#921 Proverbs 16 Plans

The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

3 Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;

be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

7 When a man's ways please the Lord,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

9 The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

10 An oracle is on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

11 A just balance and scales are the Lord's;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death,

and a wise man will appease it.

15 In the light of a king's face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,

and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

26 A worker's appetite works for him;

his mouth urges him on.

27 A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

28 A dishonest man spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

30 Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord. Proverbs 16 ESV

Proverbs 16

The plans of the heart belong to man - The heart and mind are not separate in Judaism. It is the seat of the emotional and intellectual life. Being made in the image of God, an intelligent Being, men have the ability to reason. 

Man purposes. He has a freedom of thought and a freedom of will permitted him; let him form his projects, and lay his schemes, as he thinks best: but, after all, 1. God disposes. Man cannot go on with his business without the assistance and blessing of God, who made man’s mouth and teaches us what we shall say. Nay, God easily can, and often does, cross men’s purposes, and break their measures. It was a curse that was prepared in Balaam’s heart, but the answer of the tongue was a blessing. Matthew Henry

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,… Philippians 2: 12-14

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit - Often we act abruptly and then spend much time justifying our actions, making up "purer" motives then we actually knew. The Bible tells us, that we are like sheep, all gone astray, each turning to his own way. 

“They who are best acquainted with mankind will tell you that self- righteousness is not the peculiar sin of the virtuous, but that most remarkably, it flourishes best where there appears to be the least soil for it.” (Spurgeon)

Commit your work to the Lord - This is difficult because we see the person who has been given the role of overseer, and we see that they are in every way as capable of error as us. They are often arrogant, difficult, unreasonable, but I cannot change a man's heart, yet I can do good work as unto the Lord, and so heap coals upon my adversaries head. This also shifts the burden of what I cannot carry to the Lord, and frees me from an anxious mind.

…22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, 24 because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.… Colossians 3: 22-24

Even the wicked for the day of trouble - God is sovereign even over the wickedness of men. What we intend for evil, God can use for good. Many apologist try to fit this into their model of perceived fairness, yet all are fallen in Adam. The Psalmist says, "in sin my mother conceived me." We are also taught that the wages of sin is death, and that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We must conclude from this that all deserve, have earned death. The elect are not saved for their goodness or righteous works, but rather by God's purpose, decree, through the atonement of Christ life and death, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It is by His steadfast love, because of His mercy, by grace alone. 

Proverbs 16:4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends - even the wicked for a day of disaster.This is simply the truth. Everything and everyone is created for a divine purpose - even the wicked for the day of destruction (cf. Rom 9:22-23).

Some attempt to explain this verse away by saying God is love (John 3:16), but they fail to read the rest of the story in that some are judged ALREADY (John 3:18). (See; An Exposition of John 3:16, by John Owen; God's Election in John 3:16, by L.R. Shelton, Jr.; The 'WORLD' of John 3:16 Does Not Mean, All Men without Exception, by David J. Engelsma)

Others appeal to 2 Peter 2:1, saying Christ died for the whole world - even those that deny him and are ultimately lost! They assume that Christ died to purchase or buy (agorazo) the unelect from the marketplace of sin; therefore they assume that Peter is speaking of redemption. However, the term agorazo can be used differently. In Deuteronomy 32:6 (KJV) it says, "Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made [agorazo] thee, and established thee?" This is speaking of creation, not redemption. In addition, Peter uses the term despotes meaning "Master," not "Lord" (kyrios). By using the term agorazo and despotes, Peter made sure we would not misunderstand his intended meaning: God is the sovereign ruler over the earth and the one who creates and establishes all things. (See: Redemption in II Peter 2:1, by Dr. Gary Long). Jesus, through his life, death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 17:30-31), has earned the right to judge not only those made holy by his blood (the elect, his sheep, his invisible church, the seed of the woman, etc.), but also those that remain unholy (the unelect, the goats, the seed of the serpent). Sovereign Lord applies equally to God (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10) and Christ (Jude 4). To Jesus has been given all authority and power in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). Jesus is the judge of the whole world (Matt. 25:31-34, 41, 46; John 5:22-23, 27; Acts 10:42; Rom. 2:16; 2 Tim. 4:1).

Yet others mistakenly look at 2 Peter 3:9 and see the words "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" and assume that the terms "anyone" and "everyone" mean all without exception. But Peter's usage of the terms is limited by the "dear friends" (or beloved) of 2 Peter 3:8 and the "you" of 2 Peter 3:9. Moreover, they look at 1 Timothy 2:4 and say that God desires "all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." However, once again, they fail to look at the context of 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and understanding that God desires "all kinds of men" saved, even kings and those in authority, et al. ("For with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9)).

Jesus is not some weak god as some suppose; rather, he is very God of very God - the King of kings. He will not lose even one of his sheep for whom he died; they will never perish but have eternal life (John 10:28; cf. Luke 15:4-7). Jesus actually accomplished redemption for the elect, not a mere possibility for all but the actuality of redemption for his people. The holy redemptive work of Christ was finished for a particular people (Isa. 53:8), and the Son of God has effectually accomplished the redemption of those people (Heb. 9:12). It never was the intention, will, desire, or purpose of Christ to redeem each and every man and ultimately fail at his mission (John 17:9, 20). He did not lay down his life for the "sheep and the goats", but only for "his sheep" (John 10:14-16). By Christ's death, all God's elect have been effectually redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). He has put their sins away (Heb. 9:28). Christ purchased his people with his precious blood (I Pet. 1:18-19; Heb. 10:14). It is finished (John 19:30).

Yes, some argue against Scripture and that Christ died for every sin of every man. However, they attempt to prove too much. If Christ died for EVERY sin of EVERY man, woman, and child, then NONE - absolutely NONE, could ever be lost. No, some say, see "you must believe." This is why some are lost; they don't believe!!! But is not unbelief a sin for which you say Christ has already died? Thus, they prove too much, as hell is full of those that did not and will not believe (cf. Judas, et al.). (The above is a brief summary of John Owen's argument in For Whom Did Christ Die). Dr. Joseph R. Nally

Some are prepared for destruction. Paul says:

Romans 9:22-24 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Pride goes before destruction - This is for every man, the smart, the simple, the servant and the king; those that lift themselves up, put others down, and do not acknowledge their state as created beings under God, will all come to ruin. Pride is the deep tap root of all other sin, original sin. 

A worker's appetite works for him - It is telling him to acquire food, and it works to his benefit in driving him to work. Sadly, in our day there are many who think the government should provide for them not to work. It goes against science, every observable point of nature. If no one is their for you to be the parasite upon, then when you get cold, you must build a fire or freeze. When you get hungry, steaks do not fall from the sky. You have to hunt, to gather, to make shelter, but we have instead taught the ridiculous gospel of self esteem and handed everyone a trophy. 

Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.… 2 Thessalonians 3: 9-11

A man of violence entices his neighbor - He has a motive and will play upon your emotions, convincing you to go out with him to battle. You are convinced the cause is just, but you are a pawn. A man of violence will also entice you to settle your differences with him in like manner, for he sees might as right, and he is more versed in violence.

…11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.

13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. 14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.… Genesis 6: 11-14