Posted by Jeff Short on July 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
– Proverbs 16:4
This proverb is an advanced piece of theology pertaining to the sovereignty of God over his creation. The word for
himself is the same as in verse 1 that was translated
answer. The first statement reveals Yahweh has made everything and everything is made for his purpose (Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11). The
day of evil, or trouble, speaks of judgment. The wicked will come to their deserved end and even this is by God’s purpose and for his glory (Job 21:30; Romans 9:21-22). The depth of theology here is beyond the scope of a brief commentary. God has a will and purpose from beginning to end for his creation from before the foundation of the world (Isaiah 46:9-10; Ephesians 1:9-11). All of history is moving toward God’s designed end and this proverb emphasizes that the rebellion of the wicked and their rejection of his revealed will do not thwart his purpose (Daniel 4:35). Asaph wrote that even man’s wrath praises God and all else is restrained by God (Psalm 76:10).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
– Proverbs 16:2
The word for
clean means pure and could be used to refer to something undiluted or without admixture. The first phrase means that a man’s motives and objectives for his
ways are reasonable and justifiable to him (Proverbs 21:2). This statement is a wisdom observation and general truth. It doesn’t have the negative tinge as in the similar, Proverbs 30:12. The contrast in the second is Yahweh
weigheth, evaluates as in a balance, the
spirits. This phrase refers to the sovereignty and omniscience of God to see and judge truly the hearts, or minds, of men (Proverbs 5:21; 24:12). He is a righteous and objective judge of motives, as is meant by
spirits as a figure, because they are unseen and intangible. God sees and judges what man cannot.
The point of this proverb is to give us wisdom to know our self-knowledge and self-evaluation are both incompetent. A man is not capable of properly evaluating his own heart (1 John 3:20; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5). For this reason, we trust God’s judgments (Psalm 19:9) and seek wise counselors among men, because only fools follow their own hearts (Proverbs 12:15).
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
– Proverbs 11:4
The
day of wrath refers to divine judgment or reckoning. It could be a reckoning in this life or the final reckoning in the life to come. Either way, the gain that so dominates the thoughts of many will not provide any release before the righteous judge. He cannot be bribed and silver and gold are not sufficient to pay for sin. The way of wisdom is the way of
righteousness, or justice. There is safety in that way and deliverance from the fear of death (Proverbs 12:28; Hebrews 2:14-15).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 15, 2016 · Leave a Comment
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
– Proverbs 8:20
Wisdom’s rich gifts have been described and extolled. Wisdom brings benefits both spiritually and physically. The spiritual far surpasses the physical in value and durability. So here wisdom explains her gifts come in the way of
righteousness and
judgment. The gains of wisdom are not by hook and by crook, but rather by righteous justice. The way of wisdom is a clear and upright way and we have seen the contrast with the way of evil men and the way of strange woman who lurk about in the dark and plot in secret. This also means those benefits are enjoyed without guilt or remorse.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 22, 2016 · 1 Comment
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
– Proverbs 5:21
The arguments against adultery are not only the life consequences on earth. The Lord sees all our ways. Ways refers to a road and is a common figure for one’s course of life. The strange woman says her husband is not at home and so entices with the thought that all will be secret (Proverbs 7:18-20). Solomon reminds that regardless of what man may see or know, the Lord knows all. He ponders or weighs all of man’s goings. The word here means a track, or well-worn path. Kidner observed it is a figure for habits. The point is to remember both the knowledge and the judgment of the Lord.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 18, 2016 · 1 Comment
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
– Proverbs 2:9
Here is the second consequence of the pursuit of wisdom. These verses should disabuse us of any notion of shortcuts to wisdom. If we do seek and search, then God gives us wisdom and we come to understand integrity, justice, and fairness. Through wisdom we are able to discern these rightly. Path is a track and refers to way one’s going in life. Here it is understanding every good way.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 8, 2016 · 1 Comment
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
– Proverbs 1:32
Turning away points to the active refusal of wisdom (Proverbs 1:23). It is as though wisdom is considered and found detestable and discarded. Refusing wisdom is suicidal (Proverbs 8:36). Prosperity speaks of abundance and security. Every perceived gain by folly, no matter how small, only confirms fools in their way. Their way leads to destruction.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 6, 2016 · 1 Comment
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
– Proverbs 1:30
Wisdom reiterates the reproof from verse 25 and provides explanation for the judgment to come in the next verse. It highlights the active refusal of wisdom by the fools who go their own way. This is a display of man’s depravity that he will only of himself choose sin and folly.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 5, 2016 · 1 Comment
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
– Proverbs 1:29
Fools actively reject wisdom. It is foolishness to them. This is in explanation of the previous two verses. Though wisdom cries long, there comes a time when she cannot be found. This verse describes the hardened, obstinate sinner who hated knowledge and refused to fear God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and no one starts in wisdom but they start there (Proverbs 1:7). By refusing the fear of the Lord, they show they try to come some other way, but none is found.
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Proverbs 16:4
Posted by Jeff Short on July 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
This proverb is an advanced piece of theology pertaining to the sovereignty of God over his creation. The word for himself is the same as in verse 1 that was translated answer. The first statement reveals Yahweh has made everything and everything is made for his purpose (Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11). The day of evil, or trouble, speaks of judgment. The wicked will come to their deserved end and even this is by God’s purpose and for his glory (Job 21:30; Romans 9:21-22). The depth of theology here is beyond the scope of a brief commentary. God has a will and purpose from beginning to end for his creation from before the foundation of the world (Isaiah 46:9-10; Ephesians 1:9-11). All of history is moving toward God’s designed end and this proverb emphasizes that the rebellion of the wicked and their rejection of his revealed will do not thwart his purpose (Daniel 4:35). Asaph wrote that even man’s wrath praises God and all else is restrained by God (Psalm 76:10).– Proverbs 16:4
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