Proverbs 16:7, Ruled and Overruled!

Posted on Posted in Devotions Tagged with ,

October 23, Proverbs 16:7

John 15:18-20; Matt. 10:32-42 “May your enemies be made as Daniel’s lions.”

Ruled and Overruled!

This is a beautiful verse, is it not? From “fear” we now move to the best of all thoughts, namely, that of a life pleasing to God. It should be easy and very pleasant to comment on such a theme. In contrast, it was quite difficult to write the previous page on the fear of the Lord, but just the same, there is a vital connection between the two verses. The man or woman who fears God aright need fear no fiend, no foe, or no falsity. Here is sweet encouragement to a life of godly fearlessness. When we consult God’s wishes, not our own or other people’s, we can gladly obey the divine will. Only when this is our Supreme Good, will we truly “please” ourselves as well (2 Cor. 4:10-12).

1. The Condition: When a man’s ways please the Lord. There are two blessed fruits, namely, acceptance with God and peace with men. Are not both of these most desirable for true happiness? A person’s ways that please the Lord include every thought, word, and act, consecrated to that Supreme Good. Even so, such will have enemies, sometimes just because they seek to do what is right. Yes, good people have enemies. The seed of the serpent will always oppose the seed of the woman. Did not Jesus say, If the world hate you, ye know it hated me before it hated you, and that, a man’s foes shall be they of his own household (Jn. 15:1819; Mt. 10:36)? Now, no one enjoys having enemies, and they cannot be won over by force. Neither is it right to seek peace by compromising biblical principles. No, we must hold fast those principles even in the face of our enemies or our friends (Gal. 2:11). “Let us speak and act, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (Thomas). Let our Supreme Good be to please God.

2. The Consolation: He maketh all his enemies to be at peace with him. All the Lord’s Ways centre in Jesus Christ. Therefore, man’s ways that are pleasing to the Lord must reflect that Christ-centeredness in likeness and obedience to Christ. If we want our enemies to be reconciled to us, we must first ourselves be reconciled to God by union with Christ. How, then, do we respond to “the persecution of the saints” down the centuries (2 Tm. 3:12)? How do we answer those who oppose Him who said, I do always those things that please him [His Heavenly Father] (Jn. 8:29)? The Lord’s ways are not our ways. He is in control! As we have suggested, God permits evil for His own glory. He makes even the wrath of man to praise Him. Beyond this man’s hatred cannot go, for, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain (Ps. 76:10). He rules and overrules (Rom. 14:18)! “The Lord will abate the wrath of men to praise Him, and abate it so that it shall not distress me” (CHS). God does restrain all His and our enemies. “Not that the enemies are simply kept quiet through their knowledge that the good man is under God’s protection, but that goodness has power to charm and win them to itself” (Dean Plumptre). Has this not been gloriously true of Christ’s sufferings and also “the suffering saints”?

Thought: “God’s chariots of fire conquer men’s chariots of iron.”

Prayer: Oh! for the quiet trust of a Daniel even amidst the fierce lions.