Proverbs 14:33-35--The Proverbs of Solomon

Proverbs 14:33-35
English Standard Version
​33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

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Both wisdom and understanding are from the LORD and rest upon us when we are indwelt by His Holy Spirit (something I can say for post-Pentecost believers that I am not sure I could say in general for pre-Pentecost believers).  The Spirit of the LORD came upon prophets and priests and kings to anoint them for their specific roles for a specific time, and I believe the Spirit of the LORD was poured out on Solomon so that he might receive great wisdom and understanding of the physical and the spiritual worlds.  Even a broken clock is right twice a day though, and sometimes the worldly and foolish people get some things right.  That doesn't mean that we abandon God as the source of wisdom and understanding, rather we realize that He sometimes gives common grace even to those who are His enemies.  Otherwise, they would have no chance of understanding the world He made for them to live in and would have no hope of understanding His plan of salvation for mankind.

When the king fears the LORD and obeys Him, all of the people of that nation experience a common blessing that comes from the culture and tone of the nation being set by the king.  That is not to say that wickedness won't still be around if there are godly leaders, but godly leaders will desire to reward righteousness and punish wickedness.  That alone will make things safer for everyone else so that they won't become victims for the wicked.  However, if the leaders are evil and encourage the nation to do what is evil, that should be a reproach to any people--they should expect better from their leaders and the whole nation may be punished for what those representing the people do.  God allows leaders that often reflect the heart of the nation (even in monarchies and other dictatorships where the people do not directly elect their leaders, there is still often a reflection of the heart of the nation in the heart of the leader of the nation).  If the leader is good, he will do what is good before God and what is good for the people he leads (like David who was a "shepherd" for God's "sheep."

A wise man will act in a trustworthy manner that will earn the respect and trust of the king (or whoever the man serves).  Such a man will have the king's favor because the wise man will act in such a way that will bring glory and blessing upon his master.  He will not act with selfish ambition.  However, the one who acts shamefully and brings dishonor, trouble, and curses on the name of his master will incur the wrath of his master.  We know this is true in the physical sense, but we can even make a spiritual application here that if we were on our own, all of us have acted in a "shameful" way that brought dishonor to God, the ultimate King.  We all deserve His wrath.  However, Jesus died in our place to take our sin, our shame, the curses of our disobedience, and the wrath of God for us, so that we might experience the blessings that only He deserved.  He is truly the Good and Faithful Servant and the Righteous One that had the favor of His Father, "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."