God’s Sovereignty in Shaping the World

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Sovereignty

These verses emphasize God’s role as sovereign king of the universe. We may make plans, but the answers are from God (v. 1). We think our ways are pure, but God weighs the motives of each of us (v. 2). It says that “the Lord weighs the spirits.” It takes discernment to know whether we are getting our thoughts and directions from the Lord or from man. We can never trust our thoughts. We may commit our works to the Lord, but God establishes the plans (v. 3).

God has made everything for His own purpose (v. 4). Some have used this passage to support the false teaching of limited atonement, the view that it is God’s will to save only certain people, while it is also His will that everyone else be eternally lost in Hell. On the contrary, God says that "He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9).” The Scripture also teaches that it is his “will” to “have all men to be saved, and come to a knowledge of the truth (I Tim. 2:4).”

 

God makes use of the wicked to execute righteous vengeance on each other; and he will be glorified by their destruction at last (v. 5). Only by living in accordance with God’s “mercy and truth” is it possible to avoid God’s wrath (v. 6). When a person pleases the Lord, by avoiding evil, and living godly, “He makes even his enemies to be at peace with Him” (v.7).

 

As a sinner we must continually cry out for mercy and not for justice. If we got what we deserved, we would spend eternity in Hell separated from God forever and ever.

Application

Despite what I choose to do in life God has the final word. God is in control.

 

Proverbs 16:1-11 (English Standard Version)


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