It would seem this week that work and interruptions prevailed over my time and hence the delay in our continuation of this study; yet, the second delay came as I pondered over these verses. As we have reached Proverbs 16, we have reached a group of verses that takes us into the core truth of God’s sovereignty and His Lordship over all.
Artwork used by written permission of Ronald Barba
Do I believe Him to be Sovereign or do I doubt that He is my LORD and Master? Do I see the evil around me and even hidden the darkest crevices of my own heart with a despairing spirit? Or do I trust my Sovereign Lord and bow at His feet; knowing beyond a doubt that He is in control of every detail of my life to guide me to His designated end in Glory with Him? Do I really believe that, even when I don’t fully understand or comprehend it? When it would seem that evil is winning, do I still believe and cling to the truth that redemption wins?
Do I trust my Lord and Master enough to be willing to surrender everything that I am to Him? That is what Proverbs 16: 1-9 is asking of each of us? Do we believe He is LORD, no matter what? So, let us read these verses.
Proverbs 16 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. 9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
I found that this time I had to return to the King James Version as I read the many other translations, I could not find one that held true to the word with the exception of the Complete Jewish Bible. However, their copyright does not allow any usage without written permission and I could not use it here. In it the name used for God throughout these verses is Adonai—the Lord and Master (plural referring to the triune God) as LORD above all—King of Kings, the Great I AM.
If I recognize that He is LORD over all and LORD of my life; then why would I ever worry about anything? He it is that sees my heart, prepares it, calls me to be His own—before the foundation of the world, my name was written in the book of the Lamb that was slain. (Revelation 13:8) He will guide my tongue. He will guide my path. He will purge the iniquity from my heart with mercy, grace and through His word of truth? I may not fully understand that truth and certainly I do not fully understand how He chose me; but, I am not asked to understand it. I am asked to trust Him. I am asked to bow at His feet, laying aside all doubt and fear. Submitting my life, my heart and my spirit to His Lordship, praising Him in the midst of the storms of this pilgrimage, I stand firm upon who He is and that He is Sovereign over all the earth. There is no other. He will accomplish all that He has planned on earth and in my life. Every detail of my life is directed by Him. That is the beauty and the mystery of the gospel.
Isaiah 43: (NIV) 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”…
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
So the question is, do you know Him as Lord? If you don’t and you feel His tugging at your heart will you listen? If you need to know more about how to be saved you can go to the page “How to be Saved” and read more. Please feel free to contact me, as I would love to hear of your story.
If you want more in depth information concerning God’s Sovereignty, I might refer you to a series I wrote in late December through early January called “The Good Pleasure of God’s Will” .
Can you sing with me the words of this song? "All I Have is Christ"
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws. If you desire copies please go to:
http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/ronald+barba/all
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”