Proverbs 23:1-3

 The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about discernment of leadership:

Proverbs 23:1-3 (NASBStr)

 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

Consider carefully what is before you,

 And put a knife to your throat

If you are a man of great appetite.

 Do not desire his delicacies,

For it is deceptive food.

Solomon instructs us throughout Proverbs on how to avoid folly and put on wisdom.   Each chapter holds keys and insights that allow us to escape the lure of foolishness and embrace the security and stability of wisdom.    The above three verses add to this material, specifically how to avoid the folly that comes from false rulers, who present wisdom but eat and sleep folly.   Solomon, as one of the most prominent leaders of his day, came across many foolish leaders.   He was well aware of what good leaders and poor leaders looked like.   Dangerous leaders look great and set a good table (see above).  They lay out their delicacies and appeal to our gluttony and appetite.  Solomon knows these types are so dangerous that he recommends putting a knife to our throat if we are so tempted.   Like his food, the false and folly leader is deceptive at the least and dangerous at the most.  We are told to "consider" him.  The word means to use discernment to detect his evil ways.   It is by faith in God's Word (the Fear of The Lord) that we acquire wisdom and discernment.   It is by the flesh we are lead astray by our apnetitites to follow false leaders and false ideas and false attractions.   One (God) has our best interest at heart.   The other (folly) wants us to fall into his traps.  If you are attempted to sit down with evil make sure you are not lead astray by your own hungers.