Friday, December 20, 2013

“SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 16:1-3”


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Intervention of The Lord: Within and Without: Proverbs 16:1-3
1) The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.
2) All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
3) Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

The Lord is constantly intervening in the events in this world and the lives of those who live therein.  IN this chapter, Solomon begins to teach us some of the many different ways that our Lord intervenes our world and our personal lives…

EXPOSITION:

1) The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.
1.  The Lord arranges, makes sense of, and controls, the jumbled, confusing desires that we have within us.
2.  The Lord after arranging and controlling our desires, then enables us to reveal and fulfill those desires as we respond to others around us.

The Lord intervenes inwardly (arranging our desires) and outwardly (proper interaction with others) in our personal lives.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.   (Philippians 2:12-13)


2) All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
1.  Fallen mankind believes their personal walk of life is pure and upright.
2.  The Lord puts the inward parts of man to the test revealing the true nature of their thoughts, desires, motives and plans.

The Lord intervenes in the most intimate parts of man testing and revealing  the spiritual condition of their hearts and minds.

For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, [yet] thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.  How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary traversing her ways;   (Jeremiah 2:22-23)


3) Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
1.  When we purposefully turn over our lifestyle to the Lord, for His use and glory
2.  The Lord will intervene in our lives, gracing us and allowing us to live out our desire to glorify Him.

The Lord intervenes in our lives enabling us to serve Him when we submit to His Lordship.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.   (Psalms 37:4-5)



SUMMARY:

The intervention of the Lord is not limited to the outward circumstances of our lives, but also includes His intervention in our inward being (thoughts, motives, desires) and our outward actions and speech.  May we all thank Him for His personal concern and intervention in our lives….

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.  The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.   (Psalms 138:7-8)


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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