“If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.” – Proverbs 29:12 NIV

The rulers set the example for the people under their care. They lead in being an example to following morals for their people. We can see this from how often Proverbs demonstrates leaders should be moral leaders. An example is Proverbs 16:12-13, which says this:

“Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.” – Proverbs 16:12-13 NIV

Proverbs 16:12-13 speaks clearly of how kings should detest wrongdoing and take pleasure in being honest and value what is right. They ought to be characters of righteous. This goes even further with pastoral leaders and deacons as spoken of in 1 Timothy:

“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 3:1-13 NIV

Like the leader/king spoken of in Proverbs, it is clear that the leaders spoken of in 1 Timothy value righteousness and morality based off of their actions like being such things as righteous, trustworthy, self-controlled, etc. Moral characteristics that are good and right are something God deeply values and clearly wants his leaders to embody. With the leader from Proverbs 29:12 being someone that sets a poor example by lying, the outcome that one can expect is that his people become liars and disrespectful towards God’s moral law. How can they not when their leader tells them to by his actions. We need our leaders to be men of character and not tyrants. They need to do what is right and lead us to do what is right by setting a good example.