Proverbs 16:30

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about how we respond to evil:

Proverbs 16:30 (NASBStr)

He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;

He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

Proverbs 16:30 (ESV)

Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

Proverbs has much to say about leadership and taking the lead in areas of life.   Solomon, as a young man, observed his father, King David, lead in difficult situations.   Solomon, as a young man himself, was confronted immediately in his own leadership when two women came to him claiming one baby was each their child.   He offered to cut the baby in half to settle the matter.  Such shrewd leadership is not always seen in our lives today.   In the above proverb we see the type of leadership often on display in corporate or political America.   The above proverb is talking about the leader who ignores justice, or mercy or grace and pretends that evil is okay.  Instead of sounding a warning such a leader winks with eye that the evil is fine and he will not deal with it.  Or, he bites his lip and refuses to speak up.   Such a leader devises perverse things and brings evil to pass.   Leadership should take action against evil.  But, the lack of leadership produces evil and makes a way for perverse things.  See the story at the end of the book of Judges (chapter 17-21).  When there was no leadership in Israel corrupt things began to happen (Judges 17:1).  A leader who “winks with the eye” but is inwardly devising wickedness is a deceptive leader.  You see them “purse” the lips, as if to kiss, but instead they are bringing about danger. A “wink” and “compressed” lips are the deception.   The real danger is in their “perverse” plans and “evil” outcomes.