How Do We Know If We’re Going the Right Way? (Proverbs 16)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Do you struggle to know how to follow God's ways over your own?

In Proverbs 16, Solomon addresses this topic. Paul Koptak writes, “Whereas the earlier proverb stressed the responsibility of speakers for their answers, this proverb takes a wider view. Human hearts (the seat of intentions) plan, but the words that come forth are somehow from Yahweh.”^[1] In the first 11 verses, we see nine references to God—which is atypical for Proverbs. Through this chapter, there is this repeated contrast between man’s ways and God’s way. Notice the following verses:

^1 “The reflections of the heart belong to mankind,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

² All a person’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs motives.

³ Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.”

⁷ “When a person’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

⁹ “A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.”

²⁵ “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.”

A few points to note. First, just because we think we’re on the right path doesn’t mean we are. Second, while humans can plan and propose actions, the final realization of those plans or the success of those actions is dependent upon God's will. Third, choosing the right path brings peace. And fourth, God has the final say—regardless of what we choose. As Bruce Waltke notes, “The human beings form, the LORD performs; they devise, he verifies; they formulate, he validates; they propose, he disposes. They design what they will say and do, but the LORD decrees what will endure and form part of his eternal purposes.”^[2]