is the subject of the simile. Who is this lion, this bear? It is a wicked ruler. The Hebrew word for wicked, rasha, does not simply mean mistaken or incompetent. It carries the full weight of moral and spiritual rebellion against God. A wicked ruler is one who has rejected God's standard of justice. He is not a minister of God for good, as Paul describes in Romans 13. He is a minister of himself, for his own gain. His wickedness is not a private affair; it defines his public rule. The throne, Scripture tells us, is established by righteousness (Prov. 16:12). Therefore, a throne occupied by a wicked man is, by definition, an unstable and illegitimate throne in the sight of God, no matter how much raw power it projects. His rule is an abomination (Prov. 17:15).

over a poor people.

And who are the victims of this predatory rule? A "poor people." The word for poor here can mean materially poor, but it also carries the sense of being weak, helpless, or lowly. This is the tyrant's natural target. A wicked ruler doesn't typically go after those who can fight back effectively. He preys on the vulnerable. He oppresses those who lack the resources to defend themselves. This is the height of cowardice, and it is a direct affront to the God who identifies Himself as the defender of the poor, the fatherless, and the widow (Ps. 68:5). God's law is filled with commands to protect the poor, not to exploit them. So when a ruler, who is supposed to be God's deacon of justice, turns his power against the very people God has a special concern for, he is setting himself up in direct opposition to God Himself. He is picking a fight with the Almighty. The poverty of the people makes the ruler's sin all the more heinous.

The Gospel Connection

This proverb paints a dark picture, and it is a picture we see played out in history again and again. It is the story of fallen man given power. But it is not the end of the story. The ultimate roaring lion is the devil (1 Pet. 5:8), and all wicked rulers are simply acting as his lieutenants. They are earthly pictures of his tyrannical kingdom of darkness. But God did not leave His people under the paw of the lion or the bear.

He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true and righteous King. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5). But notice the difference. He does not roar to devour His people, but to defend them and to terrify His enemies. He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, the ultimate contrast to the wicked ruler who devours the flock for his own gratification. Christ came to a people who were poor indeed, spiritually bankrupt and helpless under the tyranny of sin and death. He did not come to oppress us further, but to set us free.

Through His death and resurrection, Christ defeated the ultimate wicked ruler, the devil. He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Col. 2:15). For those who are in Christ, there is now no condemnation. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. Our King is not a roaring lion who seeks to devour, but the Lamb of God who was slain for us, and who now rules with all justice, mercy, and truth.

Application

So what do we do with a proverb like this? First, we must be realists about the nature of sin and power. Unconverted men with unchecked authority will always tend toward tyranny. This is why Christians, of all people, should be advocates for limited government, for checks and balances, and for the rule of law over the rule of men. We know what is in the human heart. We should not be surprised when wicked men act wickedly.

Second, we must pray for our rulers, as we are commanded (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We pray that they would govern with justice and wisdom. We pray for their conversion, that they might bow the knee to King Jesus. And when they act like roaring lions, we must be the righteous who are as bold as a lion (Prov. 28:1). We have a duty to speak out against injustice, to defend the poor and helpless, and to refuse to comply with tyrannical commands that violate the law of God. Our ultimate allegiance is not to the bear or the lion in the state house, but to the Lion of Judah on the throne of heaven.

Finally, we must live as grateful citizens of a better kingdom. We have a King whose rule is life and peace. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. We serve Him not out of fear, but out of love. As we live faithfully under His righteous reign, we provide a contrast to the world. We show them what true authority looks like, an authority that serves, protects, and brings flourishing. In a world full of roaring lions and charging bears, the peaceable kingdom of Christ is the only true hope.