Proverbs 16:1
Proverbs 16:1-3 (see also Proverbs 24:12; Revelation 2:23)
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. [KJV]
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. [KJV]
One member of The Society of Evangelical Arminians comments: “The opposite is also true: Do not commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will not be established.” (SEA)
Another member of The Society of Evangelical Arminians comments: “When it comes to the answer of the tongue, this is not different from Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would help the disciples with what to say when they are arrested, and implies a broader set of circumstances under which the Spirit would help men with what they say. Ditto for a man’s steps, where the man decides or realizes where he needs to go, but needs God to help him get there. Contrast with Thomas saying to Jesus ‘How do we know the way?’ In both cases, God says, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’” (SEA)
This seems to be a very clear explanation, though Calvinists see Determinism:
John Calvin writes: “Whatever things are done wrongly and unjustly by man, these very things are the right and just works of God. This may seem paradoxical at first sight to some....” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.169, emphasis mine)
Calvin writes: “But where it is a matter of men’s counsels, wills, endeavours, and exertions, there is greater difficulty in seeing how the providence of God rules here too, so that nothing happens but by His assent and that men can deliberately do nothing unless He inspire it.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, pp.171-172, emphasis mine)
Calvin writes: “Indeed, the ungodly pride themselves on being competent to effect their wishes. But the facts show in the end that by them, unconsciously and unwillingly, what was divinely ordained is implemented.” (Concerning the Eternal Predestination of God, p.173, emphasis mine)
Calvinist, James White, responds: “...since God judges on the basis of the intentions of the heart, there is in fact a ground for morality and justice.” (Debating Calvinism, p.320, emphasis mine)
Dave Hunt responds: “Yes, God judges ‘the intentions of the heart,’ but Calvinism falsely says that He causes the intentions He judges.” (Debating Calvinism, p.327, emphasis mine)
Dave Hunt writes: “...‘the LORD pondereth the hearts’--a meaningless statement if God decrees every thought, word, and deed. What would He ponder?” (Debating Calvinism, p.129, emphasis mine)
Proverbs 24:12: “If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?”
Revelation 2:23: “I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”
The problem with Deterministic Calvinism, which presupposes an all-encompassing decree, in which all things unfold according to a script, is that it leaves nothing for God to “search” and “weigh.” What would God be weighing? Would He be searching for what He predestined? How would that make sense?
