Proverbs , Sarah Barry
VICTORY RESTS WITH THE LORD
Passage: Proverbs 21:20~31  
Key verse: 31
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(C)
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
24 The proud and arrogant person(F)—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(G)
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous(H) give without sparing.(I)
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.(N)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.(Q)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
Cross references
- Proverbs 21:21 : Ps 25:13
- Proverbs 21:21 : Mt 5:6
- Proverbs 21:22 : S Pr 8:14
- Proverbs 21:23 : S Ps 34:13
- Proverbs 21:23 : S Pr 10:19; 12:13; S 13:3
- Proverbs 21:24 : Jer 43:2
- Proverbs 21:25 : Pr 13:4
- Proverbs 21:26 : S 2Sa 17:27
- Proverbs 21:26 : S Lev 25:35
- Proverbs 21:27 : S 1Ki 14:24
- Proverbs 21:27 : S Pr 15:8
- Proverbs 21:28 : Isa 29:21
- Proverbs 21:28 : S Pr 19:5
- Proverbs 21:29 : S Pr 14:8
- Proverbs 21:30 : S Job 12:13; S 15:25
- Proverbs 21:30 : S 2Ch 13:12; S Job 5:13; Isa 8:10
- Proverbs 21:31 : Ps 33:12-19; Isa 31:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The wise and the fool (20-28)
The wise and the fool are sharply contrasted here. The wise store food for the future but a fool wastes all he has. The wise pursue righteousness and love. He finds life, prosperity and honor. The wise pursue a higher goal and succeed. The wise man guards his mouth and protects himself from calamity. The wise work hard and give without sparing. The fool is proud and arrogant. He refuses to work in laziness. He craves for more all day long. He is lazy. His sacrifice is detestable. He witnesses falsely. The fool will perish.
2. The horse is made ready for the battle (29-31)
There is no wisdom, no insight and no plan that can succeed against the Lord. People may prepare the horses for the day of battle but victory rests with the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, no matter how hard the evil try, victory rests with you! Help us to live as the wise.
One Word: Victory in Jesus