Introduction

We are continuing to look at Proverbs 16:1-9, a passage that gives incremental instructions for how to have God-glorifying plans for the future. In verse 1 we saw that we have a responsibility to plan for the future and to commit ourselves to those plans, but we also have a responsibility to make sure that all of are planning has been laid before the Lord, is approved by the Lord, is enabled by the Lord, and is prospered by the Lord. Verse 2 brings up a problem - all of us tend to have inner motives that are not always pure. So verse 2 encourages us to come to the Lord and let Him weigh our inmost motives. Once we have done that, we are in the position to obey the third Proverb, which says, "Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established."

Defining terms

Now, there are translational issues, so let me begin by defining terms. The Hebrew word for "commit" literally means to roll upon. The idea is to not hold our plans with an iron fist, but to roll them away to the Lord, or commit them to the Lord. When you hold your plans with an iron fist, you are not in a position to be submissive to God's fine tuning of your plans.

The Hebrew word for "works" means works, labors, accomplishments, and achievements. This word can refer to planned works (as in Micah 2:1) or performed works (as in Genesis 44:15). So several commentators point out¹ that since the establishment mentioned here is future, and since the context of these nine proverbs is planning, we should take the meaning as planned works.

The Hebrew word for "thoughts" is מַחֲשָׁבָה (machashavah), and is defined by the dictionary as intents, plans, and purposes. So five other translations translate this as "Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established" (NASB, CSB, NLT, NIV, ESV) - not just thoughts, but plans.

And the word "established" means "to cause to turn out well."²

So with definitions out of the way, let's dive in.

The Call to Commit

The first point is that there is a call to commit or to roll onto the Lord our future plans. The Hebrew word for “commit” is גלל (golayl), and is almost always elsewhere translated as “to roll.” This metaphor suggests that we have a burden that we need to roll off of our shoulders. And God is willing to take that burden. It’s a call to surrender our desires and plans to Him. We can do this by acknowledging that He is in control of our lives, and that we are trusting Him with the results of our labors and dominion. We are trusting Him with the plans for our labors. We don't have to bear the weight of planning the future all by ourselves. In fact, we can't bear that weight. Only God knows the future and as we follow the admonitions in the first two proverbs, we are in a much better position to entrust our planning to the Lord. The first part of Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord.” As already mentioned, the idea is that what we are trying to achieve needs to be committed to the Lord.

Committing our work to the Lord involves seeking His will and guidance in all that we do. This requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own desires and plans if need be. It’s a reminder that we are not in control, but God is, and He knows what is best for us.

The Promise of Establishment

The second point is the promise of establishment. The second part of Proverbs 16:3 in the literal Hebrew says, “and your plans will be established.” This is a promise from God that when we commit our plans to Him, He will guide and direct our steps. It doesn’t mean that everything we plan will come to fruition exactly as we envisioned it. Rather, it means that God will make our plans successful according to His will - and even better than what we had planned.

Here's how Bruce Waltke summarizes this whole proverb:

This proverb draws the inference of the preceding two proverbs. Since the LORD assumes ownership of the disciple’s initiatives (v. 1) and he alone can evaluate the purity of the motives behind them (v. 2), the disciple should commit his planned deeds to the LORD (3a) to establish them permanently as part of his history that outlasts the wicked’s temporary triumphs (3b).³

So as we come to the Lord's Table, entrust your plans for the future to God, tell Him that He has the right to change them, and believe that the Lord loves to bless our planning and hard work with success. Let's pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today, acknowledging Your sovereignty over our lives. We commit our work and plans to You, trusting in Your goodness and wisdom. Guide us in all that we do, and establish our plans according to Your will. Help us to trust in You and seek Your guidance in every decision. May our lives be a reflection of Your glory and love. In Jesus’ name, we pray this. Amen.