Please explain Proverbs 25:2.

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” (Prov. 25:2)

Kings, governmental leaders, and leaders in general are expected to make right decisions (Prov. 16:10), especially since those decisions are most often final.  Oftentimes a decision made by a king would be considered by some nations and cultures to be a statement from God himself.  Thus, it is very important for leaders to be sound in their judgments.

Yet what should happen when a king or leader does not know the right answer?  In such cases, he needs to determine to obtain the knowledge he needs so he can find a solution to any problem facing him.  Such is the scenario under discussion in Proverbs 25:2:  “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”  We rightly look at God as all-knowing, so we expect him to know things which are concealed to us.  Yet we also rightly look to our leaders as those who “have the answers.”  When they do not have the answers, we expect them to “search things out” and grow in the knowledge they need to provide for the welfare of their followers.