What was the practice of casting lots?

This mode of determining a matter was ordered of God to be practised over the two goats on the day of atonement. Lev. 16:8-10. God also commanded that the land should be divided by lot. Num. 26:55-56. The people resorted to it for various purposes on the return from exile. Neh. 10:34; Neh. 11:1. God overruled among His people how the lot should fall, as stated in Prov. 16:33; "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." He also could direct it among the heathen to work out His own purposes, as He did in the case of Haman, which so deferred the period of the execution of his design that there was time for the action of Esther, and for new edicts to be sent all over the kingdom, that the Jews might be saved from destruction. Esther 3:7; Esther 9:24. The various names, dates, etc., for selection were marked on pieces of wood, potsherd, etc., and these 'lots' were then shaken together either in a vessel or the fold of a garment, till one came out.

The lot was also used by the Roman soldiers in parting the garments of the Lord. Ps. 22:18; Mark 15:24. In order to fill up the vacancy caused by the fall of Judas, the lot was resorted to; but was on that occasion accompanied by prayer that the Lord would show which of the two He had chosen. Acts 1:26. There is no instruction in the N.T. as to casting lots. It would have been quite out of place among the disciples while the Lord was with them, as also now that the Holy Spirit has been given to the Christian.

The land being 'divided by lot' in a future day means rather that the land will be 'allotted,' for God has Himself directed where each of the twelve tribes shall be situated. Ezek. 45:1; Ezek. 47:22; Ezek. 48:29.

"And the lot fell upon Matthias," Acts 1:26.

Answer: Proverbs 16:33 and Acts 1:26 are of the same character and can be answered together. By referring to Joshua 7:14-18 you will see how the lot was used to discern the mind of the LORD among His people. Though not mentioned in terms, this would be the mode of discovery. Rather strikingly we have this mode of selection first used by the LORD in Leviticus 16:8. It was the divine way of making a selection between the two goats. Numbers 26:55, Joshua 13:6 and many other places show this to be the meaning; hence your quoted verse in Proverbs where the LORD disposes of it, that is, uses it to guide.

The manner of this apostle's election was by lot — an ancient Jewish custom. The lots were put into the urn, Matthias' name was drawn out, and thereby he was the divinely chosen apostle. "And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two Thou hast chosen.... And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles." The solemn mode of casting lots was regarded as a way of referring the decision to God. "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat." "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." (Lev. 16:8; Prov. 16:33) The apostles, it will be remembered, had not yet received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The lot was never repeated after the day of Pentecost.

But matters must go forward now. Accordingly the people were to present themselves before Jehovah by their tribes and by their thousands that the lot might be taken. This was necessary in order that no questions should be raised afterwards. It was true that Jehovah had looked out for them just such a man as they desired; and it was also a fact that the prophet had already anointed him, but not until the Mizpeh gathering did any public dealing take place. The lot was the familiar appeal of the people to God, settling all controversy. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah." (Prov. 16:33) The last mention of the lot in Scripture is in connection with the appointment of Matthias to fill Judas' place in the apostolic band (Acts 1:26). The Scriptures being now complete, and the Holy Spirit being in personal residence in the Church on earth, the lot has ceased to have any place in the ways of God.

"The lot is cast into the lap," that is, like a dice being thrown, with people depending on "luck" to favor them. But the believer depends on God. Even if the above methods are used, it is not luck that disposes the result, but the Lord, who intervenes in men's activities (v. 33).

"Casting lots causes contentions to cease, and keeps the mighty apart (v. 18). This is one good way of settling arguments, for Proverbs 16:33 tells us, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." it is not merely chance, but the Lord disposes the matter as He sees fit.

Question: I am not clear as to the definition of luck or chance. I feel there should be no such element in a Christian's life, but could you please give me some light on the subject in view of the following Scriptures? "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD," Prov. 16:33. "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong … but time and chance happeneth to them all," Eccles. 9:11.

God deigns still to serve His people, as we have been seeing, and to interpret their own wretched minds for them, giving expression to their desires, far better than they could themselves. For this purpose He uses the lot, leaving nothing to mere chance or to the caprice of any part of the people, still less to that modern fallacy, the will of the majority. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing is of the Lord." It also causes contentions to cease. We cannot for a moment think that, though thus guiding in the choice, God was pleased with it, or that the man selected thus would represent His desires for the people. We have already dwelt upon this.

Scripture had settled for them what His mind was as to the place being filled; for the determining of the individual there was the lot, used so often in Israel for a matter like this. They had even the scripture for this, that. if "the lot is cast into the lap, the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (Pro. 16:33). They had no reason to doubt, therefore, that they would have His guidance in acting on such an assurance; the Spirit had not yet come; and this, which some have taken to cast doubt upon the issue, and to dispute Matthias, right to the apostleship, they had no ground for believing to be a cause for delay when Scripture was thus clear. They acted in obedience, not in self-confidence; we never find their act disputed afterwards, and we have surely no right to dispute it now. It would be a totally different thing to imitate their conduct, now that the Spirit of God is come.

Jehovah made manifest Achan's secret sin. What had been done in secret was proclaimed upon the house-tops. The lot fell upon the guilty person in sight of all Israel. By the lot, the truth was made manifest morally, as later Jehovah, by the casting of lots at Shiloh, made known His will regarding the partition of the land among the twelve tribes. Today the lot is superseded because God works by the Holy Spirit through the written word. The living word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and makes everything naked and opened to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do (Heb. 4:12-13). If we judge ourselves by that word, we shall not be judged publicly by the Lord.