Along with Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, the Proverbs is one of three books that the Lord led Solomon to write.  Indeed, he wrote almost all the proverbs and seems to have gathered some of them from various sources. (Proverbs 25:1).  Chapter 21 begins with two very plain and important statements.  Proverbs 21:1-2, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”  We should remember that when Solomon wrote of the king’s heart being in the hands of the Lord, he was king at that time.  His heart was, indeed, in the Lord’s hands.  But this verse indicates that the heart of every king lies in the hands of the Lord.  As the farmer is able to irrigate his crops by manipulating the streams of water, the Lord is able to turn the king’s heart to do whatsoever the Lord wants to accomplish.  That was true in Solomon’s day, and it is true in our day.  That’s one reason why it is so important that we pray for our leaders.  (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

We are then brought to consider the way of all men…all men consider their way to be right.  Every man feels strongly devoted to his own opinions, his words, his actions, etc.  We do not easily give up anything that we deem to be right, but we should consider that the unerring eye of God is upon us; and we should endeavor to make sure that what we do is acceptable in the eye of our Lord and savior.  Solomon warns us again in Proverbs 16:2, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”  With that short introduction to this book and its writer, let’s consider the verse you asked about.

Proverbs 21 is comprised mainly of individual proverbs.  A proverb is defined as “a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse).”  So, here in this chapter we have many unrelated proverbs.  Most of them can stand alone without a discussion on the context of the surrounding verses.  Proverbs 21:16 says, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”  Let’s look at this verse in two parts:

THE MAN THAT WANDERETH OUT OF THE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING – This speaks of one who deviates from the way of the Lord.  The Lord spoke of Bezaleel in Exodus 31:3 saying, “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”  True understanding comes from the Lord.  To depart from the way of the Lord is to depart from understanding.  Solomon addressed the value of understanding in Proverbs 4:5, 7 and 16:16.  David, Solomon’s father said about understanding in Psalm 119:104, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”  To deviate from God’s way only leads to destruction.

SHALL REMAIN IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE DEAD – This congregation of the dead are those that are spiritually dead…those that are dead in trespasses and sins.  Those who refuse or reject God’s way shall have their lot among those wicked souls who perish in unbelief.  What a sad eternal state…to be in the congregation of the dead…to be among those suffering for eternity in the Lake of Fire.  For the one who refuses to bow his knee and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, there is only eternal suffering awaiting him.  Some have mistakenly thought that if they are cast into Hell, at least they will be among friends.  Hell is described as “outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12).  In this darkness, there is no opportunity to connect with others.  This darkness is a total darkness…no light at all so one might be comforted by the presence of his friends.  NO…only weeping and the harsh grinding of the teeth because of the severe agony. 

My dear friend, do you know the way of understanding?  It is Christ Himself who said in John 14:6, “I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  The way, the only way to the Father and eternal life is through Christ.  Though faith in Him, you can be assured of living with Him in eternal, in perpetual joy and happiness.  Won’t you put your faith in Him today before it is eternally too late?  The Lord assures us in John 6:37, “Him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT.”  (CC)  (743.6)