The limitations of mankind to plan their lives are disclosed in these verses and Proverbs 16:9. Like most people, we like to make plans for the future, but we must remember that it is the Lord who makes those plans happen.
We may have pure motives for our plans, but it is the Lord who evaluates them, 1 Corinthians 4:4. If we commit our plan to the Lord, then the Lord will make it happen, Psalm 37:5 / Colossians 3:23.
Is there anything wrong with making plans? No, but we should think out our plans, but what God wants should be the determining factor.
We should ask ourselves a couple of questions before we make a decision.
1. Is what we’re about to do in line with God’s Word?
2. Is the outcome going to be pleasing to God?
God should be at the centre of everything we do, every plan we make, individually and as a church, James 4:13-17. And if we’ve got any worries or concerns about our plans, we should take Peter’s advice and give them to God, 1 Peter 5:7.
Does God create evil people to be wicked? No! People choose to be evil, but God can use evil people in His plan. God prepared a place for the wicked even before there were any wicked people.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘He does not make the wicked or ungodly man, but when man has made himself such, even then God bears with him. But if he repents not, when the measure of his iniquity is filled up, he shall fall under the wrath of God his Maker.’
A woman once asked Adam Clarke, “Why does not God just kill all the wicked people and allow us righteous to build a heaven right here on earth”? Clarke replied, ‘Lady, if God were to be so foolish as to do that, there would not be enough righteous people left to keep the lions and tigers from eating up the human race.’
The idea is that there are ultimately no ‘loose ends’ in God’s scheme of things. Everything will be put to some use and matched with the proper outlook, Isaiah 45:7 / 2 Peter 2:12.
The Lord detests those who have hearts filled with pride, Proverbs 11:20-21 / James 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:5. They will certainly not go unpunished, Genesis 11:1-9. Why is pride so dangerous? Pride causes us to trust in ourselves and causes much trouble for us and within the church as a whole, James 4:10 / Proverbs 2:8 / Proverbs 3:23 / Proverbs 4:26 / Jeremiah 10:23.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning verse 6.
‘Mercy and truth, no matter how diligently practised, cannot alone be the ground of salvation from sin, except in the sense that they might be a sign of true repentance and conversion to God’s will.’ ‘What can take away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus’! This rendition: ‘Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for.’ This is correct with an expanded definition of ‘faithfulness’.’
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning Proverbs 16:7.
‘God is the guardian and defence of all that fear and love him; and it is truly astonishing to see how wondrously God works on their behalf, raising them up friends, and turning their enemies into friends.’
It’s better to have a little righteousness than having loads of material goods through ill means, 1 Timothy 6:8. If our hearts are filled with God and not our pride, then the Lord will direct our steps and bless us, Ephesians 3:20.
Kings have the great responsibility of passing true judgment, wise judgment upon the people, Isaiah 3:2. Solomon speaks about the wheat-selling business, where they use a small basket, but the cost is extreme, Amos 8:5. The Lord owns honest and balanced scales, Proverbs 11:1; in other words, the principle of justice comes from the Lord.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning Proverbs 16:12.
‘The first clause here means that any king who commits wickedness becomes an abomination to God; and the second clause is parallel with the New Testament teaching that reveals, ‘The powers that be are ordained of God,’ Romans 13:1.
Henry, in his commentary, says the following concerning Proverbs 16:13.
‘Here is a further character of good kings, that they love and delight in those that speak right. a. They hate parasites and those that flatter them, and are very willing that all about them should deal faithfully with them and tell them that which is true, whether it be pleasing or displeasing, both concerning persons and things, that everything should be set in a true light and nothing disguised, Proverbs 29:12.
b. They not only do righteousness themselves, but take care to employ those under them that do righteousness too, which is of great consequence to the people, who must be subject not only to the king as supreme, but to the governors sent by him, 1 Peter 2 14. A good king will therefore put those in power who are conscientious, and will say that which is righteous and discreet, and know how to speak aright and to the purpose.’
Cook, in his commentary, says the following concerning Proverbs 16:14.
‘Proverbs 16:13 speaks of a king as he should be; and this one presents a king as they actually were, ‘Reminding us of the terrible rapidity with which, in the despotic monarchies of the East, death followed the royal displeasure.’ As the second clause indicates, it was the pinnacle of good judgment to avoid, at all costs, the displeasure of any king.’
The success of any kingdom is really dependent upon the people having the king’s approval and favour. His favour and approval are like a blessing of rain to his people, Numbers 6:25. Wisdom and understanding are truly more valuable than gold or silver.
Does everyone in the world know the difference between right and wrong? Most people do, and as Christians, we’re, to tell the truth, always, there are no grey areas in God’s Word, although there may be some subjects which aren’t straightforward to understand as we first think. The point is very simple, yet powerful; if we haven’t understood by now and still don’t know what the ‘upright highway’ is, it is to depart from evil.
What do all proud people have in common? They don’t realise they suffer from pride, 1 Corinthians 10:12 / James 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:5. It is God who brings about the destruction, Proverbs 11:2 / Proverbs 15:25. The foremost problem with pride is that it conflicts with the principle of wisdom, which is to ‘fear the Lord’.
Our attitude is crucial; if dividing the spoil will promote pride and arrogance, we will be better off staying with the lowly, Proverbs 21:24 / Proverbs 22:4 / Proverbs 30:13.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This verse also teaches with regard to the humble and the proud. This mention of the proud dividing the spoil identifies them as not merely proud but wicked also.’
Those who give attention to God’s Word will find good, and if they trust and obey that Word, they will be blessed, Matthew 23:24.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The sweetness of the lips should be understood here as a compliment to the teacher who brings learning to another. A person who follows the Word of God will avoid many pitfalls in life, but the fool will never learn except by experience. His only correction shall be when his own folly overthrows him. Good sense makes men judicious in their talk; it adds persuasiveness to what they say.’
Wisdom will undoubtedly make a good impression on those around us. In what ways do people look for life? A lot of people look for life in so-called wise men, mediums, horoscopes, etc, but Solomon says that the one thing which leads to a fountain of life is understanding. A wise man presents arguments that are hard to disregard, Matthew 12:34.
What are some of the signs of wisdom? It is a sign of wisdom to say nice things when we can, 1 Samuel 14:27.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The honey of which is sweeter than that which has been expressed from it, and has a much finer flavour before it has come in contact with the atmospheric air.’
When people rely on their own understanding or feelings or emotions, it can lead to death, Proverbs 14:12. Some think that if they become rich and successful, this will lead to salvation, Proverbs 14:12 / Proverbs 16:2.
A well known sports company has been on television recently, and they were exposed for owning slave labour factories where children work for pennies. Is this right?
In one sense, it is right, they are providing employment, in another sense, no, because they are taking advantage of people with cheap labour. These verses teach us the truth on the subject of motivation. We work because we have to eat, Ephesians 4:28 / Ephesians 6:7 / 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12.
An evil person has a motivation also, but this is to injure someone or destroy their reputation. They have an incentive, also, a desire to create strife and division, Proverbs 17:4. Their motivation is to take advantage of their neighbour.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘A wicked man labours as much to bring about an evil purpose, as the quarryman does to dig up stones.’
Notice that there is a relationship between mannerisms and character; they give a friendly wink, but they have evil on their mind.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Behold here the wickedness of the violent man. He is the incarnation of Unbelief. ‘He robs God, takes life without paying for it, blasphemes the Maker on his throne, stares broadly at the truth when he hears it, and flouts it as if he never heard of it. Unbelief is violence.’! ‘Such sons of the devil take pleasure in seducing the virtuous from the way of life. Just as there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents, there is malicious joy in hell when such a seducer turns anyone from the straight and narrow way.’
The word ‘gray’ can be translated as ‘hoary’ in some versions. The modern world idolises ‘youth’, but God’s Word places great value on old age and the wisdom and experience that comes with it, Genesis 15:15 / Genesis 25:8 / Leviticus 19:32.
Patience and self-control are very powerful attributes, Proverbs 15:17 / Proverbs 25:28 / Galatians 5:22-23 / Titus 2:11-14 / 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The reference to the ‘lot’ is probably referring to the Urim and the Thummim, Exodus 28:30, although it could be speaking about the normal way of choosing by lot, Numbers 26:55 / Joshua 14:2 / 1 Chronicles 24:5 / Acts 1:26.
The point is that every decision is actually made by God, Proverbs 3:5-6. Can you think of any other time the Urim and Thummim were used in the Bible? Joshua 19:51 / Joshua 14:1-2 / 1 Chronicles 25:8 / Acts 1:26.