#proverbs 16:33

by Charles Simeon

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh." - Proverbs 16:33

Though we would not be unnecessarily fastidious in condemning the use of any particular term where we knew that in its popular sense it was not very exceptionable, yet we cannot altogether approve the use of such terms as "luck" and "chance" and "fortune." Even though persons who adopt these kind of expressions do not intend to deny the doctrine of a superintending Divine providence, yet we cannot but think that such language tends exceedingly to weaken a sense of God's Providence upon the soul. It excludes his agency from the affairs of men and regards them as left to mere and absolute contingency. But with the Scriptures in our hands, we are perfectly assured that all things, however casual or contingent with respect to man, are under the control of a Superintending Providence; or, as it is said in our text, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh."

In confirmation of this truth we shall show, first, that God is the disposer of all events, and second, that he is constantly to be regarded by us in this character.

All events, whatever kind they may be, are equally under the direction of Almighty God. He disposes of the things which are most dependent on human agency, such as the government of kingdoms. Although the powers of the human mind are called forth and concentrated in governmental administration, yet the commencement and continuance of any kingdom is altogether under the direction of a superior power. Also, the success of all human plans--whether relating to military enterprises, commercial speculations, agricultural pursuits, or matters of inferior moment and of daily occurrence--depends entirely on God. It was God who directed the arrow to Ahab's heart, though it was drawn at random. It was God who directed the stone out of David's sling to Goliath's forehead. In a word, God "works all things after the counsel of his own will," and "his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure."

All events independent of human agency are under the direction of Almighty God. Nothing has less dependence on human skill or foresight than a lot. In respect to the outcome of such a random drawing, an utterly foolish man is on a par with the wisest man in the universe. But the outcome is entirely at God's disposal, as all who acknowledge the existence of a Deity have confessed by resorting to it on emergencies. The Apostles had recourse to it when they determined who would be the successor of Judas. The heathen sailors had recourse to it, after which Jonah was found to be the cause of their danger.

But in the event these instances are thought to be merely casual, since the chances against each were not very great, we will adduce one which marks beyond all possibility of doubt the Divine interposition. In the language of chances, it was above a million to one that the lot would fall on the very person to whom God infallibly directed it. We speak here of Achan, the man who had troubled the camp of Israel. The lot fell first on the right tribe, then on the right family of that tribe, then on the right household, and lastly on the right individual in that household.

Our second point is that God should always be regarded as the disposer of every event. We should trace his hand in everything that is past. Have we been loaded with benefits? They must be received as from Him, "from whom comes every good and perfect gift." It does not matter whether our blessings came by inheritance or were the fruit of our own industry. To God, and to God alone, must they be acknowledged as their proper source. Have we, on the other hand, been visited with afflictions? We should know that they did not just spring up from the ground but proceeded from his gracious hand.

We should trace God's hand in everything that is future. If nothing can occur without his special appointment, how safely may we commit to him our every concern, and how confidently may we expect a happy issue of every occurrence! Can we do better than leave ourselves at his disposal? Were it possible that he should err, or that having devised anything he should be unable to accomplish it, or that having begun to accomplish it he should change his purpose and alter his dispensations, we might then not feel so well satisfied with having everything subject to his disposal. But when infinite wisdom and goodness concur to direct all our concerns, and infinite power also engages to overrule everything for our good, we may well dismiss every fear, saying with the Apostle, "I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him." We may be as composed as Hezekiah when surrounded by Sennacherib's army, or as Elisha when surrounded by the army of the king of Syria.

Hence, let us see the excellence of faith. This is the principle which beyond any other honors and glorifies God. By faith we are prepared to receive everything as from him, and to say, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." Mere reason, though it may acknowledge these truths, can never enable us to realize them. But "by faith we see Him who is invisible," and learn to acknowledge him as much "in the falling of a sparrow" as in the ruin of an empire.

by Joel Baker

"If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." - Exodus 33:15

The life of man is one continued journey from the cradle to the grave. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they traveled three months and came to Mount Sinai in the wilderness, where they encamped many days to receive instruction from the Lord by the hand of Moses. Here they provoked God to destroy many of them, by making and worshiping the golden calf. At this time Moses was greatly distressed for the people, and as their leader he sensibly felt his need of the divine presence. Accordingly he was disposed to make earnest supplication to God for his blessing and direction. Though Moses and the Israelites were now in a waste, howling wilderness bound for Canaan, of which land many good things had been said to increase their desire for it, yet it seems Moses chose to live and die with God in that wilderness rather than go up to the good land without God's gracious presence. "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence."

The plain, important proposition from the text is this: God's gracious presence is desirable and necessary to direct and prosper us in the journey of life.

A man left to his own direction in this changing world would be like a ship in a storm without helm or compass. "O Yahweh, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23). "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh" (Prov. 16:33). With all our activity and resolution to carry on and accomplish our worldly schemes, we are wholly dependent on the blessing of God to enable us to bring them to pass: "Without me," says the Savior, "you can do nothing" (John 15:5). This is true in temporal as well as in spiritual concerns. We can never expect to prosper when God does not smile upon our undertakings.

We need the divine presence to support and comfort us under the trials of life. Go where we will and follow whatever employment we have in life, we will be attended by crosses and disappointments. But the gracious presence of God is an unfailing support under all the necessary evils of life. It will serve to smooth the rugged path of life and to fortify the mind against approaching evils. When God engages for a people, they have nothing to fear. Under his direction they may engage in the most weighty concerns and be enabled to accomplish the most difficult undertakings.

The principal and most effectual means of obtaining the divine presence is earnest and humble prayer. When God is about to bestow favors, he will first be sought by his people in order to do it for them. The wisdom and goodness of God are wonderfully manifested by giving such things as we need in answer to prayer. And though God perfectly knows all our wants and has determined beforehand what mercies to grant, yet he has also determined to make us sensible of our need of mercy and humbly to ask for it before he bestows it upon us.

by Charles Simeon

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh." - Proverbs 16:33

Though we would not be unnecessarily fastidious in condemning the use of any particular term where we knew that in its popular sense it was not very exceptionable, yet we cannot altogether approve the use of such terms as "luck" and "chance" and "fortune." Even though persons who adopt these kind of expressions do not intend to deny the doctrine of a superintending Divine providence, yet we cannot but think that such language tends exceedingly to weaken a sense of God's Providence upon the soul. It excludes his agency from the affairs of men and regards them as left to mere and absolute contingency. But with the Scriptures in our hands, we are perfectly assured that all things, however casual or contingent with respect to man, are under the control of a Superintending Providence; or, as it is said in our text, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh."

In confirmation of this truth we shall show, first, that God is the disposer of all events, and second, that he is constantly to be regarded by us in this character.

All events, whatever kind they may be, are equally under the direction of Almighty God. He disposes of the things which are most dependent on human agency, such as the government of kingdoms. Although the powers of the human mind are called forth and concentrated in governmental administration, yet the commencement and continuance of any kingdom is altogether under the direction of a superior power. Also, the success of all human plans--whether relating to military enterprises, commercial speculations, agricultural pursuits, or matters of inferior moment and of daily occurrence--depends entirely on God. It was God who directed the arrow to Ahab's heart, though it was drawn at random. It was God who directed the stone out of David's sling to Goliath's forehead. In a word, God "works all things after the counsel of his own will," and "his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure."

All events independent of human agency are under the direction of Almighty God. Nothing has less dependence on human skill or foresight than a lot. In respect to the outcome of such a random drawing, an utterly foolish man is on a par with the wisest man in the universe. But the outcome is entirely at God's disposal, as all who acknowledge the existence of a Deity have confessed by resorting to it on emergencies. The Apostles had recourse to it when they determined who would be the successor of Judas. The heathen sailors had recourse to it, after which Jonah was found to be the cause of their danger.

But in the event these instances are thought to be merely casual, since the chances against each were not very great, we will adduce one which marks beyond all possibility of doubt the Divine interposition. In the language of chances, it was above a million to one that the lot would fall on the very person to whom God infallibly directed it. We speak here of Achan, the man who had troubled the camp of Israel. The lot fell first on the right tribe, then on the right family of that tribe, then on the right household, and lastly on the right individual in that household.

Our second point is that God should always be regarded as the disposer of every event. We should trace his hand in everything that is past. Have we been loaded with benefits? They must be received as from Him, "from whom comes every good and perfect gift." It does not matter whether our blessings came by inheritance or were the fruit of our own industry. To God, and to God alone, must they be acknowledged as their proper source. Have we, on the other hand, been visited with afflictions? We should know that they did not just spring up from the ground but proceeded from his gracious hand.

We should trace God's hand in everything that is future. If nothing can occur without his special appointment, how safely may we commit to him our every concern, and how confidently may we expect a happy issue of every occurrence! Can we do better than leave ourselves at his disposal? Were it possible that he should err, or that having devised anything he should be unable to accomplish it, or that having begun to accomplish it he should change his purpose and alter his dispensations, we might then not feel so well satisfied with having everything subject to his disposal. But when infinite wisdom and goodness concur to direct all our concerns, and infinite power also engages to overrule everything for our good, we may well dismiss every fear, saying with the Apostle, "I know whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him." We may be as composed as Hezekiah when surrounded by Sennacherib's army, or as Elisha when surrounded by the army of the king of Syria.

Hence, let us see the excellence of faith. This is the principle which beyond any other honors and glorifies God. By faith we are prepared to receive everything as from him, and to say, "It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him." Mere reason, though it may acknowledge these truths, can never enable us to realize them. But "by faith we see Him who is invisible," and learn to acknowledge him as much "in the falling of a sparrow" as in the ruin of an empire.