Proverbs 16 Study

The Conduct Of Life & Gods Sovereignty

Text: Proverbs 16

Introduction

Solomon is the writer of Proverbs. It is here he is encouraging God’s children to have the right focus in life.

Exploring Proverbs 1–19, Volume One: An Expository Commentary Chapter 20: Proverbs 16:1–33

We see Him looking into the heart of man, looking at the head of state, looking out for the happiness of all, and looking along the highways of life.

Sometimes God will guide a writer to have lazer focus on one particular subject. In chapter 16 Solomon is taking a shotgun approach; moving quickly from one subject to another.

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary The Conduct of Life (Prov. 16:1–33)

The passage.—Man has the free will to set his goals for life and then to try and attain them. But it is God who is the doer: the Creator of the mouth that speaks, the hand that lifts, and the feet that walk. Man can plan and propose, but all plans are subject to the working laws of the universe, which God has made.

VERSE 1

Man has his purposes:

Man has been given the freedom of will and thought to make plans within his own heart.

For example: life projects, schemes, whatever he thinks is best to live out life.

God is sovereign:

Man does not have autonomy over God; God is the mover of man, not the other way around.

Man cannot continue in his business without God’s assistance and blessing. (remember who made man’s mouth)

Question: Has God ever crossed your plans? You were fully intended to go one direction, but ended up going a completely different direction?

This is NOT to say that God creates the evil in man and makes him act it out.

Illustration: Think of this as a farmer irrigating his crops. The river flows wicked men. God simply channels them to each plot of crops where He will get the return His desires for the good of the crops and His glory.

VERSE 2

Proverbs 30:12 “12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet is not washed from their filthiness.”

Luke 8:11 “11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.”

Proverbs 12:15 “15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

“All the ways of man”

Let’s be honest.....does anyone like to admit that they are wrong about anything?

This is simply an issue of pride!

I have met many a “Christian” who were wrong in either their words, actions or attitude, but they never humbled themselves enough to apologize.

There is nothing in him that would ever condemn himself.

“the Lord weigheth the spirits”

Man’s judgement may be subjective to his own desires, but GOD’S JUDGEMENT is according to TRUTH!

“weigheth” — God’s judgement is without error and in balance.

It is by God’s judgements do we stand or fail.

God looks further than our ways. He looks into our spirit; who we truly are.

VERSE 3

“Commit they works unto the Lord”

“Commit” = to commit (trust) v. — to dedicate or trust entirely to a specific person or activity or cause.

This requires action on YOUR PART!

“Works” = any activity toward doing something.

Question: Give me some examples

“Lord” (Yahweh) — Yahweh n. — the name the God of Israel gives to the Israelites through Moses.

This name was significant! Speaks to God’s sure existence and covenant relationship with His people.

“And thy thoughts shall be established”

“thoughts” — plan n. — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished.

Life is never a one step experience!

“established” = to be reliable v. — to be conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief. (reliable)

This truth should be applied to both our hands and our heart!!!

Question: What are some damaging aspects of not living this out?

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Proverbs 16:3

The great concerns of our souls must be committed to the grace of God, with a dependence upon and submission to the conduct of that grace

2 Timothy 1:12 “12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

What is so powerful about saying, “thy will be done?”

This frees us from selfishness and sets us up to be pleased when God is pleased.

VERSE 4

This is one of those verses we easily get hung up on and emotional over.

None of us can deny that God is the FIRST CAUSE.

In other words, it was God who gave them the powers of which they themselves used to become wicked.

God knew exactly who would live according to those abilities.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume Proverbs 16:4

He makes no man wicked, but he made those who he foresaw would be wicked: yet he made them

Therefore, they have fit themselves for destruction.

Romans 9:22 “22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”

Let’s not forget, every vessel fits themselves for destruction.

His longsuffering was simply for the purpose of using their wickedness for things like chastising His people, etc.

Psalm 17:13-14 “13 Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O Lord, From men of the world, which have their portion in this life, And whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: They are full of children, And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.”

VERSE 5

Psalm 101:5 “5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.”

Pride is the very thing that sets God against you!

Pride brings a two-fold danger to you:

It makes you disrespectful to BOTH God and man.

“Though hand join in hand”

There is no power under Heaven that can protect you from God when pride becomes a priority to you!

The only safe place for a pride filled person is REPENTANCE.

VERSE 6

FIRST — How the guilt of sin is taken away

“Mercy” = a loyal love; an unfailing love

“truth” = faithfulness

“iniquity” = guilt

“purged” = to be atoned v. — to be cleansed of sin or from the defilement of sin.

Question: How many of you believe that sin is powerful?

Psalm 103:12 “12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

SECOND — How the power of sin broken in us

“by the fear of the Lord”

This is speaking to the influence of that fear.

We dare not sin against God.

This fear keeps in our minds a desire to remain holy before God.

Conclusion

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary The Conduct of Life (Prov. 16:1–33)

Truth for today.—Iniquity is taken away by the mercy and truth of God. Jesus was that mercy and truth. By his atoning death, we are made ready for the final court of all men for all time. This proverb may also apply in our relationships to others. When a sincere confession of the truth is made and forgiveness is called for, mercy should be shown and the offense removed from the relationship. Don’t pour fuel on your anger (v. 32). Be the conquering ruler of a great city—the city of your own soul.