Speaking to Power – Proverbs 23:1-3

Cute little Kate and Ashley Olsen sing about wanting to be President of the United States because “No one tells the President what to do.”  They want that kind of freedom from control.  And it’s true.  It is or could be dangerous to tell the President what to do, especially if he or she is doing something wrong.

[1] When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,

[2] and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.

[3] Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. (Proverbs 23:1–3, ESV)

This comes from a section in Proverbs (22:17-24:22) that has 30 sayings of the wise (22:20), incorporated by Solomon into his collection of wisdom sayings.

This is an apt warning to us when we are tempted to enjoy the delicacies of the rich and powerful and find ourselves compromised in our integrity.  Instead of being able to speak with prophetic power into the lives of such people we become their purchases, beholding to them and unable to speak into their lives because they own us.

When Nathan was told by God to confront David over his adultery and he did so, Nathan demonstrated that he was not “given to appetite” but rather given to Yahweh.  There are those who will say they have our back and in reality they have our subservience because they know we don’t want to lose their wages and benefits.  Our first loyalty must be to God.