Comments for April 6

Notice throughout these chapters how often Balaam is forced to say what God wants him too hopelessly against his will. We know his will and desire from 2Pet.2:15, where an apparently throwaway line tells us. This surely gives us a great insight into the way that God has forced his word to be spoken in truth throughout the creation of the Bible as we know it. Look at 22:12, 22:18, 22:35, 23:8, 23:12, 23:19,20, 23:26, 24:13.

22 v. 7 Rewards of divination Acts 1:18 2 Peter 2:15 By using language which speaks of Balaam here and in 22:32 we see that Peter, in Acts 1 is expounding the death of Judas in such a way as to identify him as being of the Balaam class. It is clear that the account of the death of Judas in the gospels is different from the explanation of Peter in Acts. The difference is because Peter is providing a Scriptural explanation in Acts whereas the gospel account is a purely factual historical account.

We have a picture here of a man who was prepared to stand up against God. We see how the result was a blindness to God's will and a focusing only on his own desires. We need to note that this man was described as a prophet of God. This is the position from which he fell. This means it can happen to anyone. Balaam allowed his own desires to close his mind to the will of God. This is amazingly easy to do if we do not keep constant open-minded contact with His word.

22:3 So Balak was 'sore afraid' of Israel. The word had gone before them and so a little later the inhabitants of Jericho were in the same position. (Josh 6:1) so incredible was the event of Israel leaving Egypt almost 40 years earlier that the people of the land of Canaan were waiting in terror for the children of Israel to arrive - if only Israel had realised this!

23:23 and 24:1 Enchantment <05173> is closely related to the word translated serpent <05175> in Gen 3:1 and on some other occasions. When it is used outside Genesis 3 it is often associated with false speaking (Psalm 140:3).

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM.

Balaam had a faithful donkey. She had always done the work he asked for, giving him faithful service as long as Balaam was her master. But it didn't seem to occur to Balaam that when the donkey didn't behave in the way he was used to, that there might be something wrong. It seemed to Balaam that the donkey was just suddenly misbehaving, but in reality, the donkey could see things that Balaam couldn't see. If Balaam could have seen the angel standing in the way ready to kill him, I am sure he would have thought differently of the donkey's actions.

Yet very often we are just as blind as Balaam. When we see the actions or the results of some event we think we know it all. Then we jump to conclusions putting motives to the actions we see. However, it is only those who can really see in that situation that know the truth.

Maybe one day our eyes will be opened to some of the things that we have missed. The question then will be whether we will find ourselves ashamed of our actions, as Balaam was, or whether we will be pleased that we reserved judgement for the Lord.

22:6 Balak's comment echoes what God had said to Abram (Genesis 12:3) indicating that the promises that God had made to Israel were known throughout the middle east.

ch 23 - Notice the emphasis on the fact that Balaam only spoke the words that God gave him (:5, 12, 16)

22:20,35 The double emphasis to Balaam is that he will only be able to speak God's word. However he was able to work out a way to obtain his reward even though he was only able to speak God's word. Num 31:16. So we should not think that a man chosen by God cannot sin - he can blatantly disregard what he knows to be the word of God. In this is a warning for us.

23:7,18, 24:3,15,20,23 The repeated use of the word 'parable' 04912 which is the normal Old testament word for Parable / Proverb and is the basis of the word that Jesus used causes us to realise that Balaam's words were only for those who had a mind to understand the purpose of God. Jesus teaches us that parables are for the enlightened. Matt 13:13 to separate out those who were interested in his message from those who were only there to mock.

23:26  "all that the Lord speaketh, that I must do." A remarkable confession, that he was Divinely constrained to give utterances different from what was his purpose and inclination to do.

Balaam was a prophet for hire.  He had the reputation of being very effective in the blessings and curses department (22:6). 

Of course, dealing with the living God was very different than dealing with the superstitions surrounding those gods made out of wood and stone.

Balaam was unable to curse God's people.  It is not certain whether he received payment for his efforts or not.  Yahweh used him to preach the Truth.  He was later killed in a battle with the Midianites (Num 31:8, Josh 13:22).

23:V18-19 "Rise up" As Balak was already standing (V17), this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me."  The counsels and promises of God respecting Israel are unchangeable, and no attempt to prevail on God to reverse them will succeed, as they may with man.

UNKNOWN REASONS
 
How often have things gone 'wrong' for us when we were on a mission to do a particular thing, and we were forced to abort or change our plans?  It is at times like that when we curse our circumstances.  The things that seemed so important are ruined.  Our important dates, appointments and deadlines are missed because of seemingly small distractions.
 
Balaam had one of those days.  He hopped on his donkey to go out on an important job - a once in a lifetime opportunity, an appointment with the king, to earn him the wages of his dreams!  Then things started to go wrong.  His usually reliable donkey suddenly became unreliable.  She turned off the road into a field, crushed Balaam's leg against a wall, and then suddenly stopped and collapsed under his weight.  If that had happened to our car and it began acting in a way that we found unpredictable and frustrating, we would understand Balaam's frustration and cursing.
 
Balaam couldn't see a reason for this bad turn of events.  All he could see was that his donkey was suddenly misbehaving.  Sometimes, like Balaam, all we can see are the circumstances we find ourselves in.  But if we love God and are called by him, we know that there is a reason for those circumstances.  Balaam's eyes were opened then and there, and seeing the angel with it's sword drawn to kill him, he instantly understood why his donkey acted as she did. 
 
One day our eyes may be opened too, and we will see God's plan opened out before us.  Until then let us trust in the LORD knowing that all things work together for good.

22:32    That Balaam was withstanding God and his ways were perverse is taken up by Peter – Acts 1:18 to speak of Judas. 'perverse’ in Numbers could also be translated headlong – see margin.

23:19    Balak needed to understand that Yahweh was not like the gods of the nations. God had a mind and plan that man could not thwart by bribery or special pleading.  The nations round Israel would try to change their god’s mind by afflicting themselves. Yahweh, on the other hand, responds to petitions which are not self centred.

22:22 - Here we have a mention of a righteous satan; "adversary" (KJV)/"oppose" (NIV) is translated directly from the Heb.word "satan"  (7854) which means "an opponent, adversary",etc. and is used in this case to represent the angel of the Lord. In the first two chapters of Job this exact same word "satan" (7854) is used to refer to Job's adversary.

22:5 How did Balak know that Balaam was a prophet of God and that he was susceptible to being enticed to curse Israel? Surely because Balaam had kept company with, if he did not now, with Balak. Balaam’s fellowship with the world eventually destroyed him.

23:19   Balaam’s statement that God was not a man who lied is taken up by the prophet – Hos 11:9

22:20,21,22 The information might seem confusing. Yahweh gave Balaam permission to go with the men, if they called.

When Balaam rose in the morning and went with the Moabite princes, Yahweh was angry with him for doing this. Why?

The problem is that Balaam acted presumptuously - he did not wait for the men to call as ordered, but went to them of his own accord. This explanation is not apparent in English, but it is in Hebrew.

In Hebrew, ki halach simply means because he went; but in v.22 ki holech hu is used which means because he went of his own volition without being called.

Thus, Balaam ignored the command of Yahweh and acted hastily, motivated, no doubt, by the promised rewards (22:7). And so, Yahweh became angry.

There were ancients, not of Israel, who knew Yahweh. For example: Abimelech of Gerar (Gen 20:6,7); Melchizedek (Gen 14:18); Job (Job 1:1); Jethro (Exo 18:10-12). The knowledge of Yahweh trickled down through the progeny of these men.

And so, it is not surprising that Balaam knew Yahweh. But, Balaam’s national god was Baal, and he engaged in divination which was forbidden under the Law (Deut 18:10,11). And yet, there was communication between Balaam and Yahweh (22:8).

23:1,14 Balaam offered sacrifice to Yahweh on seven altars. But, Yahweh required only one altar. Balaam was mixing Yahweh’s requirements with his own ungodly superstition. The number seven, in the Ancient Near East, was considered a mystical, magical number. Today, the same treatment of the number seven is made by some. For example, the expression lucky number seven is used in gambling circles and elsewhere.

Ironically, the mixing of practices under the Law with ungodly practices was not to be solely Balaam’s domain. The very people whom Balaam was asked to curse - Israel - would later engage in such operations.

But, at this point, Yahweh was protecting His people. He used Balaam to accomplish this.

23:5,16 Yahweh used Balaam as a mouthpiece to pronounce His will. The parable (discourse) that Balaam gave to Balak was under inspiration (23:7-10; 18-24). As an inspired speaker Balaam was considered a prophet (2Pet 2:16).

However, Yahweh made a dumb (voiceless) ass to speak also. And so, a non-believer’s being a prophet only shows that Yahweh had spoken through that individual for a particular occasion. Unless the non-believer turned to fully worship Yahweh in Spirit and in Truth, then he would continue his ungodly ways until death. And so, he would have no hope of salvation.

Num 23:19 - God is not a man and God can't lie (John 4:24;1Tim 6:16;Titus 1:2) but Christ was a man, sometimes called the son of man, and he was capable of lying as he was tempted in all points as we are (Rom 5:15;Rev 1:13;James 1:13-14;Heb 4:15).

22:11 The ‘Balaam incident’ took place only weeks before Israel. entered the land. The nation was not much bigger than it had been the first time they arrived at the border of the land. Whilst we are not told what the inhabitants of the land thought on that occasion one has to conclude that they feared the nation of Israel. at that time. It is inconceivable that their presumed prowess would increase during their time in the wilderness.

Balaam and Christ:

Num 22:18;23:12,26;24:13 - Balaam was forced to do God's will while Jesus yielded to his Father's will (Mark 14:36). Num 22:22 - Balaam rode on an ass with two servants while Christ had two disciples get an ass which he rode on (Matt 21:1-5). Num 22:22,25 - Balaam had two people with him when his foot was crushed while Christ had two with him when his heel was bruised (Gen 3:15;Matt 27:38). Num 22:28 - Balaam had an ass that spoke while in the garden of Eden a serpent spoke (Gen 3:1). Num 22:7,17,37;24:11;Jude 1:11;2Pet 2:15;Matt 6:19 - Balaam sought material rewards while Christ received, and his followers await, eternal rewards (Acts 2:32-33;1Cor 15:20-23;Matt 6:20;Rev 22:12). Mic 6:5 - Balaam and Christ involved in learning of the righteousness of the Lord (Mic 4:1-5). Num 22:34;2Pet 2:16;Num 31:16;Rev 2:14 - Balaam sinned and caused others to sin while Christ was tempted to sin but didn't sin and covered the sins of others (Heb 4:15;Isa 53:4,5,6,8,10,11,12). 2Pet 2:16 - Balaam and Christ prophesied (Matt 24:3;26:2,23,32,34). Num 31:8;Josh 13:22 - Balaam and Christ were both killed (Matt 27:26,35;Luke 23:46-47;John 19:33). Num 23:5-11;23:18-25;24:1-10;Deut 23:4-5;Josh 24:9-10;Neh 13:2 - Balaam and Christ had curses turn into blessings (Deut 21:22-23;Gal 3:8,13,16,26,27,28,29). Num 24:17-19 - the star and the scepter indicating Christ and his rule (Matt 2:2;Gen 49:10;Heb 1:8;Psa 2:7-9;Rev 12:5 - note: Revelation is a book heavy in symbolism, some feel Rev.12:5 refers to Christ while others feel it refers to Constantine). Num 24:25 - Balaam and Christ rose up and went to their place (Luke 24:1-7;1Cor 15:3-4;Acts 1:9-11;2:32-33;Heb 12:2). In Numbers 22-24 we have multiple mentions of "three" (perhaps representing divine perfection, the three day entombment followed by resurrection on the third day), of "seven" (perhaps representing spiritual perfection, God's seal or covenant number, the millenial day of rest when Christ will rule), of "altars, offerings" (echoing Christ's offering of himself for his friends). 

23:25  Having asked Balaam to curse Israel and only heard blessings now Balak is asking Balaam just to remain silent.  He did not understand that Balaam was not in control of what he said, even though Balaam had told him this Num 22:35 – In Balaam we see a clear example of what Peter said  2Pet 1:21

Num 23; Num 24

The four "parables" of Balaam in brief:

Parable 1 (Num 23:7-10) - Israel is blessed, and is descriptive first of the "latter days," and then refers to Moab as the representative of heathenism.

Parable 2 (Num 23:18-24) - God is with Israel, and is against Amalek as the representative of heathenism in its first contest against Israel.

Parable 3 (Num 24:3-9) - Israel will prosper, and is in favour of the Kenites as the friends and allies of Israel.

Parable 4 (Num 24:15-24) - Israel will dominate. It concerns the Assyrian empire, and the kingdoms of this world, or prophecy of "the end," appropriately beginning with a "woe." God's judgments against the other nations were included, but Israel and her allies will come out victorious in the end.  

Balaam's counterpart found in the New Testament is that of Judas, the traitor. Many similarities may be drawn between them. Here are a few: Balaam represented the opposition of heathenism, Judas that of Judaism. Balaam expected God's service to be quite different from what he found; Judas expected the Messiah to be quite other than he found him. Both were covetous and ambitious. Both went some length in following the Truth, but each failed in their absolute and implicit submission to the express will of God.

The spiritual implications for us are profound! It is only by striving to keep God's commands to the best of our ability in its totality, that we are made righteous. Such cannot be cursed!

BIG PICTURE

When Balaam's donkey didn't do what he expected her to do, Balaam took out his staff and beat her. Three times this happened. When the donkey was able to speak after she had seemingly let Balaam down three times, she said, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" (Num 22:30) Balaam admitted that she had been a faithful donkey, but it wasn't until his eyes were opened to see the angel ready to kill him that he realised that what his donkey had really been doing was trying to save his life.

She had turned off the road into a field (v.23), crushed his foot against a wall (v.25), and lay down in the path (v.27). Before he saw the angel, all Balaam saw in these actions were inconveniences, pain and disappointment. But once he saw the angel, he understood his donkey's actions.

How often are the painful trials in our lives actually there to help us rather than hinder us? Like Balaam, without our eyes opened to what God has planned, we can't see what the big picture is in our lives. All we can see are the annoying, painful, inconvenient and disappointing circumstances. But let us remember that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28) One day the big picture will be revealed. Until then, let us trust in God.

22:22  The repeated (:24,26,28,31,32) intervention of God via the angel shows two things. Balaam was very lacking in perception and God was very merciful.

Num 22

A distinguished man asked a distinguished looking woman if she would sleep with him for fifty dollars. The woman replied she would not. He then asked her, “Would you sleep with me for a million dollars?” She thought it over carefully and said she would. Then he asked her again, “Would you sleep with me for one hundred dollars?” The woman took offense to this and said, “Do you think I am some kind of a harlot?” The man answered her, “Ma’am, we already established you are a harlot. Now we are only bargaining over the price.” This was the exact attitude of Balaam! If the price were right, he'd do it. Balaam was covetous; he loved money (2Pet 2:15; Jude 11). Balaam was an idolater (Rev 2:14). Peter, Jude and Jesus had some very severe things to say about Balaam.

In Num 22:8, Balaam tells the elders of Moab and Midian that he will first enquire of the LORD before giving his answer. God specifically told him he was not to go (verse 12), and this is when the ‘bartering’ began! Note in verse 13, Balaam said that the LORD refused to give him permission, implying that he would have gone, which was really a form of trying to exact more money. The price for his cursing Israel is then increased (verses 14-17). Balaam entertains the offer, and the bartering continues (verses 18-19). This time God allows Balaam to go with Balak’s messengers (Num 22:20). Why? God had already clearly declared His will, but Balaam kept on bartering, hoping that God would change His mind in the meanwhile. But, for this God was angry with him. Balaam revealed the wickedness of his heart, he was hard-hearted, and God let him go to execute judgment against him.

The children of Israel had just defeated the king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, so Balak, king of Moab, came to the conclusion that these victories were a form of magic, and he sent for Balaam, the greatest known magician of those days, asking him to come to Moab, and for hire use his magical powers, manipulate the gods, and curse the people of Israel. Little did they know that Yahweh was not their type of god! After four failed attempts to curse Israel, Balaam returned home (Num 24:25), but there is an important part that is left out here in this account as to what happened before Balaam went home.

To get around the failed curses, Balaam counseled Balak that the Israeli people would rebel against each other if they sent in Moabite and Medianite women to seduce the men to immorality and idolatry (Num 25; 31:16). It worked! God ended up sending a plague and 24,000 of the Israelites died. Balaam’s advice placed a stumbling block before God’s people, and caused them to turn away from Him. Balaam didn’t get to enjoy his riches for long. God executed His judgment against him, and he perished by the sword along with his friends, the enemies of God (Num 31:7-8).

This Balaamite attitude has led many away from Jesus, selling him for more money, and more materialism. The Truth as it is in Jesus cannot be bartered with.

23:5    Balaam wanted the riches offered by Balak. Now he is being sent to Balak – as he wanted. However he was unable, because God’s words were motivating him, to say things which would give him the riches.  He  got what he wanted, in a manner of speaking, but did not obtain the reward offered.  How often do we pursue our own way rather than reflecting on whether what we are doing is right only to find the dream we were seeking is so elusive that it evades us?

Direct disobedience but God's kindness nonetheless

Notice in Num 22:12 God gives Balaam both a direct commandment and the principle behind it. Yes, it may be brief on this occasion, but it is still there. The brevity perhaps underlines the clarity of God's position:

1) The direct command: You shall not go with them.

2) The reason, or principle: They [Israel] are blessed.

Given that the request of the men was for Balaam to do the exact opposite (1. go, and 2. curse Israel), this should have given Balaam clear and unequivocal reason to refuse their offer. Hence the only reason Balaam could still have gone with the men is through greed, which is the reason given by Jude in Jude 1:11.

What is marvellous here is that God is willing to work with Balaam many times to bring him back onto the right path. This gives us a clear indication of how merciful and kind God really is. Having availed ourselves of His kindness, it is up to us to stay away from the path we have been advised against. Balaam didn't, despite all the warnings from God, including a talking ass and an armed angel, and he eventually died, clutching on to his ill gotten gains, still siding with Moab as Israel fought against them.

Oddly enough, none of this needed to have happened, as Israel had no intention of fighting against Moab (Deut 2:9)

23:19 That God is not like man is seen in the way in which Paul wrote to Timothy – 2Tim 2:13.

23:13  Did Balak think that if Balaam could only see some of Israel that he would have been more willing to curse Israel?

22:6  Balak clearly was aware of what God had said to Abraham because he quotes Gen 12:3 as the reason why he wanted Balaam to curse Israel.

22:21  How do we understand the statement that God has not seeing iniquity in Jacob? Clearly the people had sinned repeatedly in the wilderness in the last 39 years. The only way in which it can be understood is to appreciate that God forgives and forgets – even though the consequences of those sins live on in the lives of those who have sinned.

WHEN WE DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE

It's not as if we are always going to see eye to eye with everybody that crosses our path. Especially fellow believers. Often people are too traditional, too liberal, they don't hold the same understanding as us on topics we think are vital, they hang out with people we don't approve of, or wear clothes that don't fit our picture of what a Christian should wear.

It is so tempting to write them off in our minds and to assume that their Christianity is fake or flawed because of the way they are. I know, because I have done it and will probably do it again.

Listen to the words God spoke through Balaam: "How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom God has not denounced?" (Num 23:8).

We may not share the same views as other people who claim to be brothers and sisters of Christ, but we need to be so careful that we do not curse them in our heart. It may be that they have an understanding or perspective that we can't see, and that God is already blessing them in their life in Christ.

Let's not curse or denounce them in our hearts or we will find ourselves fighting against God. Neither let us ever be found cursing or denouncing God's people with our mouths because in doing so we will teach others to do so with their hearts and mouths. Instead let us bless, do good and pray - even for those with whom we do not see eye to eye.
 

22:23  The last time we saw a drawn sword was in the Garden of Eden – Gen 3:24. On that occasion it was to preserve the way to the tree of life. Now it is being used by the angel to preserve Balaam’s life.

22:1     the geographical comment “this side Jordan” when they were “in the plains of Moab” is one of the small details which teaches that the book of Numbers was written before Israel entered the land of Canaan.

23:26  Notice that Balaam recognises that he can only speak with word that God gives him (as a prophet). Balaam understands that the prophets speak exactly the words that God gives them. This is something that we should clearly understand. The Bible is God’s words - not God’s words modified in some way by man.

22:2-3 We read –  21:2-3 – that Israel had destroyed the Canaanites. This is part of the explanation as to why Balak was afraid. He had seen evidence of what this group coming from the wilderness could do.

22:3 So why was Moab “distressed”? What was it about Israel that caused the distress? In reality it was not that Israel caused the distress by their presence. Moab was distressed because they were fearful that their lives would be affected adversely by the presence of Israel. They were distressed because they were not willing to submit to the ordinances of God.

How often are we distressed if we cannot continue with the things we want to do?

23:5,12,16 If we ever wonder how the scriptures were inspired we need wonder no longer. We are given a clear indication as to what happened. God put the words into the mouth of the prophet. They were the only words that the prophet could speak on the topic they were speaking about. Another example of this is Ezekiel 3:26-27.

23:1-4 So Balaam built altars and got Balak to offer sacrifices and then says to God that he had offered the sacrifices. In so doing and speaking Balaam demonstrated that he did not understand the concept of fellowship – unless he felt that he was in fellowship with Balak who wanted to destroy Israel.

Balaam’s conscience was clouded by the prospect of a gift – Prov 17:23.

v. 1 applies the principle we have just discussed to ourselves. God has control over the things of our lives, we must try to give God control over the way we direct our tongues. After all it is going to be God's will that stands in the end whatever we do or say. Prov. 16:9, 19:21, 20:24, 21:1.

v. 24 The honeycomb is likened to a number of things in Scripture. Psalm 19:10 the Word of God is like an honeycomb Proverbs 5:3 the strange woman is like an honeycomb Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like an honeycomb Song of Solomon 4:11 the bride is like a honeycomb We must make a choice. Do we wish to 'taste' that which leads to death or do we wish to taste those things which belong to truth.

v.5 - This phrase 'though hand join in hand' - repeated from ch.11:21 - seems to suggest something similar to the wheat and the tares - as if the evil is hand in hand with the good and indistinguishable to man. The problem is seems is pride. This gives a lever on what to do. Pride is the opposite to humility. If we concentrate daily on God's power and grace and salvation, we will become very aware of our own position and total reliance on Him, which should, in time, bring about humility and kill our natural pride.

:25 So often men do things which appear to man to be right. Even faithful men and women do such things. This is because the heart deceives us (Jeremiah 17:9). Maybe we are counselled by friends against some action we plan to take but disregard their advice to our own hurt. This verse warns powerfully against just trusting in our own judgement.

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO GOD

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed." (Proverbs 16 v 3)

This sounds like an easy one step method to having a successful life and at the same time doing all the things that we want to do. But as with any agreement, there are always responsibilities for both parties. God has said for his part that if we commit what we do to him, then our plans will succeed. Our part is to commit to the LORD whatever we do. It sounds easy but there is more to it than it seems. For example, if it is our intention to go out and blatantly sin - to rob a bank, for instance - we would find it hard to commit our way to the LORD, to say, "This is for your glory, be pleased with what I am about to do." We know that God will not be pleased and that he will not be glorified in our actions. So when we commit our ways to the LORD, we must make sure that what we are doing will result in what is pleasing to him, it must be something that will bring him glory.

So as we make our plans, let us make sure that our first aim is that God will be glorified and that what we plan will result in our actions honouring God. May he then bless our plans and give them success.

:7 An example in the life of a man of God when his enemy was pacified by the faithful man's words is to be seen [1 Samuel 24:17] when, even though he could have killed Saul, David did not. In so doing his ways would please God's and so Saul's heart was turned towards David.

16:3 In encouraging us to 'commit our ways' to God Solomon echoes the words of his father David Psa 37:5

The subject of pride continues on in this chapter from 15:33 and is mentioned at least five times. humility is, of course, the opposite of pride. Pride is mentioned in verses 2, 5, 16, 18, 32(first half.) Humility appears in verses 3, 6, 17, 19, 32(second half) 

PLEASANT WORDS
 
I made a complaint at work some time ago that we never seem to hear about anything good that happens.  No-one tells us if a customer was happy with our work, if we made money on a job or did particularly good work on a project.  Yet if a customer complains, our work is wrong or we took too long doing it and made no money, then we are sure to hear every detail and have the blame set squarely on our shoulders. 
 
This problem is not unique to my place of work.  I know I often do the same thing with my children - criticising their bad behaviour but forgetting to reward the good.  And I am sure we have all done the same or experienced it ourselves.
 
Criticism doesn't get us very far at all.  It builds resentment in those who receive it, adds to stress levels in both parties, and promotes a negative atmosphere.  It is easier to criticise than to give praise or speak pleasantly, but hard work always pays off.  So let's take some of Solomon's advice and make our words more pleasant.  "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Prov 16:24)  We need to put more healing and sweetness into our conversation instead of criticism and complaint.  Let's start today.

Our existence is part of a vast drama which began at creation. Yahweh, the great playwright and director, is bringing about every successive scene to an inevitable conclusion according to His will.  Man might think that he is in control of his decision-making and destiny, but he cannot deviate from the Yahweh's script. 

Vs. 4,33 remind us of whom is in charge.  Let us make sure that we are in character with the Yahweh's drama so that we might see the end of the play.

Prov 16:1 is a difficult verse to understand.  It probably means that God is in control.  As in Rom 8:28 if we have prayed, and meant, “Lead me Lord”, then what we decide and what we do, are both of the Lord. Psa 37:23 supports this.

16:11  Whilst it is true that God weighs justly men should be just the same – Lev 19:35-36

V.4 This proverb is not saying that God makes man wicked, for He made man upright (Ecc 7:29 , Gen 1:31), but rather that being wicked by his own choice, man comes under laws that can not be changed; as a result he is doomed to the day of evil. If we do not fit into God's master plan on a voluntary basis, then we will be used for that day. 

16:16 The materialistic society in which we life would spurn God’s wisdom in exchange for material prosperity. We run the risk of following them headlong to our own destruction.

16:2 Whilst it is obvious that ‘the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes’ we tend not to think about this truth. Clearly we think hat our decisions are correct – else we would not have made those decisions. However we must always measure our decisions against Scripture. For that is how God reviews our thoughts and actions.

Vs.1,9 are mirrored by the popular saying: Man proposes but God disposes.

v18 Pride often is a subtle thing to us and can go un-noticed but can have devastating consequences. We have two clear examples amongst the others we can see in scripture of Kings and the people of Israel (ex: Hos 5:5,6,15 pride v5 is the root which leads to unrepentance v15, which leads to alienation from God v6), the two examples are Nebuchadnezzar Dan 4:30-33 and Herod Acts 12:21-23, the example of Herod clearly outlines the end for those who do not humble themselves before God.

16:5 Here  we learn that there is no safety in numbers. Just because people agree with each other there is no guarantee that they are right. We should make our minds up on issues based on Scripture and not on the authority of the majority.

V.7 Persecutions are the exception (2Tim 3:12).

V.11 This was a requirement under the Law (Deut 25:15). See also Prov 11:1.

V.15 Reminds us of the favour that Jesus will bestow upon the compliant nations in the Kingdom (Zech 14:17).

V.24 Even in exhortation, or rebuke, gracious words are in order (Col 4:6; 2Tim 2:24,25).

V.31 Older evil people also have hoary heads (grey hair). However, the righteous who have reached old age are a source of spiritual experience. They should be consulted by the young, or inexperienced, and held in esteem (Lev 19:32).

V.33 Yahweh directs the events that occur in the lives of His servants. We should accept our difficulties, challenges, and trials graciously and deal with them prayerfully in faith. For the good things that happen to us, we should praise Our Heavenly father for His bountiful grace.

16:4 It might seem strange that God has made the wicked for the day of evil but Paul uses similar ideas – 1Cor 11:19 - when speaking about heretics.

16:1The ‘preparation of the heart’ is by taking heed to Scripture. That is how it is ‘from the Lord’

1. Prov 16:1,9 - man makes plans, but God determines the outcome of man's plans according to His purpose.

2. Prov 16:2 - man may justify/rationalize his ways but God weighs the motives (NIV 1Cor.4:4 "My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.").

3. Prov 16:4 - everything has its purpose.

4. Prov 16:5 - Pride is an abomination to the Lord, the solidarity/unity/friendships/co-operation of the proud will not protect them (1Cor 4:6-7;8:1 "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" NIV ;Luke 18:9-14).

5. Prov 16:6 - "By mercy and 'truth'<571> iniquity is 'purged'(<3722> can mean "to cover, make an atonement)..." - Hos 6:6;Matt 7:2-5;6:12;John 4:23-24.

6. Prov 16:6 - "...by the 'fear'<3374> of the Lord men depart from evil".

7. Prov 16:7 - (we have an example of this in Jacob and Esau making peace Gen 27:41;33:1-4; a few other relevant scriptures to Prov 16:7 in Gen 39:21;Dan 1:9;Psa 106:46;2Chron 32:7-8).

8. Prov 16:8 - (examples 1Kin 17:10;2Kin 9:30-37).

9. Prov 16:9 - things don't always go as we plan or hope but God has His reasons (sometimes we may perceive a fish to be a stone and the Lord chastens those he loves Rom 8:28;Heb 12:7-12).

10. Prov 16:10 - does this refer to God's superintendence being over kings, and/or is it a reference to Christ when he returns to the earth to pronounce divine judgment?

11. Prov 16:11 - God superintends the highest weights (i.e. kings) to the lowest weights (lowest forms of authority).

12. Prov 16:13 - does this mean kings desire the righteous support of their subjects?

13. Prov 16:14 - tyranical people with power over others are deadly but wisdom will pacify them (Prov 25:15).

14. Prov 16:15 - could this have an application to Christ (Matt 16:28;17:1-2,5;1Kin 18:41-46;Acts 1:9-11).
15. Prov 16:16 - wisdom is better than gold and understanding better than silver (1Kin 3:9-13;Phil 3:4-8).

16. Prov 16:17 - go in the opposite direction from evil (1Thess 5:22).

1. Prov 16:18-19 (Prov 11:2;6:16-17).

2. Prov 16:22 - the understanding from living water (i.e.,God's Word) offers eternal life (John 7:37-38;Eph 5:26).

3. Prov 16:23 - perhaps this suggests that the wise makes speech effective by teaching his mouth to be persuasive - "teacheth"<7919>, "learning"(<3948> according to Brown-Driver-Briggs can mean "persuasiveness").

4. Prov 16:24 - honey was prized by the ancients as a sweet tasting luxury but also on account of its medicinal properties. Pleasant words can encourage and help heal people spiritually  and sometimes naturally in overcoming depression and other ills (1Sam 23:16-17;Acts 8:35-39;Luke 24:27-32).

5. Prov 16:25 (Judg 21:25;Hos 4:6).

6. Prov 16:26 (Matt 5:6;John 6:27) - the faithful believer's appetite for the things of God urges them on.

7. Prov 16:27-30 - the ungodly "diggeth up"(<3738> can mean "to dig, to bore open, or figuratively to plot"), spreads strife, the violent entice their neighbor into mob behavior, those who wink devise perverse things, their words burn, the separate friends, they lead astray (when Christ returns he will address these sinful behaviors 1Cor 15:24-28).

8. Prov 16:32 - winning the Godly battle of self-control (James 1:19-20; Prov 14:17;Joel 2:13).

16:9   God speaks often about the heart as the seat of emotions. The place where decisions are made. The way a man thinks determines how he will behave. It is only the hypocrite who thinks and says one thing but does another.

16:12   We might think that the words here apply to kings and so are not relevant to us. However they are. We are to be “kings and priests” 1Pet 2:9. This life is our training ground. If we are to be kings and priest when Christ returns we must try to behave as kings and priests now. So our decision making should now be governed by righteousness, not by any authority that we might think we have.

God is in control

Verse 4 tells us that God is even in control of those we would count as the most Godless. An example of this is King Nebuchadnezzar, whom God used to punish the nations who had persecuted Israel (see Jer 27:6).

16:25  The inspired comment by the wise man here is seen in the teaching of Jesus  - Matt 12:24

16:7     The way in which the inspired writer here speaks can be seen in Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:38

16:8 The Proverbs speak of things being “better than” on a number of occasions. Here is a list of them Prov 15:16,17, 16:8,16, 17:1, 19:1, 27:10, 28:6. It is worth looking at all of them to see the pattern that the writer, through the Holy Spirit presents.

16:27  The way that lips are likened to a burning fire is seen in the way that James 3:5-6 speaks to us. We certainly know how damaging words can be when spoken roughly and in a damaging way.

16:6 Note that “mercy and truth” resolve problems. We, all too often err on the side of either truth or mercy.

16:1 The Proverbs is not saying that God puts words into the mouth of the faithful. Rather the faithful has God’s words in his mouth because he has learnt them from God’s word.

16:7 whilst this principle is spelt out here we should not think that it was not relevant before the days of Solomon. There is an example – Gen 35:5 – where Jacob was preserved from antagonistic people in the land because of his faithfulness to Yahweh.

Prov 16:24

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

Have you ever noticed how sometimes one person’s presence can change an entire situation for the better or for the worse, whether it encourages or discourages? Our actions and words have a great influence on us and in the lives of those around us, and how we conduct ourselves with others forms a strong theme, actually, a critical principle, throughout the Bible.

How we live and how we communicate reveals who we really are. Our task is to be a blessing to others (Luke 6:28-36). Abraham was blessed because of his obedience and, thus, became a blessing to others by it. It is no different with us. We are to bless, “knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing (1Pet 3:9). It is to be a good steward of the manifold grace of God (1Pet 4:8-11). God has gifted each and every one of us; may we, therefore, use it to glorify Him.

In Eph 4:29,30, it is commanded that, “no corrupt communication proceed out of y/our mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God…” We are to be kind and compassionate/tenderhearted: the qualities of God and Christ. It is inconceivable, yet it happens, that those who identify themselves as children of God would speak so unkindly and even make threats (vv. 31,32)! It is not a fruit of the Spirit, regardless of the circumstances.

If we, who are created in the image and likeness of God, are to be witnesses of God, then let us manifest it in how we conduct ourselves with one another and others. It is by our faithfulness that God is manifested (1John 3:10), and all the ends of the earth shall one day give God the glory and honour for He deserves nothing less (Psa 67; Hab 2:14).

In Psa 150 the word, praise, is used 13 times in six verses! It is the Hebrew word, Halal, the highest form of praise, and from which we get the song, Halleluyah. May we continuously offer to God the fruit of our lips, heart-felt, God-centered, and sincere. It is refreshing and brings healing and strength to our very being (cf. Prov 3:7,8).

Prov 16:23

“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”