And without such a plan, He could not even govern the world intelligently, or make a proper universe of the created system; for it becomes a universe only in the grand unity of reason which includes it, otherwise it were only a jumble of fortuities without counsel, end, or law." Proverbs 9:13 “A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing." 10:23 ) ( Psalms 37:23 We never sink below His care—never drop out of His counsel. This proverb contains substantially the same sentiments as, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Keil & Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary, Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible, The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann, Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible. Schenck. Compare Proverbs 20:24; Psalms 37:23; Jeremiah 10:23. "A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.". (W. E. A man's heart deviseth his way This is to be understood, not of a wicked man, in whose heart is frowardness, and who devises mischief and evil imaginations continually, ( Proverbs 6:14 Proverbs 6:18) ; for such are an abomination to the Lord; nor will he direct their goings, or prosper and succeed … King James Version (KJV ) Public Domain ... Red Letter Edition: 1,700 Key Words that Unlock the Meaning of the Bible. Men plan their way. Doubtless He had other and more general plans to serve in this bad man, if only he could have accepted such; but, knowing his certain rejection of these, God turned His mighty counsel in him wholly on the use to be made of him as a reprobate. David Livingstone starts as a hand in a Glasgow factory, and he becomes the pioneer of missionary work in Africa. How otherwise could God govern the world? He knows the whole way, every step of the way: “The end from the beginning.” And never shall we miss either the way or the end, if only we resign ourselves with unreserved confidence to His keeping, and the direction of our steps. Man deliberates here and there ( חשּׁב, intens. Proverbs 16:9. Ver. (S. G. Matthews, B.A. This is a fact of national and individual history. That is a simple fact of life. of That an interest in God's favour is far more important than all the wisdom and ability of man. So truly do we find our happiness and security in yielding up our will to our heavenly Guide! Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that … What an amount of selecting and rejecting goes on in the mind of many a boy! Man is here represented to us, 1. See our comment there. This is the great problem of the world’s history, man’s freedom, and God’s control. 10. God's Word is fully sufficient to prepare us for everything the Bible commands us to do. 2. The outer world is always the … Experience gives a demonstrable stamp of evidence—even in all the minutiæ of circumstances, which form the parts and pieces of the Divine plan.—Bridges. Also it means to regulate; to guide or lead; to govern; to cause to proceed in a particular manner. Without His favour the wisest will be disappointed and baffled; under His protection and guidance the simple are led in a plain and sure path. Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." Proverbs 16:9 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Proverbs 16:9, NIV: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. It is the Lord who is directing our steps. Verse of the Day Devotions Home Verse Of The Day Proverbs 16:9 What Does Proverbs 16:9 Mean? A man's heart deviseth his way. The thought of the first verse, coming to be repeated, this versatile sentencemaker calls it back with different scenery. "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling" or " Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Retail: $44.99. A man's heart deviseth his way, reflecting most carefully on his conduct, considering as best he can what might be best for him to do; but the Lord directeth his steps, the result and the end are the Lord's, and the best suggestion is that a Christian from the beginning place himself under God's guidance; for "man proposes, but God disposes. Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Nothing happens without His permission; no good thing comes to a man's life without His instigation and co-operation, and, if a man is willing to yield himself to His guidance, He will not only direct his steps, but direct them so as to further that man's true wellbeing—will make "all things work together for good" to him (Rom ). What support does it bring to the trials of life! It must be so. There was more room for the display of wisdom and power. difficulties, to his kingdom and glory. There are many to-day occupying positions very different to those which they set before themselves in early life. It means studies, or deeply meditates. And there is hardly a man living who, if he reflects upon his past life, cannot remember passages in his own history which confirm the truth of the text. In the choice of our occupations in life. . What means this mighty bustle and stir—this restless perturbation of thought and care—as if all the issues of futurity rested wholly on thy conduct? 5) Proverbs 16:9 The Message Behind the Verse Even if man has many plans, right or wrong, in the end it is the Will of God that will remain. 3. Accident and chance and fortune are words without meaning. The guidance of God may be traced in the dispensations of His providence. For that way must a beast go which he is driven: but man, not driven by fate, or constellation, or any other necessity, as master of himself, chooseth his own courses wherein to walk. (2) В то же время как зависимое творение, подчиняющееся указам и владычеству своего Творца. There are few who, in choosing their occupations in life, have not had wishes of their own, and there are few who, in looking back, do not find that those wishes have been overruled. But let men devise their worldly affairs ever so politely, and with ever so great a probability of success, yet God has the ordering of the event, and sometimes directs their steps to that which they least intended. 4 The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. In the success or failure of our daily business. Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart deviseth his way: But the Lord directeth his steps." The design of this is to teach us to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that (James 4:14, James 4:15), and to have our eye to God, not only in the great turns of our lives, but in every step we take. The good chooseth a good way, but it is by God brought to a good issue.—Jermin. Proverbs 16:9. 9. Among all who admit the existence of a Deity it has been a general belief that He exercises some government over human affairs. To point; to show the right road or course; as, he directed me to the left hand road. 3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. God is as certainly working in the minor as He is in the greater events of our lives. Commentary on Proverbs 16:11 (Read Proverbs 16:11) The problem is, we often try to apply this geometric principle to our lives. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Directeth — Over-rules and disposes all his designs and actions. “The Lord directeth his steps.” God has a plan concerning every man’s life--a plan which, though it compasses and controls every activity, leaves the man in undisturbed freedom. Perhaps almost the last place in which we should look to find the hand of God is the business of the world. Should enforce moderation of mind in every state. “God will work, and who shall let it?” (R. Wardlaw, D.D.). And what is this but another way of conceiving that God has a definite place and plan adjusted for every human being? This is parallel with Proverbs 16:1. Commentary on Proverbs 16:9 (Read Proverbs 16:9) If men make God's glory their end, and his will their rule, he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace. .—“Man proposeth, God disposeth.” (See below on Proverbs 20:24.). but of a good man, or righteous man, as Aben Ezra; who thinks of Man is here represented to us, 1. As a reasonable creature, that has the faculty of contriving for himself: His heart devises his way, designs an end, and projects ways and means leading to that end, which the inferior creatures, who are governed by sense and natural instinct, cannot do. Speculation is a spiritual vice as well as a commercial one--trading without capital is common in the religious world, and puffery and deception are every-day practices. HIS JOY AND ASSURANCE (9) 1. The folly of such anxiety is aggravated by this consideration, that all events are under a much better and wiser direction than we could place them. Posted on Sep 26, 2018. God calls us now to the best thing left, and will do so till all good possibility is narrowed down and spent. The doctrine of the text—I. Every event has its own determined direction. THAN PROVERBS People all over the world are constantly looking for a better item, whether buying fruit in a market or choosing a place to live. God is working out some kind and wise purpose by putting us where we are. Failure will sometimes come to the most diligent. render it, δουλευων εαυτω, serveth, or is servant to himself; that is, hath none to wait upon him, or work for him but … Illustrations: Joseph"s brethren (Genesis 37:18-28, and Proverbs 45:5); Pharaoh"s daughter (Exodus 2:5); Saul (1 Samuel 9:3, 1 Samuel 9:15, 1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 23:26; 1Sa_23:-28); Jesse (1 Samuel 16:8-11; 1 Samuel 17:23, 1 Samuel 17:53); Syrians (2 Kings 5:2); woman (John 4:7); Saul (Acts 9:1, &c.); Philemon. God to think and act in this manner; for otherwise the way of man Though in one sense man's will is free, yet in another he is overruled by God's all-ordering providence. Compiled & Edited by BibleStudyTools Staff, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. We make our lists, set our goals, map out the path to get there and off we go, praying for God’s assistance in getting us there. That highest and best condition for which God designed us is no more possible.… And yet, as that was the best thing possible for us in the reach of God's original counsel, so there is a place designed for us now, which is the next best possible. The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. NIV “ 人心籌算自己的道路； 惟耶和華指引他的腳步。 ” Study Key Words and their meaning Heart Normally one plans with the mind but the use of this word means that… Если человек обдумывает свой путь и делает своей целью воздаяние славы Богу, а Его волю – своим правилом, то может ожидать, что Его Дух и благодать будут управлять его шествием, чтобы он не сбился с пути и смог достичь своей цели. An unexpected meeting with a person may alter our whole career. The doctrine of the text is to be improved--. If men make God's glory their end, and his will their rule, he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace. This is a law which must be in operation till the end of time. Illustrate from the woman of Samaria, and from Zaccheus. We live in the Divine thought. Man feels that his life is fashioned by his own plan, that he is the undisputed monarch of his own inner world. the way in which he should go, and desires to walk in a right A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. nor is his disposition to walk in it of himself; and it is only Compare with this verse which is prior to v. 9 and which contains an important CONDITION for the general promise:: Proverbs 16:3 COMMIT THY WORKS UNTO THE LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16:9 ESV) “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line”. There are many lessons that God's people have to learn and often it takes a lifetime to pass the different tests the Lord sets for each one of us. After all, however, we need much discipline to wean us from our own devices, that we may seek the Lord’s direction in the first place. Another suggestion is that it means "a mystery poem" (Leopold). It must be so. The fruit of this discipline will be a dread of being left to our own devices, as before we were eager to follow them (Psalms 143:10). The psalm does reveal David's trust in life and hope in death, ... (16:9-11) A. Sometimes God steers us away from horrendous unseen obstacles while we mistakenly think that He is thwarting us or not answering our prayers. … In God’s universe nothing comes to pass causelessly or in vain. But upon a hand unseen it depends, either to overturn thy projects, or to crown them with success, therefore thine attention should never run into immoderate care. a. And he hath also engaged against himself one certain and formidable enemy. The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. The will of intelligent moral beings being left free, and yet as completely controlled as matter and laws, makes the Divine government much more glorious than the mere management of a material universe. 1. I. So the shepherd boy of Bethlehem sets out with the unambitious intention of carrying supplies to his brethren, and of seeing how the battle is likely to go, and becomes himself the central figure in the camp, and the hero of his nation. Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Cromwell, despairing of enjoying liberty in England, planned to make a home in America, and, it is said, actually went on board a vessel which was about to sail. PROVERBS 16:9. But there is, I must add, a single and very important qualification. He leaves his father's house, as he supposes, for a few days, little dreaming that he is traversing a path by which he will never return. In every scene, not only the miraculous, but the ordinary, the hand of the Deity is visible. It neither takes from him the attributes of humanity, nor ascribes to him the attributes of Deity. We all learned this in geometry. Should correct immoderate care about the future events of our life. to go right on, and not turn to the right hand or the left; and I. And when the future come, he "plants," "sets firm, his step" quite differently from what he had decreed.—Miller. Man uses what discretion and judgment he has, but when he has done all much is left to circumstances over which he has no control. Directeth his steps; overruleth and disposeth all their designs and actions as he pleaseth, and not as they list. 9 Ang puso ng tao ay kumakatha ng kaniyang lakad: nguni't ang Panginoon ang nagtutuwid ng kaniyang mga hakbang. The teaching of the text is also illustrated in the removal of the fear of death when the death-time comes. “Experience,” says Mr. Bridges, “gives a demonstrable stamp of evidence even in all the minutiae of circumstances which form the parts and pieces of the Divine plan.” A matter Of common business, the indulgence of curiosity, the supply of necessary want, a journey from home, all are connected with infinitely important results. The doctrine of Providence is not like the doctrine of the Trinity—to be received by faith. ), We cherish hopes, we make plans; but there is a higher power that directs our steps. 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