Audio Download

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” Part 3

(Pro 21:11-15)

[Study Aired November 20, 2025]

Pro 21:11  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Pro 21:12  The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Pro 21:14  A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Pro 21:15  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

In this study we’ll learn once again how “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will”, and how blessed we are to be judged in this age as God’s goodness leads us unto repentance and brings us to clearly see that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6), and that He alone can cleanse us from our Adamic reasonings that lead to death (Psa 51:7-12, Rom 2:4-7, Isa 66:2). It is Christ’s righteousness and God’s mercy and goodness that we are, Lord willing, laying hold of because our hearts are “in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water”.

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Psa 51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Pro 21:11  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

When we discover that we are this scorner who needs to be punished, by God’s grace we will learn that the only thing that can change this wickedness within us is His judgement (Pro 16:4), which in turn will make the simple wise through the instruction and knowledge we receive via his chastening (Tit 2:11-12).

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

We don’t learn without going through painful experiences in this life, and we all naturally scorn judgement, and devour iniquity until we don’t (Pro 19:28-29).

Pro 19:28  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Pro 19:29  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

God knows exactly how to break our scornful spirits via judgement so that we cry out to him and receive the much needed forgiveness and mercy that are abundantly His to give (Isa 55:7).

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The end result of receiving those stripes is wisdom and a healed heart and mind that will be made ready to walk with Christ in that blessed and holy first resurrection, with His mercy that will be extended to all men, mercy that we have intimately become aware of via our heavenly Father (Rom 5:10) in this age (Psa 119:97-104, Mal 2:5-7).

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Mal 2:5  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
Mal 2:6  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Mal 2:7  For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Pro 21:12  The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

If we haven’t examined ourselves and go about judging others we are likened unto the blind leading the blind (Luk 6:39-45). However, if God is working with us in this age we are going to apply this verse first and foremost to ourselves, “The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness”, and in doing so we will be able to mercifully help others in the body by delivering them from sin via the wisdom and mind of Christ that teaches us that we are the chief of sinners (2Ti 2:15, 1Ti 4:16, Jas 5:19-20, Rom 1:16).

Luk 6:39  And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? (Joh 9:41)
Luk 6:40  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luk 6:41  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:42  Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
Luk 6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (ultimately Lord willing the innumerable multitude Rev 7:9).

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

This proverb reminds us that we are to be pitiful (Jas 5:11-12, Mat 5:37, 1Pe 3:8) toward each other seeing we are all “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” from God’s perspective until were not (Rev 3:17). We have each been commissioned in this life to be in the process of overcoming that spiritual poverty (Rev 3:18-22), again by God’s grace that teaches us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust. If we don’t extend that same mercy and forgiveness to others, by not hearing the cry of the poor,(Mat 24:48-50) God will created circumstances in our life where we feel like He is not hearing us (Mat 6:15). This is a most grievous trial, and yet we know that God will not leave the elect with that feeling of being forsaken indefinitely. Christ identifies even with this feeling of abandonment (of the flesh), and knows how to restore us through God’s spirit (Psa 23:3, Mat 27:46).

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Jas 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [Heb 12:6]

Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard”)

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?[1Jn 4:17]

Pro 21:14  A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

The gift we receive in secret is the life of Christ that is hidden from the world (Psa 27:5, Col 3:3). With God’s spirit within us we are able to pacify anger, and overcome strong wrath that cannot overtake the person who is “leaning on Jesus’ bosom” (Joh 13:23). John’s leaning on Christ bosom represents our setting our affections on things above, and not on things of the earth.

H5643  ‘Secret’  say’-ther, sith-raw’
Strong’s: From H5641; a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense): – backbiting, covering, covert, X disguise [-th], hiding place, privily, protection, secret (-ly, place).
BDB: 1) covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy (noun masculine)
1a) covering, cover
1b) hiding place, shelter, secret place
1c) secrecy
c1) secrecy (of tongue being slanderous)
2) shelter, protection (noun feminine)

Psa 27:5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secretH5643 of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Joh 13:23  Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Pro 21:15  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Every child who is judged of his parents, experiences this joy of being corrected, and the joy does not come upon us without first having to feel the grievousness that comes with correction (Heb 12:6-15). This is how God destroys the iniquity or self-righteousness in us, by bringing us to cease from being “workers of iniquity”.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  

I’ll end this study off reminding us of God’s great mercy that will endure forever as He takes us through those turbulent waters where His hand is guiding us just as carefully as when the waters are still and we are resting in Him (Psa 107:1-31)

Psa 107:1  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
Psa 107:4  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 107:10  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:16  For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Psa 107:17  Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Psa 107:18  Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Psa 107:19  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!