Proverbs 16:1-16
Several of today’s proverbs explicitly mention “plans” (i.e., Pr. 16:1,3,9) — and Pr. 16:2 might as well have used “plans” instead of “ways”. So I thought I might focus on planning today, how it is good and prudent to plan, but that we need to hold our plans loosely, recognizing that the Lord may have other ideas. (See James 4:13-17.)
But the proverb that really sticks out to me is this:
The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
Proverbs 16:4
even the wicked for the day of trouble.
For a Calvinist or other adherent of predestination, this verse probably sounds perfectly reasonable. But for those who reject predestination in favor of full and complete free will, this verse probably sounds repugnant (but it is still there, so…). I am not at all qualified — nor do I have the time and energy — to really address the “predestination vs. free will” debate. That’s a debate that has been going on for a couple thousand years and hasn’t been firmly settled yet, so I don’t think we can settle it here. (Some of you may already know that I frankly ride the fence on this one. My position is that it is mysteriously “both-and” not “either-or”…)
So without really getting into predestination vs. free will, what can we take away from this proverb? Trust. We can trust that, regardless of circumstances or appearances, the LORD God Almighty is ultimately in control. All those random annoyances have their purpose in God’s plan. Every tragedy and heartbreak has its reasons. Every life and every death fits somehow into His plan. And He is good.
There was another reference to fear in this reading, Pr. 16:6, “…evil is avoided by fear of the LORD.” We saw a verse in the July 12th reading about fear also: Pr. 15:33, “Fear of the LORD teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor.” Also John spent some time discussing fear from that reading.
I’m getting the message that a good healthy fear of God is good for me (ya think??); I can avoid evil and become wise. Hmm, both those things are good for me. Thank you, Lord!