Proverbs 16:10
"A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err in judgment."
This is a very interesting proverb beneath the surface. It is one of the only positive references to a process of making a decision using spiritual or occultist means. It was the proverb used to justify the divine right of kings and a divine infallibility for kings.
divine decision
This is actually just one word – qesem – which is the word most often translated divination or witchcraft. It has been translated here divine decision. Coming to a decision which affects multitudes involves a process and that process became known as divination after the rituals, ceremonies, and practices of pagan kings and the way that they made decisions. Ezekiel says that Nebecanezzer threw arrows on the ground to determine which cities to attack and which ways to attack. The whole idea deals with how a person comes to making a decision. Decision making is property of kings. "Divining" what God wants is the business of leaders – don’t make a mistake.
The thing that separates leaders from non-leaders is the decisions they make and their willingness to make decisions.
Some have translated this proverb: A divine utterance rests on the lips of the king; in giving his judgment his mouth deceives not. As those kings are infallible when sitting on their throne. In fact, the divine right of kings was made from this verse.
Both the verse before and the verse after this one deals with decision making, righteousness, and being in God's will. This verse is linked into that series. The process of making a decision is a supernatural one; a divine one for a leader. He should not speak out what is clearly wrong or selfish. A person who is in a position of leadership should not use the prerogative of leadership for selfish decisions.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz