Proverbs 16:9-12 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 16:9-12, which read,

v.9 - The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

We continue with the wisdom that God's words and ways are above our words and ways.  We can plan our ways but God dictates how things are actually going to happen.  We call this the sovereignty of God.  We have the ability to plan but lets take those plans before God and put them at His feet.  His direction, what is actually going to happen, not a plan that is a hope it happens this way, is what we acknowledge is truth and love to us and for us.

v.10 - A divine decision is in the lips of the king; his mouth should not err in judgment.

To have a divine decision is to know the Divine.  As we know God and know His words we can speak and live in assurance of bringing glory to Him.  We are not trying to find truth but starting with the Truth and allowing our words and actions to reflect Him.  It might not always be popular or politically correct but it is in alignment with God and therefore the right judgment.  

v.11 - A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights of the bag are His concern.

Do you remember the old scales that were like a teeter totter or those that you added weights to to bring into balance?  You kept adding or subtracting weight to determine what it actually weighed.  The integrity of the scale was connected to the integrity of the weights you were adding or eliminating.  Those weights need also to be true to have a true reading.  This proverb says that God created and owns the scales and He also created and owns the weights.  What is true, the just balance and scales, is true because it is based on what is true, the weights of the bag.  There is no falsehood in the process and there is no falsehood with God.

v.12 - It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, for a throne is established on righteousness.

Why is God so disgusted with our sin?  It is an abomination because it goes against living a life of truth that glorifies Him and all that He is.  He directs our steps; He gives us His words; and He provides truth and we figure that we have a better plan than His.  

The example here is a king who was appointed to be a representative of one following after God.  If the one appointed to be a representative of one following after God is not following after God then he is a hypocrite to his position.  God's way to rule or to live life is by righteousness and not wicked acts.  When we commit wicked acts there should not be a discussion if it is right or wrong or excuses or rationalizations but only confession and repentance to the established righteousness set by God. 

How much weight do you put on God as truth?  Do you put all your weight on that fact?  Do you take your next step knowing that God knew that before you did?  It could be a good step or it could be a bad one for you.  The determination is based on what preceded that step.  Was it that God is truth and I walk in that truth or was it that I will find out what is truth for me my way?  Let's pray.

"Lord, You give us so much.  You are concerned not with just the statements that You give but the very words that make up the statements.  Truth is not just skin deep but all the way to the bones.  May my directions reflect Your hand and may my lips reflect Your words and may my actions show Your righteousness.  Amen."

Pastor Adam 
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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