Proverbs 21:1-3, 29-31 (ESV)
[1] The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
[3] To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
[29] A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright gives thought to his ways.
[30] No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the LORD.
[31] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.
Proverbs 21 contrasts two ways of living and thinking. The way of the wise and godly individual is a life of simplicity, honesty, personal responsibility, justice, and humility. The way of the wicked is just the opposite. The wicked always wants more. The wicked twists the truth to their own ends. The wicked expect others to serve them, fail to take personal responsibility for their own actions and success, and lack compassion for the less fortunate. The wicked are more concerned about themselves than about others. Yet they are convinced that they are right.
But what is that the heart of the matter? This chapter begins and ends with a reference to the sovereignty of God. “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Prov 21:1). “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD” (Prov 21:31). At the heart of the matter, the wise and the godly recognize that their lives and their future rests in the hands of their God. The wicked still think that life is about themselves.
That raises a frighteningly obvious question: How do I live? Too often I have talked as though God is God but lived as though life is about me and my satisfaction. Too often I have talked as though I believe that God is sovereign, but live in fear, as though he does not exist. Too often I have talked as though I believe that God has things in control and will accomplish his purposes but have lived in anxiety and selfishness.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart” (Prov 21:2). “A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways” (Prov 21:29). We take offence but believe that we have good reason to be offended. We ignore the cries of the hurting and needy, while clamoring for wealth and believe that we have a right to do so. We live in fear and anxiety, failing to trust that God truly is in control, but believe that we are justified in our fears and anxieties.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (Prov 21:2). Isn’t it time that we consider the truth that God is not concerned with what we think is right. “The LORD weighs the heart” (Prov 21:2). Isn’t it time to step back and give some reflection to how we have been living and what values and real beliefs have been driving our behavior? Isn’t it time to really believe that God is in control.
A life of faith is a life of peace. It is a life of simplicity, honesty, personal responsibility, justice, and most of all humility. It is time that we listen to what we say we believe, admit the lies we have really been believing, and start living as though God really is God. The king’s heart really is in the hands of the Lord whether the king realizes it or not. The victory really does belong to the LORD. It is time we stop believing the lies we have been telling ourselves, and actually trust God.
[1] The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
[3] To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
[29] A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright gives thought to his ways.
[30] No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the LORD.
[31] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the LORD.
Proverbs 21 contrasts two ways of living and thinking. The way of the wise and godly individual is a life of simplicity, honesty, personal responsibility, justice, and humility. The way of the wicked is just the opposite. The wicked always wants more. The wicked twists the truth to their own ends. The wicked expect others to serve them, fail to take personal responsibility for their own actions and success, and lack compassion for the less fortunate. The wicked are more concerned about themselves than about others. Yet they are convinced that they are right.
But what is that the heart of the matter? This chapter begins and ends with a reference to the sovereignty of God. “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Prov 21:1). “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD” (Prov 21:31). At the heart of the matter, the wise and the godly recognize that their lives and their future rests in the hands of their God. The wicked still think that life is about themselves.
That raises a frighteningly obvious question: How do I live? Too often I have talked as though God is God but lived as though life is about me and my satisfaction. Too often I have talked as though I believe that God is sovereign, but live in fear, as though he does not exist. Too often I have talked as though I believe that God has things in control and will accomplish his purposes but have lived in anxiety and selfishness.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart” (Prov 21:2). “A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways” (Prov 21:29). We take offence but believe that we have good reason to be offended. We ignore the cries of the hurting and needy, while clamoring for wealth and believe that we have a right to do so. We live in fear and anxiety, failing to trust that God truly is in control, but believe that we are justified in our fears and anxieties.
“Every way of a man is right in his own eyes” (Prov 21:2). Isn’t it time that we consider the truth that God is not concerned with what we think is right. “The LORD weighs the heart” (Prov 21:2). Isn’t it time to step back and give some reflection to how we have been living and what values and real beliefs have been driving our behavior? Isn’t it time to really believe that God is in control.
A life of faith is a life of peace. It is a life of simplicity, honesty, personal responsibility, justice, and most of all humility. It is time that we listen to what we say we believe, admit the lies we have really been believing, and start living as though God really is God. The king’s heart really is in the hands of the Lord whether the king realizes it or not. The victory really does belong to the LORD. It is time we stop believing the lies we have been telling ourselves, and actually trust God.
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