The lot is cast into
the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord. (Prov 16:33 NASB)
Some Calvinists have used this verse in
Proverbs to support theological determinism. Ignoring the problem of
absolutising a proverb to support dogmatic theology, this is not what the
passage is teaching. Instead, it is teaching, at best for the Calvinist, that God will always prevail, no
matter the problematic methods people may use to ascertain God’s will for them:
33 The final saying
reaches back and ties in with vv 1 and 9, but it is more definite. The use of
lots is attested in many places in the Bible, e.g., 18:18; 1 Sam 14:40–42, etc.
Their purpose varied, but was usually to find a proper course of action in
accord with the will of God. The underlying belief is that the Lord, who
determines all things, also determines the way the lots turn out. The precise
physical appearance of lots (dice?) and the procedure to be followed are difficult
to specify. Here they are said to be thrown into the “lap,” i.e., the fold of a
person’s garment; this is not necessarily the breastplate of the priest where
the Urim and Thummim were to be placed, Exod 28:30. Thus the divine will was
ascertained. The practice appears in Acts 1:26 in the choice of Mathias to
succeed Judas. (Rowland E. Murphy, Proverbs [Word Biblical Commentary
22; Dallas: Thomas Nelson, 1998], 124)
33. Throughout the
Bible the casting of lots was a much used method of ascertaining the divine
will (Lev xvi 8; Num xxvi 55; Jon i 7; Acts i 26), as well as simply for
teaching decisions without religious reference (i 14; Ps xxii 18 EV). (R.B.Y.
Scott, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes: Introduction, Translation, and Notes
[Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1965,], 107)
Though the throwing
of the lots was a human action, the revelation was a direct message from God
(Prov. 16:33). (Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, S.V. "Lots")
Two recent videos have addressed the
problematic/eisegetical nature of Reformed appeals to Prov 16:33:
EP313 Proverbs turns out to be a book of
proverbs
On the problems of the theological determinism of Calvinism and other issues, see:
An Examination and Critique of the Theological Presuppositions Underlying Reformed Theology
