Pro 19:23 | KingComments | STEP | Making “many plans” is allowed, but in doing so it is good to submit ourselves to “the counsel of the LORD”, or the purpose of God ( ; ). Man must always remember that he is man and that God is Who He is. Man is extremely limited in what he can devise and even more so in what he can carry out. God, on the other hand, is infinite in understanding and ability. Not what man devises, but what God determines, that happens ( ; ; ). Similarly, Paul planned, but God directed otherwise ( ). Every person desires to have another treat him with “kindness” ( ). Every person finds it pleasant to hear kind words, words that show lovingkindness, that is, words of kindness. They are edifying, encouraging words, in which there is no mendacity. They are not spoken to flatter. In “a liar” kindness is lacking. He can pretend to be merciful by promising all kinds of things and giving the impression that he is full of kindness, but that is hypocrisy and deception. Behind his words are dishonest motives. It is better to deal with a poor person, from whom you cannot expect anything he could give, but from whom kindness radiates, than with such a liar. Reverence for the LORD brings a life of contentment and security ( ). He who fears the LORD suffers no want and fears no danger. God gives a quality of life that cannot be disturbed by evil. The God-fearing goes to bed without hunger and sleeps peacefully, without fear of anything evil that might come upon him. The life attached to the fear of the LORD is not the life that man lives by nature, but the life in connection with Him. That life is enjoyed in its fullness only when the believer is with Him. But even here on earth already, this life cannot be affected by anything, because it is an inner, spiritual life. It is the life from God. That life knows no lack and no fear. The Lord Jesus therefore says that we need not fear “those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul” ( ). The true life referred to here is not found in wealth or in health, nor in a good marriage or a fine family, but in Christ alone. This is what we must tell our children and hold up to them and live out before them. Of the evil that may afflict us, we know that God causes it to work together for good ( ; ).

‏ Proverbs 19:23

Counsel, Kindness and Life

Making “many plans” is allowed, but in doing so it is good to submit ourselves to “the counsel of the LORD”, or the purpose of God (Pro 19:21; Jam 4:13-15). Man must always remember that he is man and that God is Who He is. Man is extremely limited in what he can devise and even more so in what he can carry out. God, on the other hand, is infinite in understanding and ability. Not what man devises, but what God determines, that happens (Lam 3:37; Psa 33:10-11; Isa 46:10). Similarly, Paul planned, but God directed otherwise (Rom 15:22-32).

Every person desires to have another treat him with “kindness” (Pro 19:22). Every person finds it pleasant to hear kind words, words that show lovingkindness, that is, words of kindness. They are edifying, encouraging words, in which there is no mendacity. They are not spoken to flatter.

In “a liar” kindness is lacking. He can pretend to be merciful by promising all kinds of things and giving the impression that he is full of kindness, but that is hypocrisy and deception. Behind his words are dishonest motives. It is better to deal with a poor person, from whom you cannot expect anything he could give, but from whom kindness radiates, than with such a liar.

Reverence for the LORD brings a life of contentment and security (Pro 19:23). He who fears the LORD suffers no want and fears no danger. God gives a quality of life that cannot be disturbed by evil. The God-fearing goes to bed without hunger and sleeps peacefully, without fear of anything evil that might come upon him.

The life attached to the fear of the LORD is not the life that man lives by nature, but the life in connection with Him. That life is enjoyed in its fullness only when the believer is with Him. But even here on earth already, this life cannot be affected by anything, because it is an inner, spiritual life. It is the life from God. That life knows no lack and no fear. The Lord Jesus therefore says that we need not fear “those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul” (Mt 10:28).

The true life referred to here is not found in wealth or in health, nor in a good marriage or a fine family, but in Christ alone. This is what we must tell our children and hold up to them and live out before them. Of the evil that may afflict us, we know that God causes it to work together for good (Rom 8:28; Psa 91:9-10).