no wisdom . . . against the LORD. Illustrations: Pharaoh (Exodus 1:10 . See App-23 ); Balak (Numbers 24:10 ); Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:9-17 ); Sennacherib (2 Chronicles 32:21 ; Isaiah 30:31 ); Haman (Esther 5:11-13 ; Esther 7:10 ). read more
safety, &c. = to Jehovah [belongeth] the salvation. read more
"There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.""Intelligence, skill, strategy - none can avail against the Eternal."[32]Both the beginning and the end of this chapter feature two verses stressing the power of God. How foolish are men who vainly suppose that they may set their puny and partial wisdom against the intelligence of God Himself! The tragic story of Zedekiah, the last king to rule in Jerusalem, is a sufficient illustration of this. read more
"The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.""Proverbs 21:30 warns men not to fight against God, and Proverbs 21:31 warns them not to fight without him."[33] This does not forbid the use of earthly resources; but it condemns reliance upon them. It is God who gives the victory. "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." (Ecclesiastes 9:11)."Solomon here taught better than he practiced; because he provided 40,000 horses even though God had... read more
Proverbs 21:31. The horse is prepared against the day of battle— Solomon mentions the horse, instead of all warlike preparations, because it was the chief, and all nations placed much of their confidence in the number and strength of their horses. Indeed horses were then used chiefly for war. See Calmet. read more
30, 31. Men's best devices and reliances are vain compared with God's, or without His aid (Proverbs 19:21; Psalms 20:7; Psalms 33:17). read more
1. The ’watercourses’ (RV) are the artificial irrigation channels of Egypt and Babylon (Isaiah 58:11). 4. There is no connexion between the two halves of the v. RM ’The tillage of the wicked is sin,’ i.e. the result of his labour is sin. 5. One who is in a hurry to be rich hastens to want. 6. By a very slight alteration of the Hebrew text we get the greatly improved rendering of RM, ’Is a vapour driven to and fro; they are snares of death.’9. A small room is often built on the flat roof of an... read more
(30) There is no wisdom . . . against the Lord—Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:19; Isaiah 54:17; Psalms 2:4. read more
(31) The horse is prepared against the day of battle.—These had been imported largely from Egypt in Solomon’s time, though this was in direct contravention of the Law (1 Kings 4:26, and Deuteronomy 17:16). read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 21:1-31
God at work in people’s lives (21:1-31)As God directs the course along which a stream flows, so he guides the decisions of national rulers according to his plan (21:1). God knows people’s motives and he will not accept their sacrifices if their thoughts and actions are wrong (2-4). Prosperity that comes through diligence is a fitting reward, but prosperity that comes through greed, lying and violence is a deadly trap (5-8). Some people make life unpleasant for those who live in the same house,... read more