The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. 

When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. 

Ears that hear and eyes that see— the Lord has made them both. 

A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?

Discernment and insight are highly sought after traits. Those who have these skills tend to rise to the top of leadership in companies and in world power.  This is also true spiritually, with spiritual discernment and insight.

Search engines track your moves through “cookies” to gain insight on your shopping and browsing patterns. Apps like Prime and Peacock record the types of movies people watch and customize search recommendations using “digital discernment”.

I even found out about a lead generation database that gives phone numbers and emails of company decision-makers, for a price.  They have a tool called “Insight” they charge quite a bit of money for … it tells you who has been searching online for the services you offer.

We live in a world that highly values discernment and insight. But these tools do not discern the souls and hearts of people, they just discern their preferences or habits. Discernment or insight is therefore “dumbed-down” from its original definition.

What the writer of Proverbs 20 is talking about is deeper things. Discerning good and evil in the hearts of men. Listening deeper than words. Seeing past the surface into the soul and motives behind the action. This type of deeper discernment or insight is only attained through a personal relationship with God. He gives us “highly valued, dumb sheep” insight supernaturally, by his Spirit alive within us.

When we take ourselves off of the throne of our lives and place God there permanently — in all areas — his Spirit indwells our hearts. We begin to hear his call or mission for our life. We hear his calls to care for and provide for others. We see needs perceptively that others (who are apart from God) cannot see, because they are selfish, with self on the throne of their lives.

I love this final verse, it really is a sharp rebuke to selfish living, and a good reminder for me to keep God on the throne: “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?” Truly, God sees and knows all, throughout time and space. I am his humble servant.

Lord, I trust you completely. And when my circumstances are challenging and shaky, I will fortify my resolve to trust you all the more. YOU REIGN SUPREME! You are the King of Kings. Teach me to be patient to watch your plans take hold. To look for the joy in the moments, and listen for the sweet music of Heaven, which plays each day!