Exposition of Proverbs 15-17, Biblical commentary · Chapter 16 · Verse 9
Verſe 9. The heart of a man purpoſeth his way: but the Lord directeth his ſteps.
MAny deuiſes, intents, and reſolutions, are in the mindes of men: [but the Lord directeth his ſteps] his prouidence cauſeth their determinations either to proceed and take effect, (when they intend to doe that which he hath decreed to hauehave done) or elſe to be ſtaied and hindered, when they purpoſe to themſelues thoſe things which hee hath not appointed. And becauſe the whole courſe of mans actions is reſembled to a way, hee therefore doth call all his particular proceedings therein, his ſteps.
Doct. Men doe purpoſe many things, but God diſpoſeth all things.
The Prophet Dauid affirmeth the ſame point, ſaying, The Pſal. 37. 23.ſteps of man are directed by the Lord. And Ieremie doth alſo confirme it, when hee ſaith, I know, O Lord, that the way of man is Ier. 10. 23.not in himſelfe, neither is it in man to walke, and to direct his ſteps. If it had beene otherwiſe, all Iſrael ſhould ſurely hauehave periſhed when the Egyptians purſued them, with purpoſe, and reſolution, Exod. 15. 9.to ouertake, and ſlay, and ſpoile them. Neither would Hezekiah and his people hauehave beene much more ſafe, if Saneherib 2. King. 19.could hauehave done as much as hee minded, and boaſted, and threatned, for his will was plainly enough declared by Rabſhakehs words.
Reaſons. 1 Firſt, he alone doth faſhion all their hearts, and therefore can eaſily make them alter their thoughts, and change their mindes; or goe on conſtantly with their worke, and continue Pſal 33. 14.their reſolutions.
Secondly, they hold their power of him, and their life alſo: their ſtrength is his, and ſo is their breath, and therefore they ſhall neither be able to doe ought that hee reſiſteth, nor vnable to doe any thing that hee appointeth. It is ſaid, that Herod and Pilate, with the Gentiles, and people of Iſrael, came together Act. 4. 28.to doe whatſoeuer his hand and counſell had determined before to be done.
Thirdly, as all men are made for his glory, ſo all their waies doe tend thereunto, though not in their purpoſe, yet by his prouidence, and therefore he doth accordingly direct them for the ſame end.
Vſe 1 Inſtruction, that ſithence hee doth direct our actions by his prouidence, wee pray him alſo to guide our hearts by his grace, and cauſe vsus to purpoſe that which he doth approoue of, that wee may be aſſiſted by his power for the good effect of our enterpriſes. And if wee finde good ſucceſſe in our affaires, according as we wiſh, let him hauehave the praiſe thereof, for making vsus to proſper: If we ſee our ſelues croſſed therein, that we cannot accompliſh our deſires, wee acknowledge his righteous hand in the ſame, and ſubmit our wils vntounto his moſt holy wiſdome. And this may yet further be a forcible motiue to make vsus more depend vponupon him than on any one, or all men beſide: If they ſhew louelove and kindneſſe vntounto vsus, the principall praiſe and thankes belongeth to him: If wee finde hard intreatie at their hands, there is due cauſe of humilitie and patience, becauſe hee hath iuſtly ſtirred them vp to afflict vsus.
Conſolation for the people of God, which deſire to walke in the waies of his word, for they ſhal neuer want the guidance of his ſpirit. A promiſe is made to them for their good proſperitie, and it is in his hand to conduct them to it, and as eaſie for him to effect it, as to ſpeake it. And becauſe the wicked are continually practiſing againſt the godly (innumerable plots being caſt for their ruine and deſtruction) this is our comfort concerning our ſafety, that whatſoeuer God hath purpoſed in mercy for our good, ſhall take place; and nothing that they hauehave concluded in miſchiefe for our hurt, ſhall preuaile. The Lord breaketh the counſell of the Heathen Pſal. 33. 10.(ſaith the Scripture) and bringeth to nought the deuiſes of the people. The counſell of the Lord ſhall ſtand for euer: and the thoughts of his heart thorowout all ages.