Bible Memory Verse – Proverbs 16:9 Context (2/10/2019)
Proverbs 16:9
ESV: The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
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The book of Proverbs has a lot of these one-off statements that are meant for us to think about and ponder throughout the day. I remember reading Proverbs for the first time back when I was in high school and while I thought it was a great read, I plowed through it without giving it the deep thought it deserves. Many lines in Proverbs will set us up with one thought and then hit us with an opposing thought. This is simply a writing technique that seeks to engage our inner self. This is the case with our verse today. I’m going to break down this verse by looking at the main words.
“Heart”
Interestingly, there is no Hebrew word for “brain” or “mind.” There are occasions where you will see the english word “mind” in your Old Testament, but that is because the translators felt the context called for it. There is one Hebrew word that encompasses the idea of the mind, and it often gets translated as “heart.” It is referring to your thoughts and emotions. It’s what makes you, you! Think about Proverbs 3:5 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart [your inner being], and lean not on your own understanding.”
“Man”
The Hebrew word here is “adam” which is a generic term for “human beings.” This is why the first created human is named Adam (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:20).
“Plans”
This exact Hebrew word is used only one other place in the Old Testament: Daniel 11:24, which says, “He will devise plans against strongholds.” Both passages are talking about people who are purposely planning for a desired outcome.
“Way”
This refers to a desired direction in life.
“But”
This is a connecting word [grammar people call it a conjunction]. It’s like a hinge that connects a door to a wall. It connects two thoughts, but it can swing the first thought in the opposite direction.
“The LORD”
This is Yahweh God. Yahweh is God’s name. His name was revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 (it’s the Hebrew of “I am who I am”).
“Establishes”
This means that someone continually directs toward a goal. In this case it is a continual action that the LORD does for His people.
“Steps”
This refers to the direction and distance of our walk. It is where we are going in life.
Here’s the main idea:
Every person tends to have the desire of planning their life so that they can control what happens to them. However, God is the One who continually directs His people toward His goals.
Why does this matter for us today?
Because the writer is saying that we can plan our lives all we want, even down to the last detail. But as a believer in Jesus, we are ultimately not the ones in control. We have a good God who wants to make His goals our goals, but we first need to allow Him to do that. And it’s not that He only wants to guide our life during major events. I think of the kind of prayer that goes something like this: “God, if you could just help me out this one time I promise I will follow you more! If you get me out of this jam I promise I’ll go to church every Sunday!” The problem with this prayer is that God is not in the business of doing favors and then handing out an IOU slip as a reminder to pay Him back.
God continually guides His people, so long as they allow Him.
When we allow Him to guide our lives, we will then be able to do what we were made to do. And sometimes what we’re made to do will push the boundaries of our comfort zone, or even the boundaries of our culture. And that’s what Pastor Mike will be talking about in today’s service.