Proverbs 16.4
“The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
Proverbs wants us to know that God is sovereign, and he is purposeful. He works everything to his purpose. If that is true, what about wicked people? How do they serve God’s purposes? Proverbs tells us here that the Lord’s sovereignty extends even to the really bad people.
God works things out so that in the end the wicked answer for their wickedness. They eventually reap what they sow. The purpose that is served is the display of God’s righteousness and judgment. Some people, of course, resent God’s judgment. In their mind, God is always kind and never gets angry.
But this definition is a false god—an idol—of their own making. The Lord has standards (he is righteous / tzedek) and he will apply those standards (he is just / mishpat). When the Lord judges and punishes the wicked, his purposes are fulfilled.
However, that’s not the whole story. In addition to being righteous and just, the Lord is also loving, gracious, and patient. He does not want the wicked to be wicked. He wants them to repent and be saved. The Lord offers forgiveness, and he has gone so far as to provide the sacrifice of his own Son to pay the price for man’s sin.
John 3.16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
1 Timothy 2.4 says that God “desires all men come to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
God is also patient. He does not rush to apply judgment to people. The Lord extends his grace and offers forgiveness and invites people to turn away from evil.
2 Peter 3.9 says, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Even the “vessels of wrath” spoken of in Romans 9 are only “prepared for destruction” because they refuse to repent, since God “endured them with much patience,” waiting for them to turn back to him.
God’s prescriptive will is that all be saved. His permissive will is that some be lost (those who refuse to repent). God’s providential will is that he will bring ultimate good, even out of evil. It is in this sense that all things are made and appointed for his purposes.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Trust God, make plans, do the work, and respond to the Lord’s leading.
