Proverbs 30:29-31,  There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

Again we find the writer of Proverbs looking at the creations of God to gain wisdom.

He notices that there be three things, no, on second thought not only three things but four things which go well.

He is talking about going, coming in and going out.

He is talking about presentation, he is talking about comeliness.

Solomon used this word on many occasions in his Song of Solomon as he romanced his love.

He noticed that his love had a neck and cheeks that were comely,

He noticed that her countenance was comely,

He noticed that her speech was comely,

He noticed that she was beautiful, comely as Jerusalem.

By this he meant that she had cheeks and a countenance that was handsome.

Her speech was graceful, suitable and proper and her beauty was becoming, her proportions were fitting.

She had symmetry of beauty.

Everything fit together. Her countenance and her speech matched her beauty.

In this proverb Solomon directs us to focus our attention to things that are comely in going.

We can learn by this proverb about going.

And Solomon chooses to use three animals and a king as a catalyst to engender thinking on our part.

Is it important to know how to go and how to come?

According to Solomon these four things know how to go and how to come and we can learn from them.

This is a proverb about the presentation of one who has authority.

The animals and the man that Solomon chooses as examples all have authority.

Those that have authority need to know well, how to go and how to come.

They need to know how to project that authority by their very presentation.

Authority is promoted by proper packaging if authority to be most efficiently exercised.

The military knows this and packages those in authority in the finest of uniforms bedecked with metals, stripes, insignia and weapons.

Police wear uniforms which project authority for the same reason.

Even in Tee Ball, orange shirts are used to indicate one who has authority.

Of course this packaging is just outward packaging and only goes so far.

There must be inherent authority in the position, but the packaging is the initial introduction of that authority.

It is like the works confirming the word. Look at my demeanor, look at my packaging and you see my authority!

Solomon presents four things that are packaged by God to project authority to all who see them.

The first animal is the lion which he tells us is strongest among beasts.

Authority of the lion is not surface deep.

All who know the lion know that his authority among the beasts is unquestioned.

He is packaged to promote that. He is called the king of beasts!

Lions are short legged, have long muscular bodies and large heads and weigh up to 500 pounds.

Their large head is surrounded by a mane of hair that sometimes extends to the shoulders and the belly.

Their great head is emphasized which promotes the idea of their great authority.

And their roar can be heard over a mile.

God does not give a roar to just any of his creatures.

God does not give a roar to a canary.

A canary is not packaged for a roar.

A canary could not handle the results of a roar.

He is only packaged for a warble; he is only packaged for bass and flute notes and bell and bubbling water sounds!

But a lion is packaged to handle the roar that God has given him.

The lion is comely in going. He walks as royalty. He turns not away for any!

His authority is obvious by his packaging and his manner.

He does not have to prove himself over and over.

The second example that Solomon presents has been given to us by the King James translators as a greyhound.

However most translators of Hebrew today agree that this animal is a strutting rooster.

A strutting rooster is an animal with authority amongst chickens and an animal that shows his authority by his God given packaging.

His head rises high as he struts around the hens.

His head is emphasized by the necklace of feathers surrounding his head in the same manner as the mane of the lion.

And his cock a doodle do announces his presence and authority throughout.

Everything about the rooster fits together.

He is comely in his goings.

The third example, that of the he goat, provides an animal that is dressed and fit for authority.

With his massive horns and his butting ability he is found at the head of the flock guiding and protecting from the attacks of any prey.

His very demeanor gives confidence to the flock.

Daniel saw the he goat represent the power that crushed the Persian empire.

He saw the he goat as an example of vigor and courage.

And God so packaged him, because he gave him authority.

And God always equips his creatures for the position to be filled.

And the last example of one who is comely in going is a king, against whom there is no rising up.

The king's crown, the kings robes, the kings sceptre are all designed to emphasize his authority.

They are all designed to precede him and communicate that within this man lies great authority for which reverence is required.

Even his name is said as "His majesty".

His subjects are to be awed by his appearance.

He is packaged for that. Everything about his appearance is to emphasize his dignity and power.

The point of this proverb is that those in authority ought to be careful to project that authority by their demeanor, their speech, their appearance, their comeliness.

Their behavior must always be suitable for one in authority if they expect that authority to be respected.

Comeliness is that which is becoming, fit or suitable in form or manner. It all fits together.

If the actions or behavior of one who has authority do not fit with that authority then the authority is damaged.

The authority will not function as designed.

Picture the canary with a roar. Picture a lion with a warble.

A canary with a roar is still a canary but how can he handle the consequences of a roar?

A lion is still a lion with a warble but the warble does not project his authority in the same manner as a roar!

Authority is best exercised with comeliness; fit, suitable, and becoming.