Proverbs 19:12

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 the anger of authority:

Proverbs 19:12 (ESV)

A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

If you have ever been in the cross-hairs of a powerful leader you can relate to this proverb.  In my military days I was once chewed out by a Full-bird Colonel.  Scary!!  He was upset about something our unit did or didn't do and he simply used me as his focus for the message for us all.  I was an Acting-Jack Buck Sergeant at the time. I was 22 years old.  He was about 60.   Almost 20 years later I was also chewed out by a Superintendent of Schools who was frustrated by some action I had done (or not done).   I simply got up and walked away.   But, in each case, it was the "roaring of a lion."   The ruler who shows his wrath is scary.   God meant the ruler's wrath to be scary.  God's wrath, revealed, is more than scary ... it is frightening.  But, as horrible and fearful the ruler's wrath can be, it is so true of his grace.   As gentle as the dew hits the grace in the morning, so grace lays on those around the ruler.    God's grace is so comfortable.  His grace comes like rain on a hot day.   The king (ruler, leader, boss) who is living in the fear of The Lord will know when and how to use his/her wrath.   He or she will balance that wrath or administer that wrath with his/her grace.   However, the ruler who does not know God or has not experienced God's grace will not be able to minister in grace, other than the common grace given to all men.    God's grace is such a beautiful experience.  He forgives by grace, He heals by grace; everything we have in this life that is any ounce of good, is from God's grace.   Don't live in fear of the Lion.  Know His grace.