Tag: Word

In the Hand of the Lord

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Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 

‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD.’ Though a king appears sovereign among men, his true sovereignty is subordinate to God. The “heart” here refers not merely to emotions, but to the seat of thought, intention, judgment, and will. Even the highest human authority cannot act independently of the LORD’s governance. A good king’s heart is as pliable in the hands of God as a gardener controls small irrigation channels, directed effortlessly, precisely, and purposefully. God does not merely react to kings; He actively governs their decisions through His laws to accomplish His divine purposes (cf. Dan. 2:21).

‘As the rivers of water.’ This image evokes the irrigation canals common in the ancient Near East, narrow channels that could be redirected with a simple hand or tool to water a field. Just as water flows naturally along the course assigned to it, so the king’s heart flows according to the direction God appoints.

“Rivers of water” signify life, fruitfulness, and divine ordering. The metaphor emphasises ease, not struggle: God does not strain to rule human authority; He redirects it as effortlessly as water obeys gravity.

‘He turneth it whithersoever he will.’ God’s sovereignty is not limited by a king’s character, whether righteous or wicked. The LORD turns hearts toward judgment, mercy, deliverance, discipline, or fulfilment of prophecy as He wills. Scripture provides clear historical witnesses to this truth: David (1Sam. 13:14). God sought a man after His own heart and shaped David’s reign to establish the messianic lineage, despite David’s personal failures. Solomon (1Kin. 3:9-12). God inclined Solomon’s heart to seek wisdom, granting discernment that shaped Israel’s golden age. Even when Solomon sinned and turned his heart away from God, God called on His prophets to lead a hayward nation. Ahasuerus (Esth. 6:1-14; Neh. 2:1-20). God used a sleepless night and royal favour to preserve His people and later to authorise the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar (Ezek. 29:18; Dan. 4:1-37). A pagan emperor was humbled until he acknowledged that “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.” Cyrus (Ezra 1:1; Isa. 44:28; 45:1). Long before his birth, God named Cyrus as His instrument, stirring his heart to release Israel and rebuild the temple. Darius (Ezra 6:22). God turned his heart to support the work of God’s house, overruling opposition through royal decree. Augustus Caesar (Luke 2:1-7). A census ordered for imperial administration fulfilled prophecy by bringing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Christ was born.

Cleanses Away Evil

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Proverbs 20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. 

In the ancient world, a bruise or wound that turned blue or dark showed that the unhealthy matter had been forced to the surface, allowing the wound to close and heal. This physical reality becomes an analogy for moral correction.

Discipline – symbolised here by “stripes” – purifies the inner life, driving out foolishness, disobedience, and moral evil, especially in children. Loving correction produces moral clarity, strengthening the conscience and shaping good character. When administered wisely and justly, discipline prevents greater harm by addressing destructive tendencies before they have a chance to take root.

This proverb underscores the biblical principle that correction, though painful, is beneficial and restorative.

The Glory and the Beauty

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Proverbs 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 

Youth is naturally characterised by vigour, physical strength, and the desire to display one’s abilities. Young men gain honour through athleticism, hard work, courage, and physical capability. However, youth often lack the patience, experience, and depth of wisdom that come only with time.

In contrast, the “grey head” – symbolic of age and experience – is the beauty of older men. Their strength is no longer in physical prowess but in wise counsel, understanding, and discernment. While young men excel in action, older men excel in guidance. God values both, assigning dignity to each stage of life: strength in youth and wisdom in age.

Each stage of life has its God-given honour: The young excel in action, vigour, and physical achievement. The elderly excel in counsel, judgment, experience, and wisdom. A healthy society values both rather than pitting them against each other.

The Candle of the Lord

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Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 

This verse highlights the inward faculty God uses to expose and evaluate human motives. The “spirit of man” refers to the inner, immaterial part of a person – comprising mind, conscience, will, and moral awareness. Solomon describes this spirit as a “candle” or lamp in the Lord’s hand, illuminating the hidden chambers of a person’s inner life.

God searches every thought, motive, and intention (Psa 139:23; Jer 17:10; Rom 8:27; 1 Cor 2:10; Rev 2:23). The human spirit becomes the instrument through which divine scrutiny occurs. Conscience convicts, memory recalls, reason evaluates, and the will responds. Nothing within a person – no attitude, desire, or secret plan – remains unknown to God. He uses this inward lamp to reveal what is righteous and what must be corrected.

God searches the heart (1Sam. 16:7; 1Chron. 28:9; Ps. 139:1, 23-24; Jer. 17:10). The Spirit searches all things (Rom. 8:27; 1Cor. 2:10-11). Christ examines the reins and hearts (Rev. 2:23). God uses the human spirit – conscience, intellect, and inner awareness – as His lamp to expose hidden motives and moral conditions. Nothing within a person escapes divine inspection. The conscience is thus both a witness and a searchlight (Rom. 2:14-15).

Mercy and Truth

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Proverbs 20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 

A ruler is sustained not merely by military strength or political strategy but by his moral character. When a king [a leader] practices mercy, kindness, compassion, and fairness, and truth, honesty, integrity, and reliability, he wins the trust and loyalty of his people. These virtues build a strong foundation for stable rule.

History shows that mercy keeps a ruler from tyranny, while truth keeps him from deception and corruption. When subjects believe their king to be just, compassionate, and truthful, they willingly support him and uphold his throne. In contrast, cruelty or dishonesty erodes authority and leads to instability. A throne secured by righteousness is stronger than one built on force.

The Hebrew words (chesed) “mercy” – one of the most important words in the Old Testament, includes loyalty, covenant faithfulness, kindness, steadfast love, and generosity; and (emet) “truth” means “truth, reliability, faithfulness, integrity.” Often paired with chesed (Ps 25:10; 89:14). Then we have (natsar) “preserve” to guard, protect, and maintain; and (samakh) “upholden” to support, sustain, and stabilise.

Scatters the Wicked – Part 2

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Proverbs 20:26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them. 

Though we may lack leaders who consistently rule with wisdom and moral clarity, God’s law has not failed, nor has it been suspended. His laws are woven into creation itself, moral, spiritual, and even social, and they hold every person accountable in this life, not only in the life to come. No one ultimately escapes the consequences of violating truth, justice, and righteousness.

Even when human courts falter, God’s justice operates through conscience, exposure, consequence, and time. What is hidden is eventually revealed. What is corrupt erodes itself. What is unjust carries within it the seed of its own judgment. Nations, leaders, and individuals alike reap what they sow, not always immediately, but inevitably.

God’s law does not require a perfect earthly ruler to enforce it. It stands on its own authority. It humbles the proud, restrains evil, vindicates the righteous, and reminds all people that there is a higher throne than any human government. In this way, God remains the ultimate judge, holding all accountable and preserving moral order even in an age of failed leadership.

Scatters the Wicked – Part 1

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Proverbs 20:26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them. 

In ancient Palestine, grain was threshed by spreading the sheaves on a flat threshing floor. Oxen would walk over the grain or pull a heavy, rough-shod threshing wheel, a wooden sledge embedded with stones or metal, across it. This process crushed and separated the kernels from the husk. When the threshing was complete, the thresher would winnow the mixture by tossing it into the air; the wind blew away the chaff while the heavier grain fell to the ground and was gathered.

This imagery becomes a metaphor for just governance. A wise king, like a skilled thresher, distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. He does not allow wickedness to remain mixed among his people. Instead, he decisively deals with it – removing, restraining, or judging those who would corrupt the nation. By separating evil from good, the king [or leader] preserves the moral order and ensures the continued righteousness and stability of his kingdom.

In today’s context, this imagery speaks to ethical governance and responsible leadership. A wise leader, like a skilled thresher, exercises discernment rather than cruelty. He understands that a healthy society cannot thrive when corruption, injustice, and moral decay are allowed to coexist unchecked with integrity and righteousness.

Such a leader does not punish indiscriminately, nor does he ignore wrongdoing in the name of tolerance. Instead, he identifies harmful behaviour, holds offenders accountable, and removes systemic corruption through just laws, fair enforcement, and transparent institutions. Those who threaten the moral and social fabric of the nation are restrained through legal consequences, rehabilitation where possible, or separation from positions of influence.

To be continued…

A Snare

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Proverbs 20:25  It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 

‘Who devours’ here means to take, use, or consume something that belongs to God, whether it be offerings, dedicated items, sacred obligations or anything set apart for the Lord’s service. Under the Law, what was devoted to God – firstfruits, offerings, vows – was considered holy. To take it for oneself was both sacrilege and theft from God (cf. Mal. 3:8).

‘A snare’ – It ensnares the person in: guilt (he has violated sacred things), judgment (God takes holiness seriously), and self-deception (he treats the holy as common). A person becomes morally trapped by his own words. He is obligated before God but unprepared to fulfil their own promise, making him a liar. He incurs guilt for unkept promises. He exposes a foolish, impulsive heart. Rash vows always lead to regret.

This applies today whenever a person uses resources committed to God for selfish purposes, treats responsibilities casually, and takes lightly what God has declared serious (salvation and sin). In short, carelessness toward holy things entangles the soul.

‘…and after vows to make enquiry.’ The second snare: making vows first, then asking questions later. This describes someone who makes a vow [a promise] rashly, emotionally, or thoughtlessly. Promises something to God without counting the cost. Commits to a sacred obligation, then only “after the fact” begins to examine whether the vow is good, wise, or possible. By then, it is too late – because a vow to God is binding.  “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it… Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” (Eccl. 5:4-5). Wise men examine first, vow second, not the reverse.

Both reveal a lack of reverence for God. Both bring consequences that entangle a person in guilt, trouble, and spiritual danger.

Man’s Goings

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Proverbs 20:24  Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 

This verse simply teaches that life is too complex for us to understand without God’s guidance.

‘Man’s goings are of the LORD…’ This statement affirms the doctrine of God’s providence, His active, sovereign guidance over all creation. God not only oversees the world in a general sense, but also directs those who trust in Him. This does not mean God decides every step for a person. Rather, it means: God oversees the outworking of life in general. God governs the big picture, the environment in which we move. God arranges opportunities, boundaries, and consequences. God’s providence is at work around our choices, not instead of them. He directs the paths available, but He does not force the choice of which path we take. God guides the obedient – not the unwilling.

‘Goings’ refers to the course of life – our decisions, opportunities, paths, and outcomes. The Bible never teaches that God makes decisions for people. Instead, He reveals His will through His Word, He gives wisdom to those who seek Him, He orders circumstances in His providence, but we must choose whether to obey or not. This is the consistent pattern of Scripture.

‘How can a man then understand his own way?’ The point is humility: Even when we choose, we don’t fully understand how all things fit together. Only God sees how every decision, circumstance, and event interlocks. So, the verse is not teaching fatalism. It is teaching dependence.

Steps summarised: [1] We choose; God guides those who trust Him – “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (3:6). Here God directs, but He does not decide for us. Direction must be followed to be of any value. [2] God instructs but doesn’t force – “I will instruct thee and teach thee… I will guide thee with mine eye” (Ps. 32:8). Guidance requires response. [3] We are responsible for our decisions – “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). If God made decisions for us, there would be nothing to “choose.” [4] Man plans; God governs outcomes – “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (16:9).

We devise (decide). God directs (guides, shapes the outcome, oversees circumstances). God does not override human will. God does work sovereignly in the background of life. Our choices are real, meaningful, and morally accountable. God’s providence and wisdom are available if we acknowledge Him.

Gotten Hastily

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Proverbs 20:21-22  An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 

Both verses deal with impatience: Impatience in gaining wealth (v. 21) and impatience in seeking justice (v. 22). In both cases, rushing ahead of God leads to loss, frustration, or sin. Waiting on the Lord, whether for provision or vindication, is the path that leads to true blessing and peace.

Verse 21 warns against gaining wealth or advantage too quickly, especially through impatience, scheming, or unjust means. An inheritance hastily gained often reflects a heart that wants the reward without the character required to handle it. What comes quickly can disappear just as quickly. Wealth obtained without wisdom, maturity, or righteousness tends to bring trouble, not blessing.

God values the process by which we gain things, not just the possession itself. Blessing is tied to righteousness, not speed.

Verse 22’s focus shifts from wealth to justice. The human impulse is to strike back when wronged, to “repay evil.” But Scripture consistently calls us away from vengeance.

To avenge oneself is to take God’s role into our own hands. To wait on the Lord is to trust His timing, His judgment, and His ability to bring justice far better than we could. God calls His people to patience and trust, not retaliation. When we refuse to repay evil, we make room for God to act on our behalf.