Friday, February 14, 2014

“SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 21:1-3”


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

Practical Life Principles: The Lord Is In Control: Proverbs 21:1-3
1) The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2) Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
3) To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.


In this chapter, Solomon reminds us of several practical life principles that we use in our day to day walk with the Lord.

EXPOSITION:
1) The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Life Principle 1:  The Lord is in control of those in authority.
1.  Those who are in authority are controlled by the very hand of Jehovah, much He is in control of the mighty rivers that flow and rise according to His good pleasure.
2.  The Lord is able to bend the authority’s desires, motives and thoughts in any way He pleases.

Normally, we think of inanimate nature under the Lord control, but we hestitate to think that men are controlled as well.  Here we find that Solomon described the Lord’s control over nature as being very similar to the type and degree of control He exercises over mankind as well.  In other words, the Lord sovereignly reigns equally over all His creation.

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?   (Daniel 4:34-35)


2) Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Life Principle 2: The Lord knows our heart and mind better than ourselves.
1.  Every path that a man chooses to take, he, pridefully, believes is the correct path.
2.  However, the Lord not only analyzes our actions but our heart as well.  

When we rely upon ourselves for leadership in decision making, we are relying upon a fallen, sinful, imperfect being.  Therefore many times we can actually fool ourselves and make incorrect life decisions.  However, the Lord cannot be fooled.  He sees the true nature of the actions and our heart (desires and thoughts) which reveals the motivations behind that action.

The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.
(Jeremiah 17:9-10)


3) To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Life Principle 3: The Lord is the final, ultimate Judge to which we must answer.
1. To do moral acts of fairness and mercy is desired by Jehovah over the giving of public offerings.

To live in submission to the Lord’s desires, by treating others morally and fairly, is chosen by God over the outward motions of worship when the heart is not in submission to Him.  In the end, He is the One to whom we must answer and He is the One for whom we are to live.

To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them].  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.   (Isaiah 1:11-17)


SUMMARY:
One of the great life principles by which we are to live is found in the knowledge that the Lord is in absolute control of all things.  This control is shown to man in many different ways, three of which are: His control over the authorities of this world; His knowledge of the thoughts and intents of the heart; His role as the final, Ultimate Judge over all mankind.

May we all keep these principles in mind, to help us select the path(s) we are to take during our walk on this earth.
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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