He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Intervention of The Lord: Control Of The
Wicked: Proverbs 16:4-7
4) The LORD hath made all [things]
for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5) Every one [that is] proud
in heart [is] an abomination to the
LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be
unpunished.
6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil.
7) When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be
at peace with him.
EXPOSITION:
4) The LORD hath made all [things]
for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
1.
Jehovah, the Self-Existent One, has systematically planned and brought into existence
all things. Why did He do this? He did this for Himself. It would be through creation that He would
have a universal display of His greatness, grace, wisdom, power and authority.
2.
A part of the creation that He has brought into existence is the wicked full
well knowing that they would face His judgment someday. Why would He do this? He desired to show His justice, power and
authority over those who willingly have chosen to rebel against Him. Here, we
find the Lord able to turn man’s rebellion against Him upside down and bring
glory and honor to Himself.
The
Lord through His intervention of creation and judgment glorifies Himself in all
things.
“The Lord knoweth how to
deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of
judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk
after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous
[are they], selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.” (2 Peter 2:9-10)
“Nay but, O man, who art
thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it],
Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power
over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another
unto dishonour? [What] if God, willing to
shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of
mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the
Gentiles? (Romans 9:20-24)
5) Every one [that is] proud
in heart [is] an abomination to the
LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be
unpunished.
1. Wicked men are motivated out of pride in their
hearts. All wickedness finds it root in
pride. It is the arrogant attitude that says “We will not have this man
to reign over us” (Luke 19:14) that causes man to live
lifestyles of disobedience to Him. Those who carry about this attitude are an “abomination”
to Him.
What is an abomination? It means to be disgusting or loathed. Many times, it is related to the sin of placing
others before the Lord. It is used in
the context of idol worship but many other times it is used of acts of extreme
selfish, willful, rebellion. A prideful
heart is an extreme attitude putting oneself ahead of the Lord. It is the
prideful believing they are wiser, better, of higher authority or more powerful
than the Lord. In a real sense, idol
worship and a proud heart are the same type of sin. It is the worship of others, or self, instead
of God.
2. Even when the wicked unite, they will not
be able to overcome the judgment of Almighty God.
Please
note the significant importance of these verses….These verses make plain that
the wicked are in a very dangerous standing before the Lord, their Final
Judge. Not only are their works detested
by Him, but they, themselves, are rejected by Him and awaiting Divine judgment. If they die in their sins, they cannot expect
that His enmity and rejection will only touch their sins, while, as individuals,
they will escape the final rejection and judgment of God. He
makes it perfectly plain that THEY, THEMSELVES, are an abomination, rejected,
despised and awaiting His judgment.
“Who will render to every
man according to his deeds: To them who by patient
continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal
life: But unto them that are
contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation
and wrath, Tribulation and anguish,
upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the
Gentile; But glory, honour, and
peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the
Gentile: For there is no respect of
persons with God. (Romans 2:6-11)
6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil.
1. How can a wicked man be cleansed of his
rebellious acts? Through the merciful
intervention of God which enables those who are wicked to apply of the truth of
God’s Word to their lives coming to repentance and faith in Christ.
2. How can a wicked man depart from his acts of
wickedness? He must fear God recognizing
his dangerous position before Almighty God and come to recognition of His
greatness, authority and power. This is
a part of the true salvation experience involving repentance and belief.
Through
the Lord’s gracious intervention in the life of the wicked, they can be changed
and become the servants of Almighty God.
“Deck thyself now [with]
majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. Cast abroad the rage of
thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him. Look on every one [that is]
proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust
together; [and] bind their faces in secret. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save
thee.” (Job 40:10-14)
7) When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be
at peace with him.
When
a man follows the path in obedience and submission to the Lord, the Lord then
intervenes in the heart of the enemy and works peace between them.
The
intervention of the Lord is not limited to the lives of the saved, by the can
also intervene and control the lives of the wicked as well.
“The LORD said, Verily it
shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee [well]
in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.” (Jeremiah 15:11)
SUMMARY:
Our
Lord is so great, even the wicked are under His Sovereign control.
“And at the end of the days
I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding
returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him
that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his
kingdom [is] from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he
doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants
of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason
returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness
returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was
established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar
praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth,
and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:34-37)
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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