Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl—Wise & Foolish Behaviors Ia Proverbs 21:1-6

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Proverbs 21:1–6

[1] The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

he turns it wherever he will.

[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

[3] To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

[4] Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

the lamp of the wicked, are sin.

[5] The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

[6] The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. (ESV)

Wise & Foolish Behaviors Ia

v.1 A leader carries great responsibility. When he keeps God in his heart, the Lord directs him where God wants him to go. God’s grace flows from his heart like streams of water, providing life for his people. Divine Wisdom is a fountain of life (see Proverbs 10:11; 13:14; 14:27; 16:22; 18:4). No matter how powerful a leader may be, God remains the one in control (John 11:51; 19:11; Romans 13:1). This is a warning to rulers who think they are above everyone, including God. It is also a comfort to God's people that even when our government is corrupt, God is still in charge.

v.2 This verse reminds us of Proverbs 16:2. God judges humans differently than the way we judge ourselves. A terrible sinner can judge his own actions as righteous and his motivations as pure. We are blinded by our own sin, and we minimize its perceived influence on our thoughts and actions. God sees the truth of all things directly, free of the blinders we wear. We can discern that truth in His Word, provided for our instruction. On the last day, God will be the final judge of all.

v.3 Saving faith results in righteous deeds and just actions in all aspects of the Christian life. God loves these things which flow from the heart of a repentant sinner more than all of the sacrifices offered on the altars of Jerusalem (Psalm 51:16-17). The gift of Christ's righteousness applied to us saves us from death (Proverbs 10:2; 11:4) and gives the gift of eternal life (Proverbs 11:19) while being the guide for our mortal life (Proverbs 8:20; 11:5; 13:6).

v.4 Divine Wisdom, which we learn in the Word of God, is a lamp to the feet of believers in Christ. This proverb shows the opposite is true of the unbeliever. Their path is illuminated only by their sinful arrogance and pride in themselves.

v.5 Recall other proverbs referring to diligence (10:4; 12:24, 27; 13:4). Those who rush to accumulate worldly wealth often come up short because of their foolish and sinful scheming to find shortcuts in life (compare Proverbs 13:11; 20:21; 28:20). “Haste makes waste” comes from this verse.

v.6 This proverb is connected to the previous by the theme of wrongly acquiring wealth. It is not the wealth that is the problem. It is the sinful manner by which it is obtained. When it becomes one’s sole obsession, it may lead to eternal death, as its pursuit become that individual’s god.