Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.
The Lord works out everything to its proper end—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.
The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.
When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain with injustice.

• Proverbs 16:1-8

Proverbs 16:2 ”The supply of deceivers is sure to be maintained, since the text tells us that all the ways of a person are pure in their own eyes. There is a propensity in human nature which leads people, even when they are most wrong, to judge themselves most right. The text at the same time suggests the terrible conclusion to which all self-deception will certainly come, for the judgment of man concerning himself is not final— there comes a day when the Lord who weighs the spirits will reverse the verdict of a perjured conscience, and make the person to stand no longer in the false light which his conceit has thrown around him, but in the true light of God in which all his fancied glory shall vanish as a dream.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon from his sermon notes

This entire set of eight proverbs all revolve around righteousness, matching our desires with what God wants in this world and His will.

Proverbs 16:1 speaks of our desires versus God’s will.  The desires of our heart should be the Lord.  When our desires are for God, His kingdom and His will on earth, then our tongue will provide the proper answer.

And thinking of an improper tongue, Proverbs 16:2 talks about our plans seem so perfect in our own minds.  Rev. Spurgeon speaks of self-deception.  I have written about our youngest grandchild who tells everyone that he can do it, whatever it is, whether he has ever seen it done, whether it requires to be taller than he is, stronger, whatever.  Ask him and he will reply, “Yes, I can do it.”  When allowed to do it, or try to do it, he fails miserably, but he was there.  He gave it a try, thus he did it.  Add that to Proverbs 16:5 and you have someone who self-deceives themselves and they are proud of their miserable result.

What is “committing to the Lord” in Proverbs 16:3 is speaking of getting our desires to align with God’s will.  And Proverbs 16:4 speaks of everything working to its proper end which corresponds to the proper answer in Proverbs 16:1.

Some people think that the God of love is a New Testament concept, but in Proverbs 16:6, the author is saying that love and faithfulness atones for sin.  The fear of the Lord helps us to avoid evil.  But again, the proper answer, committing to the Lord means that we will love our neighbor and even our enemy with the love that the Lord gives to us.

And from Proverbs 16:7, looking at the previous verses, if God takes pleasure in our ways – the way of love and faithfulness – He will give us peace.

A little bit of righteousness is better than evil.  Seeking the Lord and His ways and His will, gives us that little bit of righteousness and so much more.

And now let us sing.

The following song is The God of All My Days.  It is sung by Casting Crowns.  The video is the official lyric version.  Instead of copying the words here, you can sing along as the words appear on the video.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Show us the way.  Guide us to Your perfect will.  Help us to love others and reject the self-confidence that gets in the way of trusting and obeying You.  God, we desire You.  Grant us our desire.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.