The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord (Prov. 16:1).
The Hebrew word for "plans" should better be translated preparations. Man has an intellect and thinks and ponders on issues. But the final "utterance" that comes forth from the tongue is a sovereign directive from the Lord. Lawson adds: "God fashions the hearts of men, and makes their tongues to speak what He please. … Caiaphas was made to speak a noble truth when he designed only to suggest a politic counsel; and Pilate had not power to pronounce the condemning sentence against our Lord till it was given him from above."
Unger adds: "Whatever man intends, that which actually takes place is God's decision. 'From thee is the arrow but from God the guidance.'"
The Hebrew word for "plans" should better be translated preparations. Man has an intellect and thinks and ponders on issues. But the final "utterance" that comes forth from the tongue is a sovereign directive from the Lord. Lawson adds: "God fashions the hearts of men, and makes their tongues to speak what He please. … Caiaphas was made to speak a noble truth when he designed only to suggest a politic counsel; and Pilate had not power to pronounce the condemning sentence against our Lord till it was given him from above."
Unger adds: "Whatever man intends, that which actually takes place is God's decision. 'From thee is the arrow but from God the guidance.'"
