What does this proverb tell us in regards to the tension between the doctrines of a Sovereign God and human beings having "fee will"?
Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Anonymous
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The LORD Jehovah is sovereign over men's hearts, even kings' hearts. As easily as He directs rivers back and forth as they rush to the sea, so He turns the hearts of kings any direction He desires to accomplish His holy purposes. "O bless our God, ye people!"
With this knowledge in mind, we pray confidently for kings and all in authority, knowing He can and does direct their hearts and decisions (I Tim 2:1-2; Jer 29:4-7). Nehemiah did not hesitate to pray in the presence of the King of Persia for great mercy (Neh 2:1-6).
With this knowledge in mind, we submit to their laws, knowing they and their decisions are orchestrated by the LORD for His glory and our benefit (Rom 13:1-7; Isaiah 49:23).
With this knowledge in mind, we easily understand He is sovereign over lesser men and simple circumstances, so we trust Him completely and wait for His mercy (16:9; Ruth 2:3; James 4:13-15). See the comments on 16:33.
When the Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD and ten nations rose from its ruins (Dan 7:24; Rev 17:12-13), God put in their hearts to fulfill His will and give their kingdoms in support of the Popes and the revived form of that empire (Rev 17:17). It did not matter for what selfish or fearful purposes they supported papal ambitions, they did it because God put the idea in their hearts. And when it had served His grand purpose, He changed their hearts again (Rev 17:16). And Babylon fell, as prophesied by the same LORD!
Such sovereign rule over kings' hearts was nothing new, for He had done it from the beginning. He hardened Pharaoh's heart in order to get glory over him and Egypt (Ex 4:21; 14:4,17). Why else would a man take his chariot down into the Red Sea after ten plagues in the land of Egypt! What a fool! Be not highminded, but fear!
He hardened the heart of Sihon, king of the Amorites, to destroy him in battle (Deut 2:30). He hardened David's heart to number Israel by turning him over to Satan for a season (II Sam 24:1; I Chr 21:1). He exposed Hezekiah's heart by leaving it to its own pride (II Chr 32:31). He played with Ahab by lying to him with His own prophet and then sending a lying spirit to his prophets (I King 22:15,22). And the King of Assyria was no more than an axe or saw in the LORD's hand, though he knew it not (Is 10:5-15).
Our great God removed the lusts of kings for the land of Israel three times a year, when all the men attended the three annual feasts (Ex 34:24). But he also hardened the hearts of those same kings to be destroyed in battle against Israel (Josh 11:20). He gave a new heart to Saul and great largeness of heart to Solomon to prepare them to be kings (I Sam 10:9; I Kings 4:29). But He gave Nebuchadnezzar a beast's heart for seven years to humble him, and He did not even ask the poor king's permission to do it (Dan 4:16-17)!
Whether Adolph Hitler, President Obama, or Saddam Hussein, it does not matter - the LORD controls their hearts. We can pray for them. If under their rule, we can submit to their laws (unless against God's laws). And we can rest in our Heavenly Father's loving but mighty arms. For they cannot touch us without His permission (Ps 105:14-15).
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There are several problems with this interpretation. First, there is nothing that necessitates us universalizing this simple passage. The passage speaks of the king’s heart and should be understood in that context (in fact, this specific verse was most likely written by King Solomon concerning himself). The passage also does not tell us that the Lord controls the king’s heart irresistibly, which is really what the Calvinist needs the text to say in order to support exhaustive determinism. Indeed, the context would lead us to a different conclusion, a conclusion that would see the Lord’s control as resistible and the result of the king’s free surrender of his will to the will of God.
(this quote should help, it does focus on Calvinism but the point is the same.)
Teller Of Truths
Jehovah’s causing Artaxerxes to do His will by granting Nehemiah’s request to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem historically illustrates Proverbs 21:1: “A king’s heart is as streams of water in the hand of Jehovah. Everywhere that he delights to, he turns it.”—Ne 2:4-8.
As with the scripture any doctrine or command can be used as an example that God gives to magnify his purpose for Pure worship and Gods loving authority over mankind. If the faith in God is strong and unmovable then no tension is involved. God is loving and everything he does is for his purposes.
Monica V
According to Jeremiah 19:3, the following passage is addressed to the "kings of Judah":
Jeremiah 19:5
5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
Therefore, what we learn from the combination of these passages is that whatever conclusion Calvinists draw is most certainly not the correct one.
Do you know who the King was in Proverbs 21:1? Do you think that passage could have been written when his son was King?
Following the antecedent rules that the modern "scholars" impose in Psalm 12:6-7, the "he" in Pro. 21:1 could be referring to the King, not the Lord.
Finally, a lone passage in Proverbs 21 taken out of context of the rest of the Bible does not over-ride the "whosoever" application of New Testament Gentile Salvation as laid out in Romans 10 (mosts Calvinists never make it out of ch. 9).
I thinks it's odd and even demonic that Calvinists tend to take any decisiveness on God's part, anywhere in the Bible concerning any issue, and interpret that to mean that the T.U.L.I.P. must override all the clear and plain scripture God gave us concerning how Gentile Salvation in the church age actually DOES work.
There's no tension at all as far as the Bible is concerned. I've read my Bible enough to know that Calvinism to any degree is just another one of the pagan philosophies of Colossians 2:8. It's precepts originated from paganism (Menachianism) and result in pagan panentheism.
God's sovereignty is infinitely higher than the Calvinist model depicts. The Calvinist "doctrines of sovereignty" are disrespectful to God and his words. There is no tension raised by this issue for anyone who has basic familiarity with scripture.
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This proverb alludes to the Eastern method of watering the land. Many canals are dug from one stream, and by opening a particular sluice the cultivator can direct a stream to whatever part he pleases. So Jehovah God can direct the thoughts of a king in harmony with his will and order.
Here, too, is shown that Jehovah rules the spirit of man in that he has access to his innermost thoughts and feelings. A power that human monarchs cannot claim.
God makes use of circumstances in such a way that the wicked themselves unwittingly serve his purpose. Though they oppose God, he can restrain them to the extent necessary for the preserving of his servants in their integrity, and can cause the actions even of such persons to bring his righteousness to the fore.