The Tyrant's Blindness and the Statesman's Longevity Text: Proverbs 28:16
Introduction: Two Kinds of Rulers
The book of Proverbs is intensely practical. It is not a collection of esoteric sayings for personal, private devotion alone. It is a handbook for living in God's world, which means it is a handbook for everything, from sweeping a floor to running an empire. And a central concern of this book is the character of rulers, because the character of a nation's leadership will inevitably shape the life of its people. A fish rots from the head down, and a nation does as well.
In our text today, the Holy Spirit sets before us a stark contrast between two kinds of leaders. One is the foolish oppressor, the man who lacks understanding and whose reign is therefore characterized by a heavy hand. The other is the wise statesman, the man who hates corruption and whose days are consequently prolonged. This is not simply a piece of political advice that might be found in some secular manual on statecraft. This is a revelation of how God has structured His moral universe. There are political consequences to sin and political blessings for righteousness. The laws of political gravity are as fixed as the physical ones. A ruler who defies them will find his regime crashing to the ground, while the one who honors them will build something that lasts.
We live in an age that has completely detached political theory from theology. Our modern secularists believe they can have justice without Jehovah, and stability without the standards of Scripture. They want rulers who are clever, not wise; who are pragmatic, not principled; who are powerful, not righteous. But this proverb cuts right through that nonsense. It tells us that the fundamental qualification for a lasting and just government is not a high IQ or a ruthless pragmatism, but rather a hatred of unjust gain. It teaches that oppression is not a sign of strength, but of a profound lack of understanding. A tyrant is not a genius; he is a fool.
The Text
A leader who lacks discernment abounds in oppressions,
But he who hates greedy gain will prolong his days.
(Proverbs 28:16 LSB)
The Obtuse Oppressor
Let us first consider the negative side of the proverb:
"A leader who lacks discernment abounds in oppressions..." (Proverbs 28:16a)
The Hebrew for "discernment" or "understanding" points to a deep, practical wisdom. It's the ability to see the connections between things, to understand how the world actually works. The leader who lacks this is not just unintelligent; he is blind to the moral structure of reality. He thinks he can plant thistles and harvest figs. He believes he can build a stable regime on a foundation of injustice.
And what is the result of this blindness? He "abounds in oppressions." Oppression is not an accidental byproduct of his rule; it is the central feature. It is what he does because it is all he knows how to do. Lacking the wisdom to lead free men, he must resort to coercion. Lacking the character to inspire loyalty, he must demand subservience. Lacking the economic sense to foster prosperity, he must resort to extortion and plunder. His toolkit has only one instrument in it, and that is a hammer. And so, every problem looks like a nail.
This is why big government is always oppressive government. When the state swells beyond its God-given jurisdiction, which is to punish evil and praise the good (Romans 13), it must necessarily lack understanding. It begins to meddle in things it has no wisdom for: setting prices, managing industries, educating children, defining marriage. Because it lacks the discernment to do these things well, it must do them with force. The regulations multiply. The taxes increase. The bureaucracies metastasize. This is the abounding oppression that Proverbs warns of. It is the oppression of a leader, a civil magistrate, who does not understand his own limits because he does not understand the God who set those limits.
This leader thinks that his power is the source of law. He is a law unto himself. But the Christian understanding of government is that the ruler is under the law of God. When a ruler rejects this, he becomes a tyrant by definition. His lack of discernment is ultimately a theological problem. He does not fear the Lord, and therefore he has no beginning of wisdom.
The Wise and Enduring Statesman
The second half of the verse presents us with the alternative, the path of wisdom and blessing.
"...But he who hates greedy gain will prolong his days." (Proverbs 28:16b)
Notice the specific virtue that is highlighted. It is not just that he avoids taking bribes or refrains from extortion. The text says he "hates" greedy gain. This is a matter of the heart. It is a deep-seated revulsion to corruption. He doesn't just calculate that honesty is the best policy; he despises the alternative. He hates what God hates.
Greedy gain, or unjust profit, is the fuel of oppression. It is the motive behind the crushing taxes, the corrupt courts, and the crony capitalism that enriches the powerful at the expense of the common man. The tyrant is driven by an insatiable lust for more, more power, more wealth, more control. He sees the people not as a flock to be shepherded, but as a fleece to be sheared.
The man who hates this is the man qualified to rule. Why? Because his desires are rightly ordered. He seeks the good of his people, not his own enrichment. He understands that his role is to be a servant of God for the public good. This hatred of covetousness is one of the key qualifications for civil rulers laid out in Exodus 18:21, where Jethro advises Moses to select "men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain." This is the foundation of a just and stable society.
And what is the result for such a man? He "will prolong his days." This can be understood in two ways, and both are true. First, it means he will likely live a long life. The tyrant lives in constant fear of assassination or rebellion. His life is one of stress, paranoia, and the constant threat of retribution. The righteous ruler, beloved by his people and blessed by his God, enjoys a peace and security that the oppressor can never know. Second, and more importantly, it means his reign, his legacy, will be lasting. He builds something that endures. The institutions he establishes are just and therefore stable. The prosperity he fosters creates a loyal and grateful populace. While the empires of tyrants are a flash in the pan, built on sand, the kingdom of a just ruler has a foundation of rock.
The Gospel and Government
As with every proverb, we must ultimately run this text to the cross. Who is the ultimate leader who lacks discernment and abounds in oppression? It is Satan, the prince of this world. His rule is built entirely on lies and violence. He is the ultimate oppressor, and his end is sure. He and all the petty tyrants who imitate him will be thrown into the lake of fire.
And who is the ultimate ruler who hates greedy gain and whose days are prolonged? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the King of Kings. He did not grasp at equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant (Phil. 2:6-7). He hated greedy gain so much that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). He set his face against the corrupt temple system, the den of robbers, and drove them out.
And what is the result? His days are prolonged. He is the eternal king. "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). He has been raised from the dead, and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. He is the one to whom all earthly rulers must give an account.
Conclusion: Our Political Duty
This proverb, therefore, is not just for kings and presidents. It is for us, the citizens of earthly kingdoms and the subjects of the heavenly one. It gives us a standard by which to judge our leaders. We should not be impressed by the bluster of the strongman who promises to get things done through oppression. We should recognize him for what he is: a fool who is building his house on the sand. We should, rather, seek out and support leaders who demonstrate a hatred for corruption, who fear God, and who understand that their authority is delegated and limited.
But more than that, it calls us to cultivate this character in ourselves. The principles of godly rule apply in every sphere. The father in his home, the elder in the church, the manager in his business, all are called to lead without oppression and to hate greedy gain. A man who is a petty tyrant in his home is not fit to hold public office. A man who cheats his customers in business cannot be trusted with the nation's treasury. The character of a nation is the sum of the character of its people, and its leaders are simply a reflection of what we are.
Our task is to live as faithful citizens of the kingdom of Christ. This means we must hate what He hates, including greedy gain and oppression. It means we must submit our politics, our economics, and our entire lives to His Lordship. As we do this, we become the salt and light that can preserve a nation from the decay of tyranny. We pray for our rulers, yes, but we also work and vote and speak for that righteous government that fears God and, as a result, has its days prolonged in blessing.