God’s Sovereignty in Shaping the World
September 3, 2021
Commentary
These verses emphasize God’s role as sovereign king of the universe. We may make plans, but the answers are from God (v. 1). We think our ways are pure, but God weighs the motives of each of us (v. 2). It says that “the Lord weighs the spirits.” It takes discernment to know whether we are getting our thoughts and directions from the Lord or from man. We can never trust our thoughts. We may commit our works to the Lord, but God establishes the plans (v. 3).
God has made everything for His own purpose (v. 4). Some have used this passage to support the false teaching of limited atonement, the view that it is God’s will to save only certain people, while it is also His will that everyone else be eternally lost in Hell. On the contrary, God says that "He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9).” The Scripture also teaches that it is his “will” to “have all men to be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4).”
God makes use of the wicked to execute righteous vengeance on each other; and he will be glorified by their destruction at last (v. 5). Only by living in accordance with God’s “mercy and truth” is it possible to avoid God’s wrath (v. 6). When a person pleases the Lord, by avoiding evil, and living godly, “He makes even his enemies to be at peace with Him” (v.7).
As a sinner we must continually cry out for mercy and not for justice. If we got what we deserved, we would spend eternity in Hell separated from God forever and ever.
Application
Despite what I choose to do in life God has the final word. God is in control.
Proverbs 16:1– 11 (NET)
1 The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has worked everything for his own ends — even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished.
6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
8 Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.
9 A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.
10 The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.
11 Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.
Illustration: Catching a Plane to Meet His Divine Appointment
An unexpected delay in New York providently kept a Christian from catching Flight 191 in Chicago, which crashed with all 254 aboard. At the same time this happened one of God’s great saints ran to make Flight 191—and made it!” His name was Edward E. Elliott, beloved pastor of the Garden Grove Orthodox Presbyterian Church in California. His plane from Pennsylvania was late, and a friend who had accompanied him to Chicago said he last saw him “dashing forward” in the terminal to make his connection. As I thought about Pastor Elliott’s fruitful ministry, the question raised in my mind: “Was Divine providence operating only in New York and not in Chicago?” Immediately the words of the friend came alive: “At the time, Reverend Elliott didn’t know he was indeed running to his appointed time in Heaven.” (Charles Swindoll, Growing Strong, p. 268).