Purpose

Bible doctrine is designed to not only give knowledge, but also purpose and discretion. In Proverbs 2:11, “discretion” is מזמּה (mezimmâh) and means a reasoned wisdom and deliberation, a final result of deliberation, a resolve, the power of devising, the mechanics of purpose, a project, a plan. Mezimmâh means not just an inclination, but strongly an inclination by decided thought, a real calculated decision, a purpose.

"Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you," (Proverbs 2:11, NASB)

The power of purpose gives preservation to the believer from the evil man and the strange woman. Functioning under the decided purpose of God brings happiness, a working together for good. Prov. 1:4; Rom. 8:28.

"To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion," (Proverbs 1:4, NASB)

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NASB)

The believer is challenged to guard jealously their purposes. The believer’s knowledge of doctrine is to correlate with their purposes. Prov. 3:21; Prov. 5:2; Prov. 8:12.

"My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion," (Proverbs 3:21, NASB)

"That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge." (Proverbs 5:2, NASB)

""I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion." (Proverbs 8:12, NASB)

Human purposes and desires do not compare in value to wisdom. “Desire” in Proverbs 3:15 is חפץ (chêphets) and means desire, pleasure. Human purposes and desires do not compare in value to wisdom. “Desirable” in Proverbs 8:11 is also חפץ (chêphets).

"She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her." (Proverbs 3:15, NASB)

""For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her." (Proverbs 8:11, NASB)

Purposes have within them an enjoyment, a pleasure. The purposes of God are solid, stable, permanent. Our purposes, as imitators of God, are to be also solid, stable, permanent. What are our purposes? Are they weak and flimsy, easily changed? Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 46:1-11.

"" It is I who says of Cyrus, ' He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"" (Isaiah 44:28, NASB)

""Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you. " (Isaiah 46:3-4, NASB)

""Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';" (Isaiah 46:9-10, NASB)

Performance in purposes is important. It is one thing to make plans, but another thing to carry them out. In Isaiah 48:14, purposes are made while shutting out interfering things. In Proverbs 16:30, we have it used of the evil man, but the principle is there. To see doctrine clearly in the making of purpose, one must shut out all else. “Perverse” is in the qal stem in Hebrew of תּהפּכה (tahpûkâh).

""Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he will carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, And His arm will be against the Chaldeans." (Isaiah 48:14, NASB)

"He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass." (Proverbs 16:30, NASB)

In Proverbs 16:9, the piel stem is used in Hebrew and means that purposes must be firmly established in the heart, but the Lord has to direct the believer in bringing them to fruition and that He does one step at a time. Just as there are correct purposes, there are evil purposes. In Proverbs 24:8, is the purpose to do evil. This is the old sin nature distortion of a biblical concept.

"The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, NASB)

"One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer." (Proverbs 24:8, NASB)

God’s plan overrides the purposes or intentions of man. ”Intention” in Acts 27:43 is βούλημα (boulēma) in the Greek and also means will, counsel, or purpose. God’s purposes are not to be challenged. This is the same Greek term as in Acts 27:43. Rom. 9:19.

"but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land," (Acts 27:43, NASB)

"You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?"" (Romans 9:19, NASB)

The plan of God is based on God’s purpose. Paul had made known his purpose to Timothy. 2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Tim. 3:10-11.

"who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity," (2 Timothy 1:9, NASB)

"Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!" (2 Timothy 3:10-11, NASB)

In Romans 1:13, “planned” is προτίθεμαι (protithemai) and means to purpose or determine. Purposes determined do not always come to completion or realization.

"I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles." (Romans 1:13, NASB)

In Proverbs 31:16, “considers” is זמם (zâmam) and means to fix thoughts upon, to purpose, devise. It is used of a woman fixing thoughts upon a product with the result that she buys it.

"She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard." (Proverbs 31:16, NASB)

In Proverbs 19:21, “plans” is מחשׁבה (machăshâbâh) and means devices, purposes. Although man has many human viewpoint and sinful purposes, God’s purposes shall stand firm. The plans and purposes of the diligent result in plenty, but the lack of the same results in want.

"Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand." (Proverbs 19:21, NASB)

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5, NASB)

In Daniel 11:17, “set” is שׂוּם (śûm) and means determination of purpose and is used in the evil sense, but accurately describing the intensity of the purpose. 1 Kings 2:15.

""He will set his face to come with the power of his whole kingdom, bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be on his side." (Daniel 11:17, NASB)

"So he said, "You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD." (1 Kings 2:15, NASB)