Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 33
Verſe 33. The lot is caſt into the lap: but the whole dispoſition thereof is of the Lord.
THE lot] which was much in vſe among the people of God, both for diuiſion of lands, as Num. 26. 55. and for other cauſes, as appeareth in many places of the Scriptures, [is caſt into the lap] into ſome ſecret or cloſe place; and that which was moſt ordinarie with them, is put for many other, as hats, fiſts, pots, boxes, or whatſoeuer elſe: [but the whole dispoſition thereof] the particular ordering, guiding, and gouernment of it, [is of the Lord] by his immediate prouidence, without either chance, art, or labour. And vnderunder lot hee comprehendeth all other accidents which are thought to bee meerely caſuall, and wholly ſubiect to fortune.
Doct. Thoſe things which ſeeme to be moſt contingent, are directed by the prouidence of God.
The lots that Ioſhua and Eleazar did cauſe to be caſt for the inheritance of the Tribes of Iſrael, did ſo iuſtly accord with the bleſſings which Iacob and Moſes had before pronounced concerning diuers of them, that eueryevery man may well perceiue that he which ſpake by the tongues of the former, did alſo worke by the hands of the latter. And Samuel engaged the credit both of his truth and miniſterie vponupon the ſucceſſe of 1. Sam. 10.the lot that was to be caſt for the King to bee choſen, that it would vndoubtedly fall vponupon Saul, whom, by the appointment of God, he had anointed. And that in other caſes, things caſuall in ſhew are wiſely gouerned in deed, the viſion which was ſhewed to Ezekiel doth confirme, who beheld a multitude of the matters of the world in appearance to runne vponupon Ezek 1. 18.wheeles, and yet in no ſort to bee either drawen or driuen by blinde Fortune; for he obſerued the ſtrakes of the wheeles to be full of eies round about: whereby the intentiue prouidence of God was ſignified. Examples for this purpoſe are plentifull, plaine, and pregnant. Who appointed the Iſhmaelitiſh Merchants Gen. 39. 25.at that time to trauell that way which they went, but the Lord, that they might carry downe Ioſeph into Egypt? Who appointed Pharaohs daughter at that time to come to waſh her ſelfe in that place, but the Lord, that ſhee might vndertake the preſeruation of Moſes? The ſame appointed King Exod. 2. 5. Heſter 6. 1.Ahaſhueroſh not to ſleepe for one night, but to call for the Chronicles to be read vntounto him, that hee might protect and exalt Mordecai. The ſame prepared the whale to bee readie Ionah. 117.where Ionah ſhould be caſt into the ſea, that he might receiue him, as the text teſtifieth. And as much might be ſaid of the vineger that they offered vntounto Chriſt at his ſuffering: and no Iohn 19. 24.leſſe of the ſouldiers that diuided his garments, and caſt lots for his coat after that he was crucified.
Reaſon 1 Firſt, the being, motion, and iſſue of all things are from him: he diſpoſeth of the words and actions of men, which ſeeme to be moſt voluntarie, and in their owne will and power; and therefore neceſſarily of the ſucceſſe of lots, and of all other contingent euents.
Secondly, he ſhould want either wiſdome, or power, or prouidence, if ought ſhould come to paſſe without his appointment: neither could all things turne ſo much to his glory, if there might be any thing that were not diſpoſed by him.
Vſe. 1 Admonition to bee wary that we peruert not lots to ſerue our carnall delights, or couetous deſires: it is not ſafe to ſport with Gods ordinances, whereof a lot is one: nor to command the Lord to wait vponupon vsus at our dicing and other plaies, to guide the game: nor to ſet him aworke about our vnrighteous attempts, for the allotting of our neighbours money or ſubſtance to vsus: but ſo to vſe it, as wee may comfortablie call vponupon his name before, and praiſe it afterwards. But about this we ſhall hauehave iuſt occaſion to deale more largely, Chap. 18. verſe 18.
2. To behold the hand of the Lord in all occurrences, that in croſſes wee may acknowledge his iuſtice, and humble our ſelues before him: in bleſſings wee may confeſſe his merciemercy, and offer praiſes vntounto him: and in eueryevery caſe to depend vponupon him, ſithence nothing befalleth any without him.
Conſolation to the children of God, for their ſafetie and good eſtate, becauſe hee that manageth the greateſt matters, and he that dealeth in the ſmalleſt, doth tenderly louelove them, and is alwaies reſpectiue of them, that nothing ſhall happen that may be for their hurt. Our Sauiour himſelfe applieth this preſent point for the comfort of his people, ſaying, Are not two ſparrowes ſold for a farthing? And one of them ſhall not fall Mat. 10. 29. 30to the ground without your father. Yea, and all the haires of your head are numbred; feare yee not therefore, yee are of more value than many ſparrowes.