Proverbs 19:21
There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.
When we trust in God He directs our steps. The Godhead makes the crooked path point straight to Jesus.
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Our God is in control and He answers our prayers for ourselves and for others. Carla
This section of Proverbs 1-9 is framed by a comparison of the plans of people’s hearts and the direction of Yahweh (verse 16:9). Yahweh establishes the plans of those who seek Him and follow Him; He causes their enemies to be at peace with them (verse 3, 16:7).
Yahweh looks at the heart of humankind (verse 2) and punishes the arrogant (verse 5). Yahweh has created everything—even the wicked—for a purpose (verse 4). Faithlife Study Bible
These verses contrast human limitations with the sovereignty of God.
Man can plan, dream, and hope, but the final outcome is from the Lord.
Rather than “resign ourselves to fate,” we should trust in God. Our loving Lord is in control of our seemingly chaotic situations. In addition to being sovereign, God is the final Judge.
All the injustices of this world will be corrected some glorious day. The verb commit … to is from a word meaning “to roll.” The idea is to “roll your cares onto the Lord.” Trusting the Lord with our decisions frees us from preoccupation with our problems. The NKJV Study Bible
Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Psalm 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are of the LORD;
How then can a man understand his own way?
Jeremiah 10:23
O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps
May I walk this day
in the realm of grace,
walking with You
my feet firmly on your earth-path,
my heart loving all as kindred,
my words and deeds alive with justice.
May I walk as blessing,
meeting blessing at every turn
in every challenge, blessing,
in all opposition, blessing,
in harm’s way, blessing.
May I walk each step in this moment of grace,
alert to hear You
and awake enough to say
a simple Yes.
Robert Corin Morris
The prophet Micah gives us further insight into the kind of work God wants us to do: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
God cares deeply about justice. He wants us to care about it too (Proverbs 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Psalm 82:3-4). And fortunately, though humans and even animals have a limited time on this earth, so does injustice. The day will come when "God will judge the righteous and the wicked" (Ecclesiastes 3:17).
The writers of the New Testament share this conviction that God's justice will prevail. In 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7, the Apostle Paul echoed the assertion of Ecclesiastes 3:17 and explained it further in light of the gospel of Jesus: "God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict [His people], and to grant relief to you who are afflicted ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels."
Until the day Christ returns, we will observe countless examples of injustice around us. To persevere, we require what commentator Craig Bartholomew calls "ruthless trust" in Jesus, who justifies us before God even now (Romans 3:26) and who will bring perfect justice in eternity for all the oppressed.
You and I cannot banish all the injustice in this world, but we each have a sphere of influence. We can treat those around us with compassion and dignity. We can support organizations that share God's love by working for justice regionally, nationally, and globally.When we stand against oppression, we align our hearts with the heart of God, the Author of justice and mercy. In our time on earth, let's find joy in this work God gives us. First5
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