Pro 16:1 | KingComments | STEP | indicates that the LORD is above “the plans of the heart” of a “man”. The word “but” at the beginning of the second line of verse assumes a contrast with the first line of verse. The first line of verse is about man and the plans he has in his heart. In the second line of verse it is about “the LORD” Who makes “the answer of the tongue” come from man. That “the LORD” (Yahweh) is spoken of here and in the following verses shows that the emphasis is on God’s relationship with man. Man can and may have plans in his heart. The word “plans” has to do with setting up a plan in regular order with the goal of carrying it out that way. But when it is about execution, it is important to realize that God has the last word. He decides its execution, and it may well be different from what man had imagined. It is about recognizing God in carrying out the plans a man makes. It is a general proverb that applies to every human being, believer and unbeliever. An unbeliever does not acknowledge God or involve Him in his plans and their execution. Yet even here God has the last word. An example of this is Bileam. He had plans in his heart to curse God’s people, but God ordered him to speak blessings over His people (Numbers 23-24). indicates that the LORD is above man’s “ways”. By “ways” is meant the totality of his ways, his whole conduct and walk, everything he says and does. When man judges himself, when he looks at himself with his own eyes, he finds that he is “clean”. He sees no uncleanness in his motives. But because he judges himself, he cannot be objective. Lack of self-knowledge and the high probability of self-deception make his self-assessment unreliable. The proverb assumes that such a premature opinion of himself is at best naive and at worst complacent. But the LORD fathoms the behavior and knows its motives. He tests or tests the minds through which a person comes to self-judgment. In His light, it may become apparent that a person is far from clean in his motives. When God says: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” ( ), this is true not only when we look at others, but also when we look at ourselves. Testing the spirits is more than just testing the motives. God also sees the mind in which a person speaks and works. Is there obedience or rebellion? The conclusion is that we easily deceive ourselves and therefore are unable to fully evaluate ourselves. Only God comes to a perfect, all-pervading appraisal. Rational explanations and self-justification are peculiar to the nature of fallen man. But God sees through the smokescreen of these and knows what drives a person inwardly. We can see the speck in our brother’s eye and at the same time be blind to the log in our own eye ( ). We are blind to our own mistakes and think we are absolutely right. But the Lord knows us completely. When all is well, we are aware of nothing and at the same time we know that we are not justified by this, because the knowledge of ourselves is very limited. Therefore, it is good to leave the final judgment of ourselves and our service to the Lord ( ). indicates that the LORD is above the “works” of man. For our plans to succeed, we must depend on God. Therefore, we must commit our works, what we plan to do, to Him. The verb “commit” is literally “to roll”. The picture is that of rolling burdens. It implies that we cast off the care of the work, the project and its execution, like a stone from ourselves and roll it toward God, thus entrusting that care to Him (cf. [literally: rolled]; ; cf. ). We do this by laying what concerns us in prayer before Him. When we do that, our plans will be established, that is, carried out, come to fruition. It shows complete dependence on God. The success or failure of our plans does not depend on chance events or adversaries, but on God. Therefore, we must commit our works to Him. Committing means that we cast everything upon Him and leave it with Him ( ). It is a one-time thing. It is good to begin the day by entrusting ourselves to Him for everything that will occupy us that day, planned or unplanned. says that the LORD is above all His works, including the wicked. Everything He has made is part of His plan. Nothing exists by accident; there are no ‘loose ends’ in His world. He is at the beginning of everything and made everything with a purpose. Everything there is fulfills His purpose. That purpose is His glorification ( ). All His works will praise Him ( ). The same is true for the wicked. If he ends up in judgment, it is because it suits his life. That is how God has ordained it. We must not draw the wrong conclusion from this that God would be the Author of evil. God cannot sin and does not tempt anyone to sin ( ). From Him come only good things ( ). God made man good ( ), but man began to behave wickedly ( ). God calls the wicked to repent ( ), for He has no pleasure in the death of the sinner ( ). But if the latter does not repent before the day of judgment, he will perish in that day. The wicked and the day of doom belong together. Ungodly people have not honored God in their lives. They will be forced to do so in judgment ( ). The wicked are not made to live wickedly and die wickedly. There is no being chosen to be rejected. The Lord Jesus says of Judas Iscariot that it would have been good for him “if he had not been born” ( ). Judas is fully responsible for the choice he made to betray and deliver up the Lord Jesus for payment. At the same time, God knew how to use him to carry out His plan. Everything has a purpose. The existence of the wicked seems to mock that purpose. Therefore, it is clearly stated here that “the wicked” was made “for the day of judgment”. The wicked focuses on the purpose assigned to him by God because of his wickedness. The judgment of the wicked – in which we can think especially, but not exclusively, of the antichrist, the man of sin – also shows God’s exaltation above all that He has made. says that the LORD is above “everyone who is proud in heart”. The wicked of has followers: everyone who is proud in heart. “Proud” describes the arrogance of those who are presumptuous against God ( ; cf. ). It is not just the proud glance, but the pride in the heart by which a person exalts himself above everything and everyone. Pride is the hallmark of satan and the antichrist and all their followers. Because pride disputes the exaltation that God has above all and because the proud person wants to take that place himself, this sin is an abomination to Him. It is the sin of satan and man. God will avenge that sin. That is absolutely certain, “assuredly”. These arrogant people will not go unpunished as innocents. God will humble all who are arrogant and proud ( ).

‏ Proverbs 16:1

The LORD Is Sovereign

Pro 16:1 indicates that the LORD is above “the plans of the heart” of a “man”. The word “but” at the beginning of the second line of verse assumes a contrast with the first line of verse. The first line of verse is about man and the plans he has in his heart. In the second line of verse it is about “the LORD” Who makes “the answer of the tongue” come from man. That “the LORD” (Yahweh) is spoken of here and in the following verses shows that the emphasis is on God’s relationship with man.

Man can and may have plans in his heart. The word “plans” has to do with setting up a plan in regular order with the goal of carrying it out that way. But when it is about execution, it is important to realize that God has the last word. He decides its execution, and it may well be different from what man had imagined. It is about recognizing God in carrying out the plans a man makes.

It is a general proverb that applies to every human being, believer and unbeliever. An unbeliever does not acknowledge God or involve Him in his plans and their execution. Yet even here God has the last word. An example of this is Bileam. He had plans in his heart to curse God’s people, but God ordered him to speak blessings over His people (Numbers 23-24).

Pro 16:2 indicates that the LORD is above man’s “ways”. By “ways” is meant the totality of his ways, his whole conduct and walk, everything he says and does. When man judges himself, when he looks at himself with his own eyes, he finds that he is “clean”. He sees no uncleanness in his motives. But because he judges himself, he cannot be objective. Lack of self-knowledge and the high probability of self-deception make his self-assessment unreliable. The proverb assumes that such a premature opinion of himself is at best naive and at worst complacent.

But the LORD fathoms the behavior and knows its motives. He tests or tests the minds through which a person comes to self-judgment. In His light, it may become apparent that a person is far from clean in his motives. When God says: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1Sam 16:7), this is true not only when we look at others, but also when we look at ourselves. Testing the spirits is more than just testing the motives. God also sees the mind in which a person speaks and works. Is there obedience or rebellion?

The conclusion is that we easily deceive ourselves and therefore are unable to fully evaluate ourselves. Only God comes to a perfect, all-pervading appraisal. Rational explanations and self-justification are peculiar to the nature of fallen man. But God sees through the smokescreen of these and knows what drives a person inwardly.

We can see the speck in our brother’s eye and at the same time be blind to the log in our own eye (Mt 7:3). We are blind to our own mistakes and think we are absolutely right. But the Lord knows us completely. When all is well, we are aware of nothing and at the same time we know that we are not justified by this, because the knowledge of ourselves is very limited. Therefore, it is good to leave the final judgment of ourselves and our service to the Lord (1Cor 4:4-5).

Pro 16:3 indicates that the LORD is above the “works” of man. For our plans to succeed, we must depend on God. Therefore, we must commit our works, what we plan to do, to Him. The verb “commit” is literally “to roll”. The picture is that of rolling burdens. It implies that we cast off the care of the work, the project and its execution, like a stone from ourselves and roll it toward God, thus entrusting that care to Him (cf. Psa 22:8 [literally: rolled]; Psa 37:5; cf. Psa 55:22). We do this by laying what concerns us in prayer before Him.

When we do that, our plans will be established, that is, carried out, come to fruition. It shows complete dependence on God. The success or failure of our plans does not depend on chance events or adversaries, but on God. Therefore, we must commit our works to Him. Committing means that we cast everything upon Him and leave it with Him (1Pet 5:7). It is a one-time thing. It is good to begin the day by entrusting ourselves to Him for everything that will occupy us that day, planned or unplanned.

Pro 16:4 says that the LORD is above all His works, including the wicked. Everything He has made is part of His plan. Nothing exists by accident; there are no ‘loose ends’ in His world. He is at the beginning of everything and made everything with a purpose. Everything there is fulfills His purpose. That purpose is His glorification (Col 1:16). All His works will praise Him (Psa 145:10).

The same is true for the wicked. If he ends up in judgment, it is because it suits his life. That is how God has ordained it. We must not draw the wrong conclusion from this that God would be the Author of evil. God cannot sin and does not tempt anyone to sin (Jam 1:13-15). From Him come only good things (Jam 1:16-18).

God made man good (Gen 1:27 ; 31), but man began to behave wickedly (Ecc 7:29). God calls the wicked to repent (Acts 17:30), for He has no pleasure in the death of the sinner (Eze 33:11). But if the latter does not repent before the day of judgment, he will perish in that day. The wicked and the day of doom belong together.

Ungodly people have not honored God in their lives. They will be forced to do so in judgment (Phil 2:10-11). The wicked are not made to live wickedly and die wickedly. There is no being chosen to be rejected. The Lord Jesus says of Judas Iscariot that it would have been good for him “if he had not been born” (Mt 26:25a). Judas is fully responsible for the choice he made to betray and deliver up the Lord Jesus for payment. At the same time, God knew how to use him to carry out His plan.

Everything has a purpose. The existence of the wicked seems to mock that purpose. Therefore, it is clearly stated here that “the wicked” was made “for the day of judgment”. The wicked focuses on the purpose assigned to him by God because of his wickedness. The judgment of the wicked – in which we can think especially, but not exclusively, of the antichrist, the man of sin – also shows God’s exaltation above all that He has made.

Pro 16:5 says that the LORD is above “everyone who is proud in heart”. The wicked of Pro 16:4b has followers: everyone who is proud in heart. “Proud” describes the arrogance of those who are presumptuous against God (2Chr 26:16; cf. Psa 131:1). It is not just the proud glance, but the pride in the heart by which a person exalts himself above everything and everyone. Pride is the hallmark of satan and the antichrist and all their followers. Because pride disputes the exaltation that God has above all and because the proud person wants to take that place himself, this sin is an abomination to Him. It is the sin of satan and man.

God will avenge that sin. That is absolutely certain, “assuredly”. These arrogant people will not go unpunished as innocents. God will humble all who are arrogant and proud (Isa 2:11-12).