By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things.
בִּ֭י מְלָכִ֣ים יִמְלֹ֑כוּ וְ֝רוֹזְנִ֗ים יְחֹ֣קְקוּ צֶֽדֶק׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 7 commentaries
Solomon refers to kings as apostles and other holy figures capable of governing wisely, particularly in their own lives and within the church they oversee. He designates the writers of the Old and New Testaments as lords, while the additional educators and mentors of the faithful are considered rulers and nobles. However, none of them can achieve anything without wisdom, as it is stated, "For without Me you can do nothing" (Jn. 15:5).
By broadening the commandment ‘God to God’ to an infinite degree, do we not diminish the importance of the other commandment ‘Caesar to Caesar’? Not at all. Is not the ruler and His benevolent authority also a divine gift? The Apostle teaches, ‘There is no authority except from God’ (Rom. 13:1). The wisdom of God asserts, ‘By me kings reign’ (Proverbs 8:15). Therefore, the ruler and His supreme authority ought to be acknowledged and honored as a gift from God. How is this accomplished? By receiving and safeguarding this divine gift with honor, which involves being actively faithful and ‘rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's.’ Therefore, these two commandments are not only aligned but also work in harmony and are inseparable.
What can we say about the magnificence of this title? If it is achieved through remarkable actions and contributions that benefit humanity, it is clear from previous statements that such greatness is also bestowed by God, the supporter and guardian of noble and helpful endeavors. If it is inherited, then who other than God “blesseth the race of the upright, that glory and riches... may be to his house, and his righteousness... to his house, and his righteousness,” for the inherited virtue “endureth unto the age of ages” (Psalms 111:2-3).
God bestowed royal greatness upon David, the humble shepherd; He chose Solomon as his successor; He safeguarded the lineage from Rehoboam’s negligence, preventing its destruction; He concealed it from deceit and malice within His own temple, in the form of the young Joash; and He sustained it eternally on the throne of Jerusalem, through the blessed but not universally deserving lineage of David. In contrast, the kings of Israel, who sought greatness apart from the true God, perished like leaves and branches from a decaying tree, one after another, overcome by the tempests of rebellion. Throughout all ages, the uncreated wisdom of God, the source of all creation, declares to the great of the earth: “By me kings reign, and mighty men write the truth; by me nobles are magnified, and rulers hold the earth by me.”
O my brethren, the Lord was crucified for us, and thereby showed us His love for us. He Who was crucified for us must indeed love us more than he who rejoices with us at the table. And if we already have so much love for our friends who are at the table with us, how can we not love Him Who was nailed to the Cross out of love for us?
The wise individual listens to the voice of wisdom herself. She cries out to everyone from elevated and bustling places and, recognizing that her hands are filled with truth and significance, she reveals her divine attributes and actions as the hypostatic Wisdom. She bestows upon her followers strength, riches, and success; she is a co-creator alongside God the Creator, involved in the creation of the world. Now, she extends an invitation to all to receive her teachings, promising to impart wisdom and happiness. The Lord established me at the beginning of His ways, for His works.
The original Hebrew text uses the term ‘kanani’—meaning acquired—so instead of the Greek term for created, it should more accurately be rendered as acquired, as emphasized by the holy fathers in their discussions with the Arians, reflecting the understanding in the translation of Aquila and echoed in the Vulgate in Psalm 138:13.
The Lord is aware of all nations and realms. This reality is distinctly articulated in Scripture, which declares that He ultimately governs through rulers over the kingdoms of the world: By me kings reign, and lords establish righteousness (Proverbs 8:15). The Lord holds the heart of a king as one would guide the currents of water; wherever He desires, He leads them (Proverbs 21:1).
Sovereigns, serving as agents of God's providence over the nations, are designated and sustained in their power by the will of the Lord, the Sovereign over all sovereigns, who reveals His wisdom through them for the benefit of the people. Similarly, in the statutes and decrees issued by these authorities, Divine Wisdom demonstrates its might, leading lawmakers and rulers in their efforts to impart truth to the populace and to eliminate all forms of wickedness.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS