TRUNEWS with Rick Wiles - Morning Manna - Nov 4, 2025 - Proverbs 16:1-5 - The Sovereign Hand: God’s Rule over Human Plans

Episode Date: November 4, 2025

Proverbs 16:1–5 reveals the supreme authority of God over every human thought, word, and action. Though man prepares his heart, the final answer belongs to the Lord. Every way may seem right in our own eyes, but God alone weighs the motives. When we commit our works to Him, our thoughts find stability under His direction. The Lord has made all things for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of judgment—and He declares every proud heart an abomination. In this Morning Manna study, Rick Wiles and Doc Burkhart examine how divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and humility before God define the path of true wisdom.Teachers: Rick Wiles and Doc BurkhartYou can partner with us by visiting FaithandValues.com, calling 1-800-576-2116, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961.MEGA FIRE reveals the ancient recurring cycles of war and economic collapse that have shaped history for 600 years. These patterns predict America is now entering its most dangerous period since World War II. Get your copy today!www.megafire.worldGet high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves!www.AmericanReserves.comIt’s the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today!www.Amazon.com/Final-DayApple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books!www.books.apple.com/final-dayPurchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today.www.Sacrificingliberty.com

Well, good morning, everybody. Welcome to Morning Manna on this Tuesday. It's election day here in the United States. There are several elections in our country is what we consider off-year elections. But we're here to study the Word of God and not talk politics. We're talking about our government. Our government is the kingdom of God. And we don't have elections because there was only one. one election and you and me are in it that's right god did the voting oh man doc think about the election in the kingdom of god there was only one election day and only one voter and guess what you won and you won you are the elect so that's the election i'm concerned about today we be begin our study of chapter 16 book of proverbs we're going to look at verses 1 through 5 let's pray almighty god father god thank you thank you for electing us thank you for voting for us father on heaven's election day glory to god no i'm just as blessing me father just to think about it Heaven's Election Day.

Father, we praise you for your goodness. We praise you for your love. We praise you for your perfect will and plan. And above all else, we praise you for your son, Jesus Christ, and your Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, take charge of this class and teach all of us about your word. teach us your word and illuminate us to understand greatly the glory of Jesus Christ your son in his name Jesus we pray amen amen and we are starting chapter 16 today in the book of proverbs we'll be reading verses 1 through 5 welcome to everyone around the world when I say that

I literally mean that around the world from our friends in Russia and Switzerland and Europe and Ireland, down into Southeast Asia and Australia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and, of course, many friends in the Philippines, welcome to everyone across the U.S. and Canada as well. God bless you. We are reading Chapter 16 in Book of Proverbs, verses 1 through 5. I'm reading from the King James. And read along with me. Always do your best to try to read the Word of God out loud.

if it's possible and so and generally always is and I'm reading the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord we can teach on that for the whole hour just that one verse there all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes but the Lord waiteth the heart the spirits commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established a great principle there the Lord hath made all things for himself yea even the wicked for the day of evil everyone that is proud and heart is an abomination to the lord though hand join in hand he shall not be unpunished this is going to be a fun study today doc there's some there's a variety in these five verses yes for me i had the most um

the most clarification for me came from my study of verse three commit thy work unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established I thought I understood it and I didn't and and then the one that

the one that the verse that gave me that I ended up resolving conflicts was verse 4 The Lord hath made all things for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. So, let's get into these verses. Yeah, this is great.

There's going to be a great lesson today. I will start with Proverbs 161, the King James, The preparations of the heart in man. And the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. I'm going to read all four translations, the King James World English Bible, the Aramaic Peshida, and the Septuagint. The World English Bible says, the plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. It's almost identical to King James. Aramaic Peshita, the arrangements of the heart are of men, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Dr. Septuagint says, all the works of the humble are manifest with God, but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day. Right, connecting it to verse four later on. Yes. Okay, so let's begin with the preparations of the heart in man. now it says in man man meaning the the species right male and female the preparations of the heart in men and women okay the Hebrew word for preparations means arrangements the ordering the structuring right it it suggests intentional thought for planning proverb acknowledges human responsibility for planning we are permitted to plan even expected to plan to plan and to deliberate right yet human planning while necessary is inherently linked limited

by our partial knowledge and shifting circumstances and also limited by God's own sovereignty as well yes yes doc the heart we've talked about this before the heart is the heart is the seat of our being our thoughts our emotions our intellect our conscience our will all that's wrapped up in that word heart

right so the verse 1 is telling us that true wisdom involves diligence in preparation but without presumption in outcome we are expected to plan but we are forbidden to presume our plans will succeed they will only succeed if the lord's favor is favor is upon them

So, Dr. There's a, you know, Albert Barnes, there's a contrast. Fatalism, fatalism, meaning no effort. What's the use? Why bother? Fatalism. And pride, which is self-sufficiency. Yes, he also compares free will of man and divine control. So he does that compare. Harrison as well. So you really can't separate the two in this verse, can you? No. The answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Right. Now, whose tongue are we talking about there? Well, let's see what this means. So the preparation of the heart, the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. God alone

grants final expression timing and effectiveness to human plans. The answer of the tongue implies both the speech

and the outcome of the plans. The final word or the resolution of human intention. So divine providence governs not only the destinies of men and women, but their daily conversations and decisions. Right. In other words, the final outcome is the Lord's.

Remember, Harry Truman, had a plaque on his desk remember what it said on that plaque yeah the buck stops here the buck stops here what's implied in that well there's a lot of decisions that are made in government but when it comes to the resolute desk if you will the final decision was the presidents well in the same way man makes plans and he should make plans but at the end of the story god is there and God is making the determination of the final outcome. Yes. So man prepares,

but God determines the results. That's the scripture in a nutshell. Yes. Human will, human eloquence, human persuasion, human efforts cannot override the will of God. God. Yes. God even allows men and women to fulfill their plans and they think that they

did it. And he even allows the evil to fulfill their plans. Yes. And we'll get that in verse four. But this is, you know, this is a hard thing for a lot of people to accept that we had both free will in the process, autonomy, but that the final outcome is the Lord's as well. But to me, I don't have a conflict with that at all. No. Because from my perspective, what is my responsibility to live for Christ? And that's it. I mean, whether I have a choice in the outcome or not, I at least have the appearance of choice now.

so why not choose Christ? Talk the more I trust the Lord and trust his plan the easier my life is yes it's like

I just got to go with his plan so the answer of the tongue means the wisdom the timing the fruit of speech is divinely orchestrated I This is, it's hard to understand that God is orchestrating the words that people are speaking, even though. Doc, how do I say it?

I mean, he's allowing them to speak words, sometimes speak words that are contrary to his will. Okay. so you use the Harry Truman analogy about passing the book the bottom line is that on judgment day God has a sign that says the buck stops here yeah okay you've reached the end of the road this is it right now he has the final say he lets people do things in this world they get away with things they may even convince themselves that God is for them. But on Judgment Day, the truth is revealed.

That, what I just said, more than anything else, motivates me to study the word thoroughly, to make sure I understand his ways that I am in alignment with his will. I don't, want to get to judgment day and find out i got it wrong because i based my thoughts and actions on

religion or or worldly concepts this verse is teaching us that every saint should prepare thoroughly when you are whatever you are attempting to do whatever plans you're making you should prepare thoroughly but depend completely on God for the outcome there are two vital truths that are united here human responsibility in divine sovereignty you see them coming together there's human responsibility divine sovereignty god doesn't have a family of slouches you're not going to and i've seen that attitude among some christians you know it's like you're covering up your laziness by saying well i just depend on God. Okay. No, you, well, where's your plan? Yeah. What's that plan? And what's that plan

based on? Just your desires, just your thoughts, just your, you know, whatever is it based upon what you've learned from the word. Right. Because the people with that attitude, they go through life saying, well, I just depend on God's plan. No, God is. Yeah, do you know his plan? But God is expecting you to show some some effort and come up with your plan to implement his plan isn't that what is about doc yeah exactly what's your plan to do my will here's my will you're obligated to fulfill it What's your plan? How do I, in the business world, let's say a man and woman who owns a very successful business, you know, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The owner, single stockholder in the company owns all the stock. that person has a will for the business they have a will they have a will they hire professionals to devise the plan to achieve the will to carry out their will yes and CEOs because they can't execute their plans CEOs and managers get get promoted might even become part owner

because they excel so much in carrying out the will of the owner so the owner the corporate owner has a will but he hires people to have a plan to implement his will

that's what this is talking about right so preparation is our duty direction is god's gift we prepare and he directs we all know the saying you can't steer a parked car and a car is parked wheel is locked you cannot move it you have to turn the ignition on, and hit the accelerator. Now the car starts moving, and you can now move the steering wheel. The same thing in life, right? We prepare.

Preparing is turning the steering wheel. The direction is God's gift. He says, make a right here, go straight, make a left. He's steering. that's his that's his gift but we have to prepare we have to show him we're serious about the work that you've given us to do the assignment that you've given us to do we're serious about it

do you think about God's will 24-7 you really should I mean all through all three a day what is God's will for your life so our heart forms plans

but God's mind finalizes the purpose if if there's prayer without planning it will lead to passivity there will be no action I've seen that in my lifetime I've seen churches that were oh great about praying we're gonna have

a prayer meeting yeah well we're not gonna move until the Lord tells us we're gonna pray about it some more and when I I just came to the place, you know, this is many years ago, I say, you guys never do anything, except hold another prayer meeting about what you're going to do. See, prayer without planning leads to passivity. But planning without prayer leads to pride. Yes. The two go together. Yes. But for some reason humans try to separate the two and make them extremes as though it's sinful to have human plans right and there's that attitude out there too but to me that's that's spiritual pride i mean you know it's saying that you know well i'm just i'm just going to pray about it brother yeah i'm not i'm

going to disengage my brain the brain that god gave me i'm going to disengage it not think about not make a plan i'm just going to pray well i i believe in prayer but i also believe in planning too in the doc what three things i've learned over decades humility in your success when something succeeds be humble about it you didn't do it yeah god god blessed your plan absolutely number two to be contented in delays sometimes god delays your plans it doesn't mean he has rejected your plan he's just said let's put this one on hold right and number three submission in disappointment when we when our plans don't work we need to submit to

God's will and say father I don't understand it but you know best yes and I'll accept your plan I'll accept your will I'll accept your timing it's your will not mind. Matthew Henry said, though men devise many things, God's count and stand. We are to use our reason and diligence yet to depend upon God for success. Amen. John Gill said, man's heart may devise the matter, but the tongue is under divine guidance. The ability, the season, and the issue of speech are from the Lord. Charles Bridges. Here is man's freedom under God's rule. His will is active, yet never independent.

His words are his own, yet ordered by divine hand. Charles Simeon, I don't quote him often, he was an Anglican leader. Our preparations are the plowing. God gives the rain, the sun, and the whole. harvest. He who plans without prayer is proud. He who prays without planning is slothful. I like the analogy of the plowing. You know, crops will grow if you throw seed on the ground, but they grow a lot better if you plow the ground first. That's right. Charles Spurgeon, the tongue may move at man's will, but not to profit unless the Lord gives,

it utterance we think but he teaches us to speak oh doc I just got a revelation I just got a revelation we've you know we've said many times throughout these studies that our words have power they have energy they're sowing seeds we're dropping seeds into ground with every word that we're speaking what this verse is telling us is let's go back to look at this the preparations of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord the reason a lot of our plans don't work is that our words don't work yeah I like it what this is teaching us is that we not only do

you have to have plans that are submitted to God approved by God but you have to allow the Holy Spirit to change your speech so that he can bless the words that you speak If you're speaking your words over his plans, he's not going to fulfill the plans. You have to have his plan and his words. The answer of the tongue is from the Lord. Oh, that just came to me. Yeah, that's good.

Let's look at verse two. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth the spirits. Aramaic Peshida, all the ways of a man are pure in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the hearts. Septuagint, all the works of the humble are manifest with God, but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day. We'll begin with all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes. Ways refers to the conduct of your life, your lifestyle, your habitual course, not just one action, your ways. The way is, look, we all have our ways. We become so comfortable with our ways.

we don't even consider that they might not be right it's just become our ways it's our lifestyle it's the things that we do habitually it's our pattern of life the word clean does not mean pure but it means in the eyes of the person they're right So our ways, each of us think our ways are right. That's what this means. Each person thinks his or her ways are right, are pure, are clean. Why? Because we become accustomed to our ways.

Right. Or we compare ourselves to others. Well, I'm not an axe murderer. Well, I'm glad I hear that, Doc. I would skip lunch with you today, if you were. I don't kill it lunch. And so, but, you know, but we make that comparison. I don't do these bad things.

Therefore, I'm better than so-and-so. Or if someone's going to hell, it's not going to be me because I don't do those super bad things. Right. We, as humans, we instinctively justify ourselves. Okay, that's the bottom line. Why? The heart is deceitfully wicked. Sin blinds before it binds.

We're always blinded before we're bound. so moral deception is easy you know why because we are both the accused and our own advocate in our own trial morally we're accused of

of violating God's standards his laws his commandments and yet we take it upon ourselves to be our own lawyer and and then of course we argue that we're right when the best thing to do is fall down before the judge and say have mercy on me yes a self justified self-satisfied heart is the most dangerous place to live. It is deceived. But the Lord weigheth the spirits.

The Hebrew word for way means to measure, to assess accurately. So God's judgment And we learned this in previous chapters of Proverbs. God's judgment penetrates beneath the action. God looks for the motive, the intention. Remember when we studied, I don't know which chapter was, Doc. We were studying that God observes the ways of men.

he observes the ways of men and what we were saying in that chapter was it's not one or two particular actions incidents that god says okay that's it right there no he's watching the ways of a person over a lifetime over years over decades he's he's looking at the motive the intention why did you do this You know, sometimes people are driven to extreme actions of self-defense that could actually be criminal. But you have to look and say, what drove that person to take that extreme action? Right. The word spirits here refers to the inward impulses, the attitudes. Not the external deeds. Right.

The motives of the heart. The motives of the heart. So divine assessment, he weighs. This is the assessment. The divine weighing, the divine assessment of your heart is not based on your performance, but on the purity of your intentions. He's a fair judge. But he is a judge.

He's a judge. Sometimes we sin, and the Lord knows why we sinned, okay? And he knows that sometimes we're in despair. I don't want to get into the topic of suicide, but, you know, suicide. A very sensitive, delicate topic, but people are driven to suicide. Yes. And there are mental and physical things that might lead to a point of suicide too. It's not excusing it.

That's right. But at the same time, you know, we need, we really need to have a lot of compassion in that area. And doc, many times in a suicide, there is a one or two other individuals are who are guilty of driving that person to suicide right and they get away with it in this life you know there's a tragic story this morning I know if you saw it in the news you're talking about Blake on high 95 uh sometime when you were sharing about Blake I got to think oh well hope he wasn't involved in this a young lady last night. I guess it was about 10 or 11 at night. She was riding with a friend in a pickup truck

and she jumped out of the truck. While she's on her phone, she jumped out of the truck, apparently taking her own life. But we don't know what led to that or anything like that. It's a tragic, tragic situation, of course. But, you know, that's the reality of life. that people sometimes are driven to that point. Yes. The other person could have said something extremely cruel. Yes. Extremely cruel.

Cruel words can drive a person to great despair, even to death. So God's looking not so much at the actions, but the intention, the motives. What is in the heart? He's weighing the heart. yes so what do we learn from this um the wise do not their own evaluation of their goodness that's what we learn don't trust your own evaluation of their goodness that's what we learn of yourself invite divine correction psalm 139 verse 23 search me oh god and know my heart why did david say those words because he didn't trust his own heart right search me oh god know my heart

John Gill said men judge by outward actions and often deceive themselves but the Lord weighs the frame of the heart the principle of the spirit and the end of the action Albert Barnes what do you think he's going to say doc

think there will be a contrast here yes always he does the juxtaposition so can you i i just thinking this morning you know just having dinner with albert barns he might if he sat down it looked at a table spread out of it probably said oh there's a contrast here i see vegetables on one side and meat oh the guy's mine on the plate we have beef From the other side, we have carrots. This man went through life seeing contrast. And in this one, he contrasts motive and action. Yes.

It's like the late Dr. Charles Stanley. Charles Stanley saw everything in three points. He is. He just heard Charles Stanley saying, number one, you know, number two, number three. He saw everything in three points, okay? Albert Barnes said, The contrast is between human self-approval and divine moral scrutiny.

God alone reads the moral temperature beneath appearances. Correct. Charles Simeon, a man may mistake the cleanliness of his way because he loves it. Only the spirit of God can weigh motives and reveal impurity within apparent righteousness. Charles Spurgeon said, every man is his own lawyer and pleads not guilty,

but the Lord is judge and jury both. His scales never misway a motive. That's right. His scales are honest, but men measure themselves by dishonest scales. Verse three, now this is the one I had personal revelation on.

in my study for this lesson. King James, commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established. Pashita, commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be directed. Septuagint,

lay open your works to the Lord and your purposes shall be established. Doc, for years, I just thought this is easy to understand oh yeah but i i got a different viewpoint on it now um commit thy works unto the lord the word here for commit means to roll yes to roll away roll your your works onto the lord roll your burden for this project this dream this vision this whatever you're you're seeking to do in life for God roll it on to the Lord I didn't understand that I thought it meant

well Lord I'm committing this to you I'm laying it down here at the at the altar I committed to you right and it's yours okay that's not what means it means to roll it over on him to release the burden right to release control yes yes release control lord i can't do this i'm going to roll it over onto you so to commit is not merely to mention our plans in prayer and ask the Lord to sanctify it. Oh, Lord, I commit my plan to you. Please put your rubber stamp on this and approve it. Or to make a promise or anything like that.

No, no, no. We're talking about surrender. Yes, giving it up. And that requires faith. That requires faith to do that. Because faith says, I can't control this, but God can't. how come nobody taught this to me how did i go to church for decades and nobody taught this to me doc that's the stuff he makes me upset i feel like i got cheated

you've read the fine print rick and discovered there's more to the agreement than you didn't new. Yeah. I'm putting in my ties, my offerings. I'm backing everything. And I didn't get I got cheated. Well, because why? Because they're appealing to the lowest common denominator, Rick. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So to commit your plans to the Lord is not merely to, you know, to mention your, your plans in prayer and say, Lord, um, I'm completely, um, I'm completely, admitting it to you I'd like you to put your rubber stamp put your seal on it so I know you're okay with it you approve of it and you know we're all okay you know both of us were okay we're on the same page with this plan that's not what it means it means to transfer the full

weight of responsibility for the fulfillment of the plan to roll it onto the Lord it is to take your hands off of it but you still have to plan but guess what he answers the tongue he gives the tongue the answer the tongue is what's sowing the seed to fulfill the plans

wow our tongue is speaking words that either bless the plan or curse the plan yes when you roll it over onto the Lord and he gets involved with you he will give you the words to speak

that sow life and vitality into your plans I hope you're getting this today folks I really do man this is good so the works includes every action every enterprise every duty every pursuit whether that's business career family church activity social whatever it is your works commit your works not just work but your works your activity spiritual and secular yes so a genuine commitment

is it's both an act of faith and it's a confession of limitation yes we really the heart of faith is our limitation right yes because pride says i can do it myself faith says i can't do it myself i need god yes so we roll our labors our works we roll our works upon the lord because our own strength cannot sustain our works you're speaking a word of faith that you're going to accomplish these works and yet you are confessing that you're not capable of doing it in your own strength yes sounds contradictory doesn't it but this is the economy of god have a plan commit it to the lord he'll give you the word to speak over your plan like i can't get this out of my mind today that he's he's giving us

the seed to sow out of our mouth yes this does not abolish work efforts it sanctifies it we we work diligently but we we we release the outcome to God and again this means all aspects of life business career ministry education family everything okay we're we're committing our works to the Lord okay does not begin with planning meetings. It begins with surrender. Yes. If we have not surrendered our plan to the Lord,

none of our planning meetings are going to succeed. It won't make a difference. Rolling your works I love it. Just like, hey, father, you're big and strong. Here, take all this pressure, take all this work. Take all this responsibility. You're big and strong, father.

There, thank you, Lord. Now I don't, now I'm not anxious. I don't have any burden on me. Because you took it. I rolled it over under you. It's yours now. Amen. And I, now here's another revelation for me, Doc.

And thy thoughts shall be established. I thought I understood this one. And I didn't. I just always assume, and once you roll your projects, commit your works, you know, I then God will tell you what to do. The word thoughts means plans, intentions, designs, the inward framework behind our outward actions. There is divine reciprocity.

When the works are surrendered, the thought here it is when our works are surrendered to God he stabilizes our thoughts yes

this is this doc is the revelation to me what is one of the greatest threats to any endeavor is to change plans

to fluctuate back and forth, not to know exactly what you're doing, where you're going, how are you going to get it done, and the instability ends up sabotaging the plan. Right. Because you're not,

you're going off the plan, if you will. You're going off script. Another, another thing, and I've encountered this doc, you and you've seen it in action you establish your plan and you're very clear about what you're seeking to do and those around you don't agree and they will pressure you to change your plan yes and then the plan fails why because it wasn't the original plan right and what what the Lord has taught me in that is that Rick you you submit it to pressure from other people who had

other motives you know like the Lord said to me I gave you very clear directions you were certain about it but other people who were not submitted to God pressured you and you gave in to the pressure it will kill a plan so when your works are surrendered to god your thoughts are stabilized that is the gym in this in this verse god will stabilize your thinking his peace will steady your mind because you're trusting in his sovereignty shall be established divine establishment implies both confirmation what is right what is the right will or should say what is right will stand and correction what is wrong will be reordered so divine establishment implies

both confirmation and correction right what is right will stand and what is wrong will be reordered now it doesn't mean that there are course corrections along the way okay but that the plan is still the Lord so if I'm making it if I'm flying an airplane from Orlando to Atlanta which you and I have done many times all along the way that plane is making course corrections based on the wind and clouds and humidity and barometric pressure, all those different things. Those are course corrections. If we get halfway through the trip and we say, you know what, folks, we're not going to Atlanta. We're landing in Jacksonville. That's a planning failure there. Something has gone major wrong on the trip.

But if it's an ordinary trip, if it's a regular plan, there are course questions on the way. That doesn't mean that God's still not involved. It just means that there are other factors in the world around us that affect the carrying out of God's divine order in the world yes doc think of it as divine editing okay I like that okay he's editing our plans as they are in motion when I write a book I'm editing as I go right I've got numerous versions of each book I write. That's not an exaggeration. I might have five or six versions of every chapter I write.

He's right, folks. And I've learned to write that way, to write in versions and keep each version. Because I can go back and find something that I like and put it in later version or in another book right so god is editing our plans as we are in motion he's revising our blueprints for what purpose to bring them into alignment with his perfect will we'll never start out on anything in his perfect will it's always even with the best intentions we have so much humanity involved in us it takes divine editing to squeeze out all that human influence right right so human minds fluctuate they're not stable most people and you can have on one extreme you can have fear the other extreme presumption some people don't get anything done because they're fearful other people they really don't get anything done because they're proud and god doesn't allow their pride to be crowned right or they're afraid of failure which is another form of pride yes it simply says

I can't do this. You know, you're absolutely right. You can't. God can. That's right. So stability begins where self-direction ends. The more we roll our burdens onto the Lord, the more our inner life aligns with His will. And our thoughts are established. Okay. it doesn't mean he puts new thoughts in your head he stabilizes your thinking that was the revelation to me doc

he stabilizes our thinking what did James say about a double-minded man he's unstable in all his ways and what does he get nothing nothing he gets nothing he's unstable in all his ways

he double-minded double-mindedness is one of the greatest enemies of success to be double-minded because often we're double-minded we're not even aware of it right

so look human thoughts and divine will are not rivals they are partners this this verse is linking prayer with planning faith and foresight will and wisdom they're not opposites they're not opposites faith without works is presumption works without faith are futility Philippians 4 verse 6 and 7

in everything by prayer and supplication and the peace of God shall guard your hearts and minds okay that guard the peace of God shall guard your hearts and minds that your thoughts shall be established So when your heart, your plans are rolled upon the Lord, your mind stands firm against distractions.

John Gill said, to commit is to roll the weight and care upon Jehovah. He takes the burden, bless us the work, and settles the mind in peace. Charles Bridges says we are not called to idleness but to trust commit first and then act prayer and prudence must walk hand in hand uh Albert Barnes says the proverb teaches that when plans are framed with dependence and divine guidance they cease to fluctuate faith studies intellect Amen Charles Sumian Roll thy works Not thy wish upon the Lord

Let me read that one again Roll thy work Not thy wish upon the Lord When self is dethroned Peace is enthroned God's establishment is better than man's ambition Alexander McLaren

When life's burdens are rolled uphill into God's hands They no longer crush They consecrate Commitment is the beginning of calm Charles Spurgeon Our duty is to roll His promise is to establish The weight is ours

Until we trust But once trust it it becomes his burden to bear that's right it's his not ours is our duty is to roll roll our works unto the lord god's duty is to establish establish our thoughts first four four 16 four the lord have made all things for himself even the wicked for the day of evil now this one this one will cause your your brain to do somersaults subtuagint all the works of the Lord are done with righteousness but the ungodly are reserved for the evil day the Preschita says the Lord has made everything for his purpose even the wicked for

the day of evil. Amen. So the Lord's I'd just like to know, is that messing up anyone's theology this morning? It does until you study it. Right. So let's start with the Lord

hath made all things. In a nutshell, it declares the total sovereignty of God. From creation to end all human affairs the lord hath made all things end of discussion that's right that's it there you don't need to argue any further than that point god made all things and all things includes both the physical and moral orders from galaxies to governments from angels to angels to atoms, he made it all.

Made, the word, the Hebrew word for made, goes beyond the concept of creation, but design and direction. With purpose. Yes. All existence fulfills a divine intention, that nothing exists independently. All reality is contingent upon God's will.

And his rule extends beyond blessing to judgment, beyond mercy to justice. So divine providence is not an occasional intervention in man's affairs, but constant orchestration. So just those words, three words, made all things. It acknowledges God's authorship over the things that are seen and unseen throughout world history. Now, for his purpose, he made all things for his purpose. it means to fulfill his his wise and holy ends this does not mean that

God created for selfish delight nor does it mean that God created evil precisely but that even the evil thoughts and actions of the could fit into God's sovereignty. Now, that's a tough pill to swallow. It is. That's a horse-sized pill. All creation exists to manifest his glory, his wisdom, his justice, his love. Every creature and every

event contributes to the revelation of his nature and the accomplishment of his redemption. plan. Every human freedom operates within the boundaries of his divine purposes. No circumstance is meaningless.

Each part fits the pattern of God's greater good. He references himself. He represents he references himself for the purpose of

anchoring the universe in his holiness. Right. That even the wickedness of man, the evil of man can serve God's divine purpose. Yes.

For me, I have no issue with that at all. the Lord hath made all things for himself yes the modern scientists want us to believe that the universe was created out of chaos no it was created out of water glory is the organizing principle of existence amen everything was created for his glory now here's the heart part even the wicked for the day of evil this does not excuse sin right and God is not the author of evil I mean Adolf Hitler can't say on judgment day hey you made me evil the day of evil says even the wicked for the day of evil the day of evil the day of evil refers to judgment day there you go it's the day that the evil will be judged he doesn't create evil but he listen to this he ordains that even the rebellion of the wicked shall serve his all ultimate glory.

It doesn't mean that God endorses it. But he will use the wickedness. He will use their wickedness for his glory. I hope people are getting that. That God is not creating evil, nor is he endorsing the wicked and the wicked's plans. But no matter what the wicked do, no matter what plans they have, what evil they

come up with, God can still work in that it's really amazing that's how sovereign or god is you get that and i like to say down in your gizzard then you've got a much bigger god than you had when you started this lesson today so docky we've got god's god's will of permission which allows evil doesn't create evil he allows it and then we have his will of purpose which is using that evil for his righteous ends his glory um look i'm going to tell you this one is this one's over my pay grade to comprehend he's this is one where you just fall down on your face and say god Yes. You are holy. You are holy. Okay.

The human mind cannot comprehend this. You have to accept this by faith. So, so, and this is where, for many times I, for a long time, I mistakenly assumed that many of the brothers and sisters in the reformed wing of the church were teaching that God made people to be evil. And now I understand that's not what the reformed churches teach. The wicked are not made wicked by divine complying. but rather they are they are wicked by their own free corruption and that becomes an instrument for displaying God's holiness that guy says okay I'm going to allow you to be

wicked but in the end it's just going to show I'm more holy and wonderful than than it was before yes there it is you you're just going to You're just going to highlight how, how wonderful I am. So judgment is part of the divine order. Justice is as necessary to glory as is mercy. See, God's rule extends over rebellion. I had a very difficult time with this during the Gaza War. This was extremely difficult for me, Doc.

I saw here in America Christian Zionist cheering Israel's destruction of Gaza. And I'm watching these videos, horrifying videos of children burning, burning, literally burning alive. I have really struggled with this. Like God, Netanyahu is evil. He's evil. He's wicked. He's like Herod. And then I had to come to the place of where the Lord said,

yes, I know. But I'm using him too. I'm using him too. And don't worry, Rick. All the babies that died are with me right now. Right. He uses us for his plans as well as objects of mercy, objects of grace walking around in this evil world. But he even uses the plans and the thoughts and the actions of the wicked to fulfill his will, never endorsing it, never putting a stamp of approval on evil deeds, but saying, you know what, you gave me, you know,

to work with, I'll use the manure. I just saw what time it is, but our class is still with us. I apologize. We're so far over time. John Gill said, the Lord hath appointed the wicket to the day of evil, not as created evil, but as foreknown and permitted to act wickedly, to the end that his justice and power may be displayed. Charles Bridges, every being, every event, every motion of time, fulfills the wise and holy counsel of God. The mystery of evil is beneath his control, though never of his making.

Albert Barnes, the moral government of God embraces the wicked as well as the righteous. Their existence is not outside his plan, but included for the manifestation of his justice. listen to this one doc charles simian the wicked are the black threads in the tapestry of providence which bring out by contrast the brightness of divine grace Alexander McLaren god has one purpose and one only to reveal himself the storm serves him as much as the sunshine

Amen. God doesn't waste anything, not even evil's consequences. Charles Spurgeon, there are no stray arrows in the quiver of Providence. The wicked man is not an accident, but an instrument, terrible in himself, yet overruled to a holy end. Okay, you go stay with me for one more verse. Should we go for it, verse five? Go for it. Yes. Okay.

Verse five, everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord, though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Septuagent, everyone who is proud and heart is unclean before the Lord, and though they join hands, they shall not be held guiltless. All right, so heart, everyone that is proud in heart. again we're back to heart being the center of our being so the pride in heart all right everyone that is proud in heart

is a spirit of self exaltation they're they're exalting themselves before God that word the Hebrew word proud means to be high to be exalted to be lifted up it's it doesn't mean confidence doesn't mean self-confidence but it means independence yes that's why it becomes offensive to god it's not someone saying i'm confident god that i can do this it's saying i'm independent of you and I refuse to bow before you

the refusal to bow is the key thing yes the surrender the refusal to surrender look let's just look at pride's track record

does pride have any wins doc no not at all on the score board where how many wins does pride have pride is the seed of every

sin it dethrone Lucifer it corrupted Eden from the beginning it's been a failure why do people continue to embrace

something that has a zero score in winning because they're blinded by pride rick the very thing that is that causes them to be a loser at the heart of it people worship their own will and this is something i i have seen in churches in congregations among christians you detect in certain people a refusal to surrender to god they just have a stubborn pride and they may talk religious they may sound righteous

and look pretty and smell pretty and everything but have they ever submitted to god have they ever surrendered their will and you'll find out no so pride is self idolatry humility is self surrender that's what this is all about it says is an abomination to the Lord

everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord abomination we've discussed in previous lessons it's repulsive

it's something that is if God could throw up that's it yes that's the level it would be it's disgusting pride he's not intimidated by pride but it does make him puke

yeah because you get puny little men and women saying, I'm not going to bow. I mean, doc, it's like, you know, an elephant looking down at a mouse and saying,

if you bow your head, I won't step on you. And the mouse's going, no, I'm not going to do it. I mean, the elephant's like, you're an idiot. Okay? look at my size so god looks at proud men and women

the puny little humans that dare to stand up to him but it's his grace and his mercy that doesn't wipe them out right he gives them time go ahead

just run out the clock run out the clock on your life just run it out I'll keep working with you I'll see if you change but pride usurps God's glory it resists his grace it blinds the soul to the need for mercy amen why why is the proud heart offensive to god because it contradicts the very nature of god it usurps his authority is what it does right i shall be like the most high there it is that was lucifer's sin sin began in heaven and then the second part says though though hand join in hand

Okay, so now all the mice lock hands. Hey, look, fellow mice, this elephant tells us to bow. Let's hold hands. Though hand join in hand. They form alliances. There's solidarity in rebellion. Yes. and isn't that true in the world today yeah we're going to join secret societies right we'll develop

military alliances why because we seek security in numbers in our armies in our empires and our conspiracies, in our political systems, they all boast against heaven. And yet no accumulation of proud hearts. How many proud hearts do you need to overtake God? What's the number? What's the magic number? Is it a million?

A hundred million? A billion? How many proud hearts can overtake? God. That's what this is saying. That no alliance of humans can prevail against God's will. What they do, Doc, they lock hands and their bond becomes a chain. Yes. You perish beginner. drags them into hell holding hands yeah just think about that proud people going to hell holding hands well that's a scary thought isn't it he shall not be unpunished um doc this is a proverb 11 verse 21 that's the same thing he shall not be unpunished is it is speaking of the certainty of divine

justice he shall not be unpunished right do you have verse 1121 i do you have 1121 so okay go ahead though hand joining hand the wicked should not be unpunished but the sea is the righteous shall be delivered the very same yes you're not going to outnumber god so doc pride builds the gallows but god's justice opens the trapdoor you know they they They hang themselves on a gallo they built. God hangs the hangman. All right, let's wrap it up here. Charles Bridges said,

Union in sin gives no strength, though the proud links hands together in defiance, they shall be broken together under one yoke of vengeance. Amen. Albert Barnes, the phrase is proverbial, denoting certainty of retribution, no compact of men, no counsel of nations can shield the proud from divine justice.

Alexander McLaren, the abomination of pride is that it claims the place of God. Every proud heart is a small babble. Yes. Rising toward heaven and doomed to fall. Charles Spurgeon. So hand, join in. hand rebellion is never safe god hates pride because he loves man too much to let him be his

own god hallelujah praise god well i made it i think i think that's the end of my voice for the day okay well folks we appreciate you sticking with us here on an extended version of the morning man a lesson today i hope you gathered a lot of great information uh this is a very for the novice, it's a very difficult passage to deal with, but I hope that

us walk into it first by verse, segment by segment today, gave you clarity and understanding the role that God allows the wicked to have in the world around us. God is ultimately in charge of everything.

God has supreme authority over everything. And though man makes plans, God uses the plans, both for the righteous. He uses the mercy of the righteous in order to fulfill his plans, but ultimately he'll even use the results of the wicked for his plans as well. But our responsibility is to commit our works to him and place our thoughts under his plans and under his authority. And so I pray that that's what you'll do as you go out through this day and every day as you live out the Book of Prayer. Proverbs. Rick, you got any final words left in that voice of yours?

Just I want to thank everybody for staying so long. You're literally going to college. I hope you understand that. You're attending a college-level course every day, five days a week. You've been here 90 minutes, over 90 minutes. Looks like about 110 minutes. 110 minutes okay that is amazing you're getting an education and there's this will change your life amen it will change your life and several years from now you're going to realize

how much this has affected you and how it's it's brought order see that's what happens it brings order blessing and peace into your life not just one thing that you do but it's it's over several years as you're applying line upon line precept upon precept so yes right well thank you you it's very humbling i thank you to do that all right we'll be back here tomorrow all right god bless you we love you we'll see on the next morning man Thank you.