"The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the LORD."
Proverbs 16:1
Our verse for today is one that has been a difficult verse to interpret. On the surface, it might appear that man’s wise plans are his own, but his words come from God. But,
“This cannot mean that wise thoughts are human, but wise words divine, that man unaided can plan well, but only by God’s help can speak well…”1
Admittedly, we don’t think that we can make our own plans without the Lord’s help. There is more to it than this.
“The preparations of the heart in man,”
These “preparations” are “plans” or “schemes.” The Hebrew word used here means, “arrangement, plan, preparation.”2 Men do make plans. Hopefully, as young people, we learned the importance of planning ahead. Without planning, we could not accomplish much for the Lord.
Solomon stated it this way,
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
A man runs into immense problems with his plans when he forgets to consult the Lord or even forgets to include God in his planning. James clearly sees the need to invite the Lord into our schedules and activities.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15, ESV).
In all our planning, we need to ask the LORD what He thinks.
“And the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.”
As believers, we realize that the LORD has His say in our lives. We want it no other way. And what the LORD desires for us is always the best for us.
“Man proposes his wishes, but God answers as he thinks proper”3 (Clarke).
We humans may even plan for battle, but the outcome is of the Lord, He brings the victory.
“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31).
“Man may think as he pleases, and ask as he lists; but God will give, or not give, as he thinks proper”4 (Clarke).
“To man [pertain] the plans of his heart, but from Jehovah [comes] the final decree”5 (Bullinger).
LORD, thank you for being Sovereign, even over our calendars.
1. Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
2. Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
3. Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
4. Clarke, ibid.
5. E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, the electronic version in eSword.