Proverbs 20:17-30: a reflection

17Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel. 18Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war! 19He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips. 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. 21An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end. 22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you. 23The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing. 24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? 25It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows. 26A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them. 27The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts. 28Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love. 29The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair. 30Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.

Among these proverbs is a humbling truth about the limits of our understanding of our own way: a man's steps are from the LORD; how then can a man understand his way? A man's steps are from the LORD, the proverb says; how then can man understand his way? Our steps are directed by God, guided by a providence beyond our full grasp; and so, the proverb observes, we cannot fully understand our own way, cannot see the whole of where our steps are leading or comprehend all that God is doing in them. Our way is finally in God's hands and beyond our complete understanding. This calls us to walk in trust rather than in the illusion that we fully understand our own path. This shows that our steps are directed by God, beyond our full understanding, calling us to trust. Our steps are directed by God, beyond our full understanding. We cannot fully comprehend our own way; it is in God's hands. Walk in trust, not in the illusion of full understanding. Our path is finally directed by God's providence.

Notice the humbling truth this proverb states. Our steps, it says, are from the LORD; our path is directed by God, guided by a providence at work beyond our sight. And the conclusion it draws is humbling: how then can a man understand his way? If our steps are in God's hands, directed by a wisdom and providence far beyond ours, then we cannot fully understand our own way; we cannot see the whole of where we are being led, cannot comprehend all that God is doing in the twists and turns of our path. This corrects a common illusion. We often imagine that we understand our own way, that we see where we are going and why, that our path is under our own comprehension and control. But the truth is humbler: our steps are directed by God, and his purposes in them are often beyond our understanding. This does not leave us anxious, but calls us to trust. Since our way is finally in God's hands and directed by his providence, we can walk in trust, even when we do not understand where our steps are leading or why. We do not need to fully understand our own way; we can trust the God who directs our steps, walking in trust rather than in the illusion of full comprehension. Trust the God who directs your steps, even when you don't understand your way. We cannot fully comprehend our own path; it is in God's hands. Walk in trust, not in the illusion that we fully understand. Our steps are directed by God's providence; rest in that.

That is worth resting in, for our steps are directed by God, beyond our full understanding, so that we can walk in trust rather than in the illusion of fully comprehending our own way. We can imagine we understand our own path, seeing where we are going and why; but the proverb humbles this, observing that since our steps are from the LORD, we cannot fully understand our own way. Our way is in God's hands. When you do not understand where your steps are leading, trust the God who directs them, rather than needing to comprehend it all. Rest in the truth that our steps are directed by God, beyond our full understanding, so that we can walk in trust rather than in the illusion of fully comprehending our own way, as the proverb states the humbling truth that a man's steps are from the LORD, so how then can a man understand his way; for our steps are directed by God, guided by a providence at work beyond our sight, and the conclusion is humbling, that if our steps are in God's hands, directed by a wisdom and providence far beyond ours, then we cannot fully understand our own way, cannot see the whole of where we are being led or comprehend all that God is doing in the twists and turns of our path, which corrects a common illusion, since we often imagine that we understand our own way and that our path is under our own comprehension and control, but the truth is humbler, that our steps are directed by God and his purposes in them are often beyond our understanding, which does not leave us anxious but calls us to trust, since our way is finally in God's hands and directed by his providence, so that we can walk in trust even when we do not understand where our steps are leading, not needing to fully comprehend our own way but trusting the God who directs our steps.

Lord, among these proverbs is a humbling truth about the limits of my understanding of my own way: a man's steps are from the LORD; how then can a man understand his way? Our steps are directed by you, guided by a providence beyond my full grasp; and so, the proverb observes, I cannot fully understand my own way, cannot see the whole of where my steps are leading or comprehend all that you are doing in them. My way is finally in your hands and beyond my complete understanding. This calls me to walk in trust rather than in the illusion that I fully understand my own path. Show me the humbling truth this proverb states. My steps are from you; my path is directed by you, guided by a providence at work beyond my sight. And the conclusion is humbling: how then can I understand my way? If my steps are in your hands, directed by a wisdom and providence far beyond mine, then I cannot fully understand my own way; I cannot see the whole of where I am being led, cannot comprehend all that you are doing in the twists and turns of my path. This corrects a common illusion. I often imagine that I understand my own way, that I see where I am going and why. But the truth is humbler: my steps are directed by you, and your purposes in them are often beyond my understanding. This does not leave me anxious, but calls me to trust. Since my way is finally in your hands, I can walk in trust, even when I do not understand where my steps are leading. Take that to my heart, for my steps are directed by you, beyond my full understanding, so that I can walk in trust. When I do not understand where my steps are leading, help me trust you, Lord, who direct them, rather than needing to comprehend it all, walking in trust rather than in the illusion that I fully understand my own way.