Proverbs 16:3

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. COMMIT THY WORKS UNTO THE LORD ( ; : LITERALLY, ROLL AS A BURDEN DEVOLVED UPON ONE STRONGER THAN THYSELF: HEBREW, GOL), AND THY THOUGHTS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED. Many have no sense of the Burden of sin. They are so immersed in worldly things as to make no efforts at all as to eternal things. This proverb glances at both. Not the idle, but the worker - i:e., the diligent user of means is blessed. Others again, conscious of the difficulty, think to effect all by their own "works." The true way is, "Work, out your own salvation with fear and trembling." But remember at the same time, "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good good pleasure" ...

Verse Proverbs 16:3. _COMMIT THY WORKS UNTO THE LORD_] See that what thou doest is commanded; and then begin, continue, and end all in his name. _And thy thoughts shall be established_ - these schemes or arrangements, though formed in the heart, are agreeable to the Divine will, and therefore shall be established. His _thoughts_ - his meditations - are right; and he begins and ends his work in the Lord; and therefore all issues well....

COMMIT - literally, as in the margin, as a man transfers a burden from his own back to one stronger and better able to bear it. Compare the margin reference. THY THOUGHTS - i. e., The plans or counsels out of which the works spring....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 16:1 These are specially religions maxims, and they all contain the name Jehovah. PROVERBS 16:1 The Authorized Version makes one sentence of this verse without any contrast or antithesis. This is plainly wrong, there being intended a contrast between the thought of the heart and the well ordered speech. It is better translated, _The plans of the heart are man_'_s_:_ but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. _Men make plans, arrange speeches, muster arguments, in the mind; but to put these into proper, persuasive words is a gift of God. "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). In the case of

COMMIT THY WORKS UNTO THE LORD,.... Natural, civil, or religious; seek to him for strength and assistance in all, and leave the success of all with him: or "roll thy works on" or "unto the Lord" b; devolve all upon him, cast all care upon him and his providence for supply, support, and sustenance in life; and commit the business of the salvation of thy soul, and the important affairs of it, wholly to him, who is able, willing, and faithful, to keep what is committed to him; and, having so done, may sit down easy and satisfied, as one that is rid of a burden by casting it on another, better able to bear it, or more equal to the work committed to him: the Targum is, "reveal thy works to God"; and so the Syriac and Vulgate Latin versions, "reveal thy works to the Lord"; thy case, condition, and circumstances; thy wants and necessities; seek and ask for a supply of him, make known thy reques...

CHAPTER 16 IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD The name Jehovah (LORD) appears eleven times in this chapter of Proverbs. The Lord has the final word, for to man belong the preparations (or plans) of the heart; but from the LORD is the answer of the tongue. It is the same thought as in our English proverb--“Man proposes--God disposes.” Man loves to justify himself, his ways are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits; He is the judge of ways and motives. Our works are to be committed (literal: rolled upon) unto the LORD, then establishment and blessing will follow. It is strange that these three verses were omitted in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament. The LORD hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil Proverbs 16:4. Much error has been taught in connection with this verse. Some have taught that God made some wicked. It is not said

PROVERBS 16. The special feature is a group of aphorisms (Proverbs 16:10) relating to kings. The sentiments seem rather to reflect the picture of the ideal king than to indicate any particular period. The metaphors employed and the character depicted suggest a parallel with the ideal king of Psalms 72. PROVERBS 16:4. The lit. rendering of Proverbs 16:4 a is Yahweh has made every work for its answer_ i.e._ the nexus of cause and effect seen in the moral government of the world is His work, a kind of prearranged harmony. The supreme instance is the case of the wicked, their answer is the day of evil. We have an assertion of the righteousness of Yahweh's government rather than of their predestinati

THOUGHTS. plans. Compare Proverbs 16:1. SHALL BE ESTABLISHED. Illustrations: Jacob (Genesis 32:24; Genesis 46:1); Ruth (Ruth 2:12); David (1 Samuel 17:45; 1 Samuel 30:8; 2 Samuel 5:19); Ezra (Ezra 8:21; Ezra 8:3

_Commit … unto_ Lit. ROLL … UPON. Comp. Psalms 22:8 [Hebrews 9], Psalms 37:5, and notes there in this Series. _thoughts_ or, _purposes_, R.V. marg. The precept is germane to that in Proverbs 16:1. Commit to Jehovah the execution in works (as in Proverbs 16:1, the explanation in words) of thy plans and purposes, and they shall prosper. In each of the seven opening proverbs of this chapter the name Jehovah is introduced, and in each of them _His_work is made prominent....

DISCOURSE: 792 TRUSTING IN GOD Proverbs 16:3. _Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established_. WE all believe in the existence of a Supreme Being, and in a general way acknowledge his agency in the government of the world: but his particular care of us individually we find it extremely difficult to imagine. This, however, is most clearly revealed in the Holy Scriptures; and our duty is so to realize it, as, under all circumstances of trial and of difficulty, to look to him for his gracious interposition, and to expect from his hands whatever shall most conduce to our real benefit. In the words before us we see, I. A state supposed— [It is here supposed that we may be in a state of great perplexity, so as not to know what to do for the best. This is often the case with nations, especially when menaced by a potent enemy [Note:...