Proverbs 13:1-5
Our Speech Should be Uplifting
Proverbs 13:6-13
Pride Causes Us to Be Contentious
Proverbs 13:11-15
Following Instruction Will Spare You Sorrow
Proverbs 13:14-20
Friends Will Take You Up or Down
Proverbs 13:21-25
When Genuine Love is Questionable
Proverbs 14:1-5
No Work Means No Harvest
Proverbs 14:6-12
Fools Think Their Ways Are Right
Proverbs 14:13-17
Failing to Live by The Truth of God’s Word
Proverbs 14:18-23
It’s Important to Listen to Instruction
Proverbs 14:24-29
A Bad Temper is a Sign of Weakness
Proverbs 14:30-35
Emotions Effect Our Physical Conditon
Proverbs 15:1-5
Choose Gentle Words
Proverbs 15:6-11
Refusal to Take Correction Brings Discipline
Proverbs 15:12-15
We Feed What Our Heart Craves
Proverbs 15:16-22
Love is More Important Than Riches
Proverbs 15:23-27
Wise Leaders Always Seek Advice
Proverbs 15:28-33
The Righteous Weighs His Words Carefully
Proverbs 16:1-11
God’s Sovereignty in Shaping the World
Proverbs 16:5-11
Making Enemies to Be at Peace
Proverbs 16:12-17
Better to Have Wisdom Than Gold
Proverbs 16:18-22
Pride Goes Before Destruction
Proverbs 16:23-26
The Way That Seems Right to Man
Proverbs 16:27-33
A Whisperer Separates Friends
Proverbs 17:1-4
The Lord Tests the Hearts
Proverbs 17:5-9
Children Need to Revere Their Parents
Proverbs 17:10-14
Evil Men Seek Rebellion
Proverbs 17:15-19
A Friend Loves at All Times
Proverbs 17:20-28
A Merry Heart Is Like Medicine
Proverbs 18:1-5
With Dishonor Comes Reproach
Proverbs 18:6-12
A Fool’s Mouth Brings Destruction
Proverbs 18:13-24
A Friend that sticks closer than a Brother
Proverbs 19:1-9
Wealth Makes Many Friends
God’s Sovereignty in Shaping the World
Proverbs 16:1–11
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
An unexpected delay in New York providently kept a Christian from catching Flight 191 in Chicago, which crashed with all 254 aboard. At the same time this happened one of God’s great saints ran to make Flight 191—and made it!” His name was Edward E. Elliott, beloved pastor ... More
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)
Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230
Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »