Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:1

B. The Righteous Lifestyle Exalted (16:122:16)16:1 The name Jehovah (LORD) occurs nine times in the first eleven verses of chapter 16. Man may plan his thoughts in advance, but the LORD is sovereign and overrules all man’s words for the accomplishment of His purposes. “Man proposes but God disposes.” Balaam, for instance, wanted to curse the people of Israel, but the words came out as a blessing (Num_22:38; Num_23:7-10). Or think of Caiaphas, who spoke beyond his own wisdom (Joh_11:49-52). Herod and Pilate conspired to do to Jesus what God had already appointed to be done (Act_4:27-28). It may also mean that though God’s persecuted people often plan in advance what to say at their trial, God gives the proper words at the suited time (Mat_10:19). 16:2 A man’s ways are his outward acts; he judges himself by them and pronounces himself pure. But God sees the motives and intentions of the heart. “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults” (Psa_19:12). 16:3 The best way to insure that our dreams and goals will be achieved is to dedicate our works to the LORD. J. Allen Blair advises: Occasionally we find ourselves disturbed and depressed, even in trying to do the Lord’s work. Could anything be further from what God desires? God cannot work through anxious hearts. Whenever a Christian reaches this state, he should stop at once and ask himself, “Whose work is it?” If it’s God’s work, never forget the burden of it is His, too. You are not the important person. Christ is! He is at work through us. What should we do then when things do not go well? Go to Him! Anything less than this is disobedience. Prayer: “Give me the eye which sees God in all, and the hand which can serve Him in all, and the heart which can bless Him for all” (Daily Notes). 16:4 This verse does not suggest that God has created certain men to be damned. The Bible nowhere teaches the doctrine of reprobation. Men are damned by their own deliberate choice, not by God’s decree. The proverb means that God has an end, object, or purpose for everything. There is a result for every cause, a reward or punishment for every act. He has ordained a day of trouble or evil for the wicked, just as He has prepared heaven for those who love Him. “Everything the Lord has made has its destiny; and the destiny of the wicked man is destruction” (TEV). 16:5 Human pride is hateful to the LORD. As explained previously, “though they join forces” literally reads “hand in hand.” In this context it probably suggests the certainty of the proud’s being punished. 16:6 The doctrine of this verse must be studied in the light of all other Scriptures on the subject. It cannot mean that a man is saved by being merciful and truthful; salvation is by grace through faith in the Lord. Only to the extent that mercy and truth are the signs of saving faith can they be said to purge iniquity. The second part of the proverb is clear on the face of it. By trusting the LORD, men escape misfortune and calamity. 16:7 Like so many of the proverbs, this is a general rule, but it does have exceptions. “A righteous life disarms opposition.” Or, as Barnes put it, “Goodness has power to charm and win even enemies to itself.” Stanton treated Lincoln with utter contempt. He called him a “low cunning clown” and “the original gorilla.” He said there was no need to go to Africa to capture a gorilla when one was available in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln never retaliated, Instead he made Stanton his war minister, believing that he was the best qualified for the office. Years later when Lincoln was killed by an assassin’s bullet, Stanton looked down on his rugged face and said tearfully, “There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen.” 16:8 It is better to have a modest income which is earned honestly than to have vast revenues without justice or with fraud. 16:9 As we were reminded in verse 1, man goes to great length to plan his career, but the LORD alone determines whether these plans ever come to pass. Saul of Tarsus planned to persecute the Christian saints in Damascus but ended up becoming one of them! Onesimus planned to leave Philemon forever but God brought him back on better terms than ever. 16:10 Because a king is a representative of God (Rom_13:1), his edicts and decisions carry authority and finality. Therefore his mouth must not transgress in judgment.16:11 God maintains a Bureau of Standards. He determines honest weights and scales. When men deal in accordance with His standards, He approves and blesses them. 16:12 Actually it is an abomination for anyone to commit wickedness, but especially for kings. They represent God in their position, and therefore have greater responsibility. The throne is established on a foundation of doing right. It should be added that the verse may mean that it is an abomination to kings for their subjects to commit wickedness. Lawful, orderly government must be sustained by righteousness. Where moral standards are abandoned, anarchy prevails. 16:13 Good kings don’t appreciate those who flatter and speak hypocritically. They want men whose word is trustworthy, who are frank and sincere. 16:14 Once enraged, a king can quickly sentence offenders to death. A wise man will not provoke the ruler needlessly but will seek to pacify him. 16:15 When the king is joyful, the happiness of his face spreads gladness through the realm. His favor is as refreshing as the clouds that bring the latter rain. 16:16 Earthly riches are not to be compared to wisdom and knowledge. Riches often disappear overnight but divine wisdom remains throughout eternity. 16:17 The righteous follow the highway of holiness without turning off on the tangents of sin. The one who keeps straight on this highway preserves his life from damage and misfortune. 16:18 A tall tree attracts lightning. So God puts down those who are conceited. Stuck-up people usually suffer some humiliating experience, designed to deflate their ego. It takes only a small pin to prick a large balloon. It was pride that caused the fall of Luciferas Marlowe described him, “aspiring pride and insolence for which God threw him from the face of heaven.” 16:19 It’s better to be of a humble spirit yourself and to be a companion of the lowly, than to share the seeming advantages of the proud. Would’st thou be chiefthen lowly serve; Would’st thou go upgo down; But go as low as e’er you will, The Highest has been lower still. Author unknown16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. So the proverb says, “Read your Bible; heed it; and trust the One who wrote it.” 16:21 A man who is truly wise . . . will be acknowledged for his discernment and insight. In addition, the pleasant manner in which he speaks will make others more willing to listen to him and to learn. “Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness” (NASB). 16:22 Understanding serves as a wellspring of life and refreshment to its possessor, whereas folly is like a whiplash to fools. They are punished by their own folly. “Folly is the chastisement of fools” (Berkeley). 16:23 The speech of a wise man is an index of what is in his heart. He displays his knowledge by what he says. And there is a certain persuasiveness about his statements. He speaks with authority. 16:24 Kind, pleasant words have the qualities of a honeycombsweet to the taste and health to the bones. As Kidner puts it, “To say nice things when we can is a simple benefit we may bring a person, in mind and thence in body.” Watchman Nee told of a woman whose husband never expressed appreciation for anything she had ever done. She worried constantly that she had failed as a wife and mother. Possibly this is what caused her to develop tuberculosis. When she was dying, her husband said to her, “I don’t know what we are going to do. You have done so much and done it well.” “Why didn’t you say that sooner?” she asked, “I have been blaming myself all along, because you never once said ‘Well done.’” 16:25 This repeats Pro_14:12 for emphasis. It seems logical and reasonable that the way to heaven is by being good and doing good. But the true fact is that the only people who will ever get to heaven are sinners saved by grace. 16:26 The person who labors, labors for himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on. He knows that if he doesn’t work, he won’t collect his paycheck, and without money he can’t go to the supermarket to buy food. So if he is ever tempted to stop working, his appetite urges him on. This is also true in the spiritual realm. A realization of our deep spiritual need drives us to the Word and to prayer. 16:27 Verses 27-30 give different portraits of wickedness. First we see an ungodly man as one who digs up evil, and whose speech is like a burning fire, scorching and injuring. 16:28 A perverse man is one who distorts the truth. By lying, shading the truth, or withholding the facts, he spreads strife. A talebearer separates close friends. 16:29 A violent man seeks to lead his neighbor astray, encouraging him to be a partner in crime (see Rom_1:32). 16:30 Facial expressions can have evil connotations. A wink can hint at connivance to devise some perverse things. Compressed lips can express the determination to see it through. 16:31 The “if” should be omitted. The silver-haired head stands for long life. It is a crown of glory or beauty because it is looked on here as a reward for a righteous life. So this verse is the opposite of Psa_55:23, “Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.” 16:32 A man who can control his temper is a greater hero than a military conqueror. Victory in this area is more difficult than in capturing a city. If you don’t believe it, try it! Peter the Great, although one of the mightiest of the Czars of Russia, failed here. In a fit of temper he struck his gardener, and a few days afterwards the gardener died. “Alas,” said Peter, sadly, “I have conquered other nations, but I have not been able to conquer myself!” 16:33 In the OT and even up to the time of Pentecost, the casting of the lot was a legitimate way of determining the will of God. The whole process seemed very much a matter of chance, but the LORD overruled to reveal His guidance. Today the complete Word of God gives us a general outline of God’s will. When we need specific guidance in matters not covered in the Word, we learn His will through waiting on Him in prayer. Then we find that every decision is from the LORD.