Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:1-33

The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

• You read in on of Paul’s letters about making plans.  "Next year I’ll do this” and “next week we’ll do that”.  Who knows what will happen tomorrow?   That’s in God’s hands alone.  Planning is fine, and it’s smart, but you must understand that your plan may not come to pass if it conflicts with God’s plan FOR you.  
• Better approach – try to figure out God’s plan for your life (maybe by asking Him) and plan for that.  Either way, best to say, “God willing” before any mention of plans.  Because it will only happen if it is – in fact – God’s will.

 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

• I had a friend of mine (a non-believer) recently tell me that he lived his life well and was good (in his eyes), and if there is some judgement some day, and his life wasn’t good enough – oh well.  How flippant he was about it broke my heart.  
• God know’s our hearts – he weighs how we think and what our intentions are.  He is not impressed with acts of goodness in and of themselves.  He looks at our motivation.  Is it to please God and follow His commandments to love others or love Him?  If not, it’s futile effort.  

 Commit your work to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

• No matter what you do, do it for God.  I personally do not work for Vmware, or for Jared Skinner (my Manager) or anyone else here on earth.  I work for my Lord and Savior.  And that makes all the difference.
• Do this, and all will be well.  God promises.

 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

• All things have a purpose – even the things that we don’t understand.  
• Bees – although you may be afraid of them – ensure the ecosystem that we depend on.  Snakes (yeah, Mom, snakes) take care of the rodent population.  And so on.  
• And you – YOU have a specific purpose here.  God does not create for no reason.  And He created YOU.  He has plans for you.

 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;

 be assured, he will not go unpunished.

• Think you’re hot stuff?  What do you have that was not given to you?  You’re attractive?  You didn’t do that – God did.  Plus, it can be taken from you in a flash.  You’re talented?  God gave that to you, too.  So drop the narcissism.  Boast in NOTHING but your weakness, because in our weakness He is made strong.

 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

• Trust that God is just.  Inequities will be equaled out in the end.  Know this – have faith.
• Why do I avert my eyes when an attractive woman walks by?  Because I have “fear” for the Lord.  This is not to say that I am afraid that He’ll strike me down.  It means that I respect His word.  And His word says, “Hey Greg, nothing good is going to come of that.  Best to not look."

 When a man's ways please the Lord,

 he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

• That’s how powerful, insightful and wise God’s instructions are:  if you just follow the instructions, even your enemies will notice and respect.

 Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

 The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

• These are both repeats in different words.  One from a previous chapter, one from earlier in this chapter.  Take notice.

 An oracle is on the lips of a king;

his mouth does not sin in judgment.

• I had to Google this.  It did not make immediate sense to me.  Here’s what I found:
• God has not made wickedness, but He has created a being that is capable of wickedness.  All is made by God for its purpose.
• So, while a King has power and has the option to be wicked and use that power for wrong, he is to be a man after God’s heart.
• He did not gain this position by Himself – God put him there.  So he should respect that, fear the Lord and hot “sin in judgement”.  
• People trust (or should trust) that their leaders are good, moral men, because they SHOULD be.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

 A just balance and scales are the Lord's;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

• To be fair and just is from God.  These concepts only exist because they first existed with God.

 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

• As mentioned, even the idea of leadership comes from God, so with that responsibility gifted to them by God, leaders should respect and serve those they lead.
• As Jesus said to Pilot, “You have no power that was not given to you by God.”  

 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,

and he loves him who speaks what is right.

• In light of all we’ve said above, if that King is a good King, doing what God instructs a King to do, he will be delighted with what God is delighted with.  
• Also keep in mind the double meaning here.  Jesus and God are our ultimate King.  He is the model for all Kings/leaders.  He served and loved.

 A king's wrath is a messenger of death,

and a wise man will appease it.

• Don’t test the Lord.  As Jesus said to Satan when he was tempting Him in the wilderness, “You should not test the Lord.”  A wise man knows that God is a just God, who responds with wrath if you don’t follow His instruction.  
• The wages of sin is death.  By grace, we are spared.  By faith in Christ, we are saved from this wrath.  We should appreciate that and appease the King.

 In the light of a king's face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

• The joy we feel as Christians comes directly from God’s favor on us.  It’s refreshing.  
• The light He shines on us is like a pleasant, warm day with a nice breeze.  Nothing better.
• The way to receive his grace is simple:  Accept Christ, follow His instructions out of love for Him.

 How much better to get wisdom than gold!

To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

• Like the Mastercard commercials…  Gold:  $4.65/gram.  Silver:  $16.37/ounce.  Wisdom:  Priceless.

 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

whoever guards his way preserves his life.

• We hear about God’s path often.  From the outside of Christianity, it may seem like a bunch of rules that weigh us down.  But that is just blindness to the truth.
• Heeding God’s instructions keeps us protected, it gives us the true life we really want.  And, heck, it actually makes things much, much simpler.  No more need to second guess our own thoughts and feelings.  Set your feet on the solid path of God and you’ll always be stable.

 Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

• Yeah, nothing funnier to our worldly eyes than to see the arrogant guy trip and fall.  No one likes a narcissist.  This is ingrained in us.  
• But sometimes, we’re that guy.  We think of ourselves as better than another (even though we’re unlikely to admit it).  
• God promises a nice fall for those who are prideful.  Best to stay humble … as He commands.

 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

• This is not to say that God wants you to be poor.  God is saying here that it’s better to be one over the other.  
• Bottom line, don’t be proud, selfish and greedy.  Be humble, selfless, and giving.  Simple as that.

 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,

and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

• That’s just it … people don’t think it through.  Those outside don’t get it because they’ve never looked further than the surface level.  If they would give it actual thought, they would discover what it’s really all about.  Problem is, in this busy world we’ve created, people don’t take the time.  They say they don’t have the time.  But what they’re saying is, “This meaningless stuff I’m filling my life with is more important than where I’ll be for eternity.  Scary.
• If they’d just take a moment to dig deeper and understand, they would know that they could be truly blessed and secured if they just trusted in God through Jesus.

 The wise of heart is called discerning,

and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

• Those with God’s wisdom are able to more naturally discern right from wrong, good choices from bad choices, etc.
• One piece of that wisdom:  speak kindly, sweetly.  Harshness deters from the impact of speech where sweetness improves it.

 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,

but the instruction of fools is folly.

• Hey Larry, toss this hear hairspray can into yonder fire.  Whatcha - a chicken?
• Good sense removes many of life’s difficulties.  Most of the bad things that happen come from someone not using common sense, or stopping to think before reacting quickly.
• If someone is a fool, likely his advice is foolish, too.

 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

• Good judgement comes with wisdom.  
• And with evidence of good judgement comes persuasiveness (a.k.a. Credibility).

 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

• Words that are selfless, forgiving … altogether gracious in tone and content … lift weight from the shoulders of those receiving those words.  And that “lifting” reduces stress, improves health.

 There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

• We think we are smarter than we actually are.  Even if most people read and knew God’s instructions (which most don’t, of course), their arrogance and pride leads them to believe they somehow know better.  Taking it upon yourself and deciding on a path that is not scriptural – even though it may seem right on the surface – is a recipe for disaster.  In all things, seek God’s advice on the subject and … just do that.

 A worker's appetite works for him;

his mouth urges him on.

• Only two ways to feed yourself and your family:  Beg or get to work.  Begging for any other reason than out of absolute necessity is not right.  So, with the blessings God has given you, work.  
• He’s designed it that way to keep you moving, to keep you doing a good work.  

 A worthless man plots evil,

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

 A dishonest man spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

 A man of violence entices his neighbor

and leads him in a way that is not good.

 Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

• Notice what God says about someone who plots evil:  worthless.  That word carried even more weight back when this was written.
• His words cause some serious damage.  Words can lift you up or they can tear you down.  Some are affected at age 40 by words said to them at age 10.  A worthless man could care less about either.  He says whatever he wants without thought or care.
• Spreading strife, whispering … gossiping … cut it out.  God is saying clearly that NOTHING good comes from it.  
• It’s bad enough to do things that are not right.  But to entice others to do the same?  Oy.
• I both wink and purse my lips.  When I do so, I am being dishonest.  Now, I think I am being funny, but God is telling us to watch out for those who do this because they are truly hiding something evil.  Also, don’t be one of these people. ;)   

 Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

• My crown is growing day after day.  I find more strands of “glory” each week.  I don’t think this means God wants us all to have gray hair OR to go get some Grecian Formula either.  He’s saying that, living a life that is holy and following His plan (a.k.a. Righteous) is a long life worth living.

 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

• Self-control.  It’s something that must be mastered.  But once mastered, it is a powerful thing.

 The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the Lord.

• I looked this one up.  Here’s what I found:
• In biblical times, "casting lots" was a form of divination in which the assumption is that God will determine the cast and thus provide the answer to the question that is posed.  
• The clear implication from this verse is that the Lord decides the final outcome of the cast lots – it is not left to chance.

Love you guys.