Year 1, Week 44, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 44, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Proverbs 16-18.

Today’s reading continues the section of Proverbs begun in chapter 10 and ends in chapter 22. As we once again note, this section comprises proverbial sayings, which are short pithy statements, contrast wisdom and righteousness with folly and wickedness as practical life themes such as work ethic, money, speech, family relationships, friendships, and governmental matters are explored. One of the differences that begins in today’s reading that sets it apart from the previous days in this section of Proverbs is the increased frequency of “LORD”. Proverbs 16 explicitly names the LORD ten times, of which eight of the references to the LORD are in the first nine verses. 

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the number of ways that the truth of God’s sovereignty and supremacy was expressed: “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). This verse as well as others from today’s reading highlight God’s rule over and yet man’s responsibility for his choices and actions. It can be a challenge to grasp what the Scriptures teach about the absolute sovereignty of God and the genuine personal responsibility of man. It seems that it would make better sense to us if one or the other were true, but we struggle to make sense of how both can be true. We are tempted to resolve the matter by considering that one or the other is true. Either God is sovereign or man is responsible. We reason, if God is absolutely sovereign over man and his choices, then man is not truly free and therefore not actually responsible for what he does. Or we reason, if man is truly free and therefore genuinely responsible then God’s sovereignty is somehow curbed by man’s freedom. But if our reasoning is informed by what the texts of Scripture teach us then we are led to affirm both God’s sovereignty and man’s freedom and responsibility, while also acknowledging that resolving this tension leaves us admitting that there are things that are a mystery to us (but not a contradiction).

From the passage that we began with above, man makes his plans: “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). Man’s plans are his own; they are what he planned and proposed and are not determined by anything other than his own thoughts and intentions. Man is not a robot, but a free and therefore responsible moral agent. This point is emphasized in several other proverbial sayings, such as: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9); and: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). Each saying affirms the free agency of man and his planning: “The plans of the heart belong to man…The heart of man plans his way…Many are the plans in the mind of a man” (Proverbs 16:1a,16:9a,19:21a).  But each of these passages couple the free operation of man’s plans with the absolute sovereignty of God’s purposes. Man’s freedom to plan does not limit, but operates within the context of the LORD’s determination: “the answer of the tongue is from the LORD…he LORD establishes his steps…he purpose of the LORD that will stand” (Proverbs 16:1b,16:9b,19:21b). The outcome of all human intention and actions are in accord with what the LORD decrees: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33); and: “A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?” (Proverbs 20:24); and: “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD” (Proverbs 24:30). And yet the LORD’s sovereign control over all that happens does not upend man’s accountability to the LORD for his choices.

These matters are a challenge to make sense of, because, at least in part, we do not fully grasp the mind of the LORD, nor do we fully comprehend all of His ways. We only know with any certainty what His Word explains to us. We do not know everything there is to know about the LORD, for as limited, finite, and sinful creatures, we are not sufficient to rival the knowledge and plans of an eternal, infinite, and holy Creator. But the LORD knows us and our ways intimately and perfectly: “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit” (Proverbs 16:2); and: “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths” (Proverbs 5:21); and: “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart” (Proverbs 21:2); and: “If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” (Proverbs 24:12). We are not even able to fully know our own thoughts and intentions, but the LORD does. And in the LORD’s perfect knowledge, He has established His plans and purposes for every person everywhere throughout all time: “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Proverbs 16:4).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe