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Here we have a proverb that serves as warning and instruction by giving a spiritual picture of salvation. The prince that wanteth understanding points to the great oppressor and price of the wicked world, satan and his army of antichrists. Those who are evil lack the knowledge of spiritual truths that accompany salvation; but the wicked will soon be defeated by Christ in the final battle of good over evil. The LORD will remove evil leaders and they will be judged; their oppression is but for a short while:
"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts." (Isaiah 3:12-15).
"Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter." (Ecclesiastes 10:16-20).
The second half of today's proverb offers much hope. It tells us that those who hate covetousness will prolong their days. This points to sharing the gospel; as the LORD has blessed us with truth, He too has commisssioned us and sent us forth as His children to be ambassadors for Him in word and deed. We do not covet, but share the good news with others; with the household of the faith first as well as the unsaved world. This shall "prolong our days" not making us live physically longer, but our spiritual days; this is pointing to the promise of eternal life in heaven.
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:5-10).
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