Throughout the course of this past week, I received more emails and phone calls than I do on a typical week. The calls and conversations focused on a whole series of topics; spiritual needs, family needs, cultural concerns, and personal sorrow. Every one of us can identify with each one of those concerns, and I can think of distinct seasons of my own life when some of those topics have been quite prominent in my thinking (some very recently).
When we're wrestling with heavy concerns, there's two distinct ways to deal with them. We can attempt to approach them in our own power and wisdom, or we can trust the Lord to intervene on our behalf, accomplish His will, and give us the wisdom to know what to do on our end.
It also helps me when I'm going through seasons that weigh my heart down to try to think many years beyond that moment in time into the future days when the Lord will restore all things. The truth is, He has a purpose and a plan for everything we're going through at present. This past year has been an abnormally dark year for many people, but for those of us who genuinely trust in Jesus, I hope we're able to see a few steps beyond this moment in time. I continue to believe the Lord has greater things in store for us than we can possibly imagine.
I. The purpose of the Lord will stand
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
22 What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar. (Proverbs 19:20-22)
I enjoy sports, but the only sport I truly follow with consistency is professional football. Vince Lombardi is revered as one of the best football coaches of all time, and his years coaching the Green Bay Packers are considered legendary. Even the Super Bowl trophy is named the Lombardi Trophy in his honor.
Lombardi was a gifted and motivated coach. He could see where he wanted to take his team. Many players would say that he made them do things they didn't want to do in the moment, and he stretched them in ways they didn't want to be stretched, but when they experienced the victories they experienced as a result of his leadership, they began to value and respect his plan.
Our Lord provides us as His children with the greatest coaching we will ever experience. He's even gracious enough to surround us with people that He frequently speaks through in order to convey His wisdom to us. Solomon demonstrates that for us in these verses. He encourages us to listen to advice and accept instruction from the wise. And he makes it clear that even though our minds are great at coming up with all sorts of plans, it's the Lord's plan and the Lord's purpose that will ultimately stand.
So what are the Lord's purposes? What is His plan? I love what David says about the purpose of God in Psalm 138. "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands." (Psalm 138:8). The Lord's purpose for David's life involved saving him, teaching him, raising him up to a position of leadership, and sending Jesus Christ to this earth to be born through the lineage of David.
And with that in mind, what's the Lord's purpose for humanity? Paul explains the Lord's purpose in the book of 1 Timothy. "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Our Heavenly Father desires to see humanity receive the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is His purpose that we would stop believing lies or the falsehoods that keep many people deluded, and would come to the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.
When I observe the things that are going on around us right now, and I compare them to what Scripture reveals about the purposes of God, my heart feels much better. I'm confident that the Lord is working all things together toward a redemptive end. He is working in the midst of every circumstance to create the best opportunities for people to hear the gospel, recognize their need for Jesus, and respond to His gift of salvation.
II. Our minds and hearts find rest in Jesus
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth. (Proverbs 19:23-24)
Nearly fifteen years ago, our family was invited to visit a friend's new house. She had just moved in, set up her furniture, and wanted us to see the place. So we made plans to visit, but the day before that scheduled visit, my grandmother passed away. We were all very close to my grandmother, so her passing was an emotionally heavy moment for us. In our grief, we talked about cancelling the visit to our friend's house, but ultimately decided not to call it off.
The next day we made the drive to visit. After receiving the tour, I happened to notice that she had a large chair in her living room, and I made the mistake of sitting down on it. Within a few minutes, I fell asleep. It was the best sleep I had in a long time, and everyone graciously let me rest. It felt restorative and allowed me to regain some strength at a time when I needed it.
Rest is something the Lord knows we need. We're actually designed by Him to require it, but there's a deeper form of rest than a good nap on a chair. Solomon speaks of that rest in this passage. As he does elsewhere in Proverbs, he reminds us of the virtue of living in the fear of the Lord. He also tells us that if we genuinely revere the Lord, we will rest satisfied. Our consciences won't weigh us down because we'll experience the peace of a healthy relationship with our Creator.
That stands in contrast to the pattern of living displayed by a sluggard who reaches into a bowl or a dish to grab some food, but is too lazy to then bring that food up to his face in order to eat it. That's not rest, that's laziness.
Our bodies need rest. That isn't something any of us would argue with. But our minds and hearts need rest as well, and most people struggle to find that rest even though it's right in front of them. We have been designed by Jesus to find rest in Jesus, but we'll never find that rest if we continue to run from Him. We find rest for our mind, heart, and soul when we draw near to His throne of grace.
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
III. Chase foolishness and ignorance away
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who brings shame and reproach.
27 Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge. (Proverbs 19:25-27)
Some people embrace the wisdom of God, but many people don't. Some people accept the gift of goodness the Father offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ, but many people push that gift far away from their thinking. Solomon gives us a picture of what that looks like in this passage. He shows us that some people learn from correction while others run from it or push the people out of their life who are offering it to them. But it's better to chase foolishness and ignorance away than to chase away those who lovingly offer it.
Have you ever been involved in a chase of any kind? Were you the one being chased or were you doing the chasing? Years ago, at our former home, we had a bear that kept wandering into our yard and tearing through our garbage. At least once a week, it was leaving a big mess all around our property. One evening as we were pulling into our driveway, I saw the bear dragging our trash though the yard and into the woods. Without much thought, I got out of our car, grabbed a broom that was leaning up against the house, and started chasing the bear. Admittedly, that may not have been the safest approach, but he never came back so at least there was a silver lining to the experience.
In the realm of spiritual wisdom, if we're going to chase anything away, let's not chase away the givers of truth. Let's chase away foolishness and ignorance so we can hear the gospel with clarity.
IV. The day of real justice is coming
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools. (Proverbs 19:28-29)
Solomon speaks of one last thing in this chapter of Proverbs. In the final two verses, he speaks of those who mock at justice. He tells us that two things await those who persist in their scoffing; condemnation and a beating. Neither of which sound pleasant.
What do you think about true justice? Does it ever feel like it's missing in this world? When we think about all the areas where it feels like it's past due for justice to be served, do you ever grow impatient about it? Do you ever feel hopeless? Well, if you're feeling hopeless, don't let that emotion take root in your heart for much longer. The day of real justice is coming and it will be administered by Jesus Himself.
"You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door." (James 5:8-9)
Every day we live is another day closer to Christ's return. The purposes of God for creation, history, and humanity will be brought to fruition, and by His grace, we have the privilege to rest confidently in Him while we watch His perfect (yet sometimes mysterious) plan unfold.
© John Stange, 2021
