Proverbs 16:1-5

Proverbs 16:1-5
English Standard Version​
16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the LORD weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the LORD,
    and your plans will be established.
4 The LORD has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.

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I like how The Good News Translation translates verse 1, "We may make our plans, but the LORD has the last word."  Other translations seem to focus on the fact that the LORD puts words in our mouth so that we say the right thing.  We know though that the tongue is also controlled by the heart and says all kind of vile things, especially if there is evil in our hearts, so I don't think this can be saying that we have dominion over our hearts and minds, but God alone has dominion over our tongues.  I think Solomon's point is like the Good News Translation said, we can make whatever plans we want, but God is Sovreign and whatever He says will happen will certainly happen.  So, our goal should be to make our desires line up with His desires.  Once the King speaks, the matter is settled, and His word is as good as Law.

Speaking of how His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, a man, especially a foolish man, does what is right in his own eyes (see the book of Judges where this seems to be the refrain regarding the downward spiral of God's people).    However, the LORD knows not just the actions but the motives and weighs them.  We see from the book of Daniel that the LORD weighed the heart of the pagan king Belshazzar and found him "wanting" (not up to His standards).

Now we get back to the "so what" application.  How then should we not have our plans thwarted by the Sovreign LORD and how should we make sure that what we are doing is actually pure and right in His eyes?  We are to commit our ways to the LORD and let Him be in control of us (much easier in the post-Pentecost days when the Holy Spirit resides within us, and we can be controlled by the Spirit).  Then, and only then, will our plans be established, because our plans will be His plans.

The LORD designed everything and everyone He created with a plan and a purpose.  This goes to the heart of our major worldview questions of Origins, Meaning, Morality, Destiny, and Identity.  God is the one who determines the answers to all these questions for us, and He has revealed the general answer to these questions for all mankind in His Word, though He will give special spiritual gifts and equipping to each of His children for specific work that He has prepared for them in Christ Jesus.  The LORD even has a plan and purpose for the wicked.  They will accomplish whatever He sets His mind to for the good of His people, and then they will be punished with the devil and his angels if they do not repent.  This too will bring glory and honor to God who the Just Judge of the wicked and the Justifier of the righteous.

God opposes the proud--a proud heart, a haughty look, an arrogant tongue--these are all abominations to Him.  These are characteristics of the devil, not the LORD.  The man who rebels against the LORD and sides with sin, the flesh and the devil will have his part in the destruction of them and the kingdom of this world.  All of God's enemies will be defeated.  This too will be a source of much glory and honor and praise to the Lord who will be victorious over all His enemies.  Just read this doxology from Revelation 11 verses 17 and 18:

​“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
    and begun to reign.
18 The nations raged,
    but your wrath came,
    and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
    and those who fear your name,
    both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”