The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 16th on Proverbs 16:1-5

January 16;  Proverbs 16, Verses 1-5

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!

[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 16

¹ To humans belong the plans of the heart,
   but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

 ² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
   but motives are weighed by the LORD.

 ³ Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
   and he will establish your plans.

 ⁴ The LORD works out everything to its proper end—
   even the wicked for a day of disaster.

 ⁵ The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
   Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

[I hope you are reading the whole chapter today!]

1) This one is tricky, but here is my stab.  We might think and plan and prepare for what we want to say to somebody, or even in a speech; but when the moment arrives and the time to speak is at hand, those who have an openness to God's Spirit may find themselves saying something entirely different.  Instead of my diatribe, or lecture, or dumb joke, once in a while God may change the 'plan of my heart' so that I say something 'proper'.  Wow!  What a gift that is!

2) It's not just our words, but all of our 'ways' can be wrong headed.  Of course they seem right to each of us, and we may even fool our friends, but God knows all.  We must not judge other's motives because even they may not really know what they are.  God can judge, because He truly knows.

3) So here is the answer.  'Whatever you do' is quite the broad, all inclusive phrase.  We need simply to 'commit' it all to Him, and follow His lead.  Ahhhh.

Thank you Lord, for establishing my plans.

4) You may have noticed that the proverbs in this book most often stand alone, or in pairs.  But here, at least these first four seem to flow sequentially.  When we commit our ways to Him, He leads accordingly; when the wicked refuse to do the same, disaster follows.  Not so much as a punishment, but as a natural consequence.  A fallen, unrepentant sinner will automatically leave the narrow road and fall into an abyss.  By definition.  He may cry foul from the snare he is caught in, and 'blame' God for the misfortune, but we really only do reap what we sow.

5) The 'proud of heart' set themselves up to be God's rivals.  They don't have a chance, but the harm they do to themselves and others by their waywardness and by their bad example brings God to 'detest' them first, and then to a just punishment.  (Perhaps I should be careful to use the proper pronouns in the italicized sentence above:  Would you please exchange these first person versions in for the third person I inexcusably used above?  We, we, ourselves, our, our, us.)

By the way, I sure would appreciate any comments.  I need to know if these comments are generally either lame or possibly helpful!  Thank you!