Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Pr 16.1-2 and following. Indeed, let’s call that most of the thoughts and maxims contained in this book of Proverbs have links between them that it’s important to seek and identify. The projects of the heart are “to man,” says verse 1. “The heart of man proposes his way…” repeats verse 9. And these projects, these ways, may seem pure (verse 2) and right (Pr 16:25) to anyone who does not know his heart and does not judge his motives. For example, almsgiving, a good thing in itself, can be made to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1-4). But God, who weighs minds and hearts (Pr 21:2), discerns in our intentions such a way of sorrow or death (verse 25; Ps 139:23-24). Let’s follow the counsel in verse 3 and hand over our affairs to Him, big or small (Job 5:8-11). Letting him act, charting our paths, dictating our words, this is addiction, an attitude that pleases the Lord and ensures our security.
Verses 10 to 15 teach us what is suitable for kings. In this regard, let’s remember the dignity that the Lord’s grace has brought us to (Rev 5:6-10). Nobility obliges, it is sometimes said (Isaiah 32:5-8). Justice and righteousness must characterize the co-heirs of the kingdom. Let’s announce the discovery of gold deposits at one point of the globe, and we will see in a few weeks entire cities being built there. An advertisement signaling an easy way to make money will receive countless responses. On the other hand, acquiring wisdom does not give rise to any competition (v. 16). Only the disciple of Jesus who heats his Word knows its value (v. 20; Ps 119.126-128). The loot shared with the proud has no attraction for him. He delights with the humble and the debonair (v. 19). It is the heart of the wise man that makes his mouth meaningful (v. 23). Love dictates to him “the pleasant words” and sweet that will be like a balm for sick souls. In contrast to the upright man (v. 17) and “wise man of heart” (v. 21), verses 27 to 30 portray the “man of Belial”, “perverse”, “violent”. He “digs in search of evil”, peddles what he has discovered, sows quarrels, divides, leads to doing wrong. Let’s guard against this dangerous companion and follow in this world the path of upright men who requires great caution to avoid evil (v. 17; 2 Tim 2:20-23). Let’s finally meditate on verse 32. The greatest victory a man can achieve is to master his own mind (in contrast to Pr 25:28).
The preparation of the heart is to man, but of the Lord is the answer of the tongue (v. 1). The preparation of the heart, his first projects are the work of man. He decides to speak, to respond to achieve his goal. But of the Lord is the answer of the tongue. It comes from Him, He directs it as He pleases, against all the projects of the heart, if it suits him. It thus contributes, even against our will, to the fulfillment of God’s purposes. In reality, God uses what seems most to man’s power, man’s word, to do what He wants. The case of Balaam is a striking example. But also: The part of man, when it comes to the believer, is the preparation of the heart. His responsibility is to realize his purpose and direct his thoughts to that side. He can leave the answer to Jehovah. It is of Him: “Do not be concerned how, or what, you will answer, or what you will say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at this very hour what to say.” (Luke 12:11 12). All of a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Jehovah weighs the spirits (v. 2). The previous maxim showed us the inside, the heart, as the side of man, the outside, the word, like that of God. This maxim speaks to us of the ways of man, of the external thing, considered to be his part, and of the state of the heart of which God alone is judge. How does man judge his ways? He doesn’t know his heart. If his ways are correct, not seeing the hidden motive, he approves them. If they are bad, he excuses them and whitewashes them. But the Lord weighs the spirits. There he discovers the very root of our ways.
Hand over your affairs to the Lord, and your thoughts will be fulfilled (v. 3). This verse follows admirably the previous two verses. To surrender one’s external circumstances to the Lord is to abdicate every pretension to direct them, every will of one’s own, into the hands of the One in whose direction one has all confidence; it’s the choice to manage our business. Our desires he knows, he will only do what is good for us: our thoughts can therefore not disagree with his, and these thoughts will be fulfilled. Thus the inner life will be fully in agreement with the external circumstances. The Lord did everything for himself, and even the wicked for the day of misfortune (v. 4). Everything Jehovah has done, He has done for His own glory. He did not create the wicked, according to Calvinist doctrine, but let him subsist for the day of misfortune that will come upon him; for this day will bring out His righteousness into judgment. So it was with the Pharaoh. Every proud heart is abominated to the Lord; certainly, he will not be considered innocent (v. 5).
In chapter 15:v. 8 and 9, we have seen what in the acts of the wicked is abominated to the Lord; here we see what in the heart is in abomination to him: pride wherever it comes from, whatever form it takes; none of those who feed it will be held innocent. Man may not be careful, but Jehovah weighs the spirits (v. 2). These are the ways of God in government and not the work of salvation; so this sentence reaches all men. It’s very interesting to compare it with chapters 11, v. 20 and 21. There, the government of God does not spare the iniquitous and perverse that it has in abomination and does not change its judgment, while it finds its pleasure in those who are honest, and delivers the seed of the righteous; here he hates pride in whatever heart he encounters and gives him just retribution. How it speaks to the conscience of the believer himself!
By goodness and truth, propitiation is made for iniquity, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil (v. 6). This is not the great day of propitiations, in chapter 16 of Leviticus, that is, a sacrifice offered giving the sinner the right to draw near to God. What is placed before our eyes is that the goodness and truth brought before God obtain forgiveness1 of iniquity, that is, divert the judgment of which God’s government must attain the iniquitous. “Father, forgive them,” Jesus said on the cross, “for they do not know what they are doing.” In a narrower sense, the righteous have, through his intercession in goodness and truth, the privilege of removing the judgment that the iniquitous attracts on his head – while he himself turns away from evil by the fear of the Lord. Indeed, the first character of one who finds himself placed in the light and presence of God, is to hate evil, incompatible with this presence, and to turn away from it. These first 9 verses form a whole where the state of the heart and the way God responds to it are contrasted.
An oracle is on the king’s lips; his mouth does not wander in judgment (v. 10). Here we see the King’s place in God’s counsel and according to God’s thoughts. It’s first and foremost his words. On his lips is the expression of divine thought. His mouth is inspired to pronounce God’s appreciation of all things. Such was Solomon if he had not later completely failed in his task. Such will be the true King, the Messiah, the only infallible King. If it is of divine institution, it must be just. If it is just, the throne will be strengthened (Ps. 132:11-12). Solomon’s fell; the only righteous throne, that of the Messiah, son of David, will be established forever.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The Lord and Daily Life:
- Balances divines
Jb 31:6 May God weigh me in righteous balances, and He will recognize my integrity! Pr 16.2 All the ways of man are pure in his eyes; But the one who weighs the spirits is the Eternal. Esa 40:12 Who measured the waters in the palm of his hand, took the dimensions of the heavens with his palm, and collected the dust from the earth in a third of measure? Who weighed the mountains to the hook, And the hills to the scale? Rev 6:5 And I saw, in the midst of the throne and the four living beings and in the midst of the old men, a lamb who was there as if slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent by all the earth.
- Divine inspirations, promises of, particular
Ex 4:12 Go, then, I will be with your mouth, and I will teach you what you have to say. Isaiah 50:4 The Lord, the Lord, has given me an exercised tongue, that I may know how to sustain by the word the one who is slaughtered; He awakens, every morning, he awakens my ear, so that I may listen as disciples listen. Luke 21:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all your adversaries cannot resist or contradict. 1 Cor 2:13 And we speak of it, not with discourses taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, employing spiritual language for spiritual things.
- Sovereignty of God,
2 Kings 19:28 Because you are furious with me, And your arrogance has risen to my ears, I will put my loop to your nostrils and my bit between your lips, And I will make you return by the way by which you came. Ez 38:4 I will lead you, and I will put a loop to your jaws; I will take you out and all your army, Horses and horsemen, All dressed magnificently, Numerous troop carrying the great and the small shield, All wielding the sword; Ez 39:2 I will lead you, I will lead you, I will make you ascend from the extremities of the north, and I will bring you to the mountains of Israel.
- Myself-sorting, the duty to
-On the spirit Pr 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a hero, And he who is master of himself, than he who takes cities.
-On life Acts 24:25 But as Paul spoke about righteousness, temperance, and the coming judgment, Felix, frightened, said, “For the time being withdraw; when I find the opportunity, I will call you back.
-On the lusts of the flesh Rom 6:12 Let sin not reign in your mortal body, and do not obey its lusts.
-On the tongue Jc 3.2 We all flinch in several ways. If someone does not flinch in words, he is a perfect man, capable of holding his whole body in bridle.
-An essential virtue 1 Pet 1:5-7 to you who, by the power of God, are guarded by faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last times! 6 This is what makes you happy, although now, since it is necessary, you are saddened for a little time by various trials,
From all of the above, we note thatthe white hair, the glory of the old men (Pr 20:29) that one is bound to honor (Lev. 19:32) is actually a glorious reward when the wearer walks down a path where sin does not enter. This outward sign of age and experience is glorious only as much as walking and driving correspond to it. This is about god’s ways in government. Here we find two new characteristics of the wise: He is peaceful, slow to anger, for “the wrath of man does not fulfill the righteousness of God” (Jas 1:20). He has more value (not here than Satan, the one whose goods Jesus plunders), but than the man distinguished by actions of brilliance. Like Joseph and others in Israel’s past history. The second character relates to the one who governs his mind, who keeps in hand the direction of his will and his decisions, and thus wins victories more decisive over himself than those of an army leader or a conqueror. The fate is cast into the fold, but every decision is made by the Lord. Until the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Jews resorted to fate, but it is not chance that directs the decisions of fate. God has the upper hand over events and brings them as He wills (1 Sam. 14:41). This chapter ends with a thought that has some analogy with the first verse of our chapter. This chapter presents series of thoughts that relate to each other in a very remarkable way. First, the state of man’s heart and God’s thoughts. Then, kings according to God’s heart; the state of the hearts of the wise; the state of the hearts of the wicked; the hearts of the wise matured by experience. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Collections of proverbs on the moral life ( Pr 17).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.