Proverbs 21:21-31

TEXT Proverbs 21:21-31

21.

He that followeth after righteousness and kindness

Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.

22.

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty,

And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue

Keepeth his soul from troubles.

24.

The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name;

He worketh in the arrogance of pride.

25.

The desire of the sluggard killeth him;

For his hands refuse to labor.

26.

There is that coveteth greedily all the day long;

But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

27.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!

28.

A false witness shall perish;

But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.

29.

A wicked man hardeneth his face;

But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.

30.

There is no wisdom nor understanding

Nor counsel against Jehovah.

31.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle;

But the victory is of Jehovah.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 21:21-31

1.

What was Timothy told to follow after (Proverbs 21:21)?

2.

What book tells of a wise man who delivered his city from the enemy (Proverbs 21:22)?

3.

What play is made on the word keepeth in Proverbs 21:23?

4.

What five words in Proverbs 21:24 really belong together?

5.

Killeth him in what sense (Proverbs 21:25)?

6.

With which action is the righteous identifiedbeing greedy or giving (Proverbs 21:26)?

7.

What is meant in Proverbs 21:27 by one bringing his sacrifice with a wicked mind?

8.

What will cause the false witness to perish (Proverbs 21:28)?

9.

Does Proverbs 21:29 refer to the momentary look of a wicked man or the permanent hard-looking face that sin develops?

10.

What other passages besides Proverbs 21:31 show that it is God and not horses that make the difference in battle?

PARAPHRASE OF 21:21-31

21.

The man who tries to be good, loving and kind finds life, righteousness and honor.

22.

The wise man conquers the strong man and levels his defenses.

23.

Keep your mouth closed and you-'ll stay out of trouble.

24.

Mockers are proud, haughty and arrogant.

25, 26.

The lazy man longs for many things but his hands refuse to work. He is greedy to get, while the godly love to give!

27.

God loathes the gifts of evil men, especially if they are trying to bribe Him!

28.

A false witness must be punished; an honest witness is safe.

29.

An evil man is stubborn, but a godly man will reconsider.

30.

No one, regardless of how shrewd or well-advised he is, can stand against the Lord.

31.

Go ahead and prepare for the conflict, but victory comes from God.

COMMENTS ON 21:21-31

Proverbs 21:21. Young's Literal: Whoso is pursuing righteousness... This would suggest an earnest following after righteousness and kindness. Proverbs 15:9 and 1 Timothy 6:11 also speak of following righteousness. Matthew 5:6 speaks of hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Matthew 6:33 says we should seek the kingdom of God and righteousness before everything else. Both in the seeking the right thing and in the promise of finding the good things of life, righteousness, and honor, this verse is quite similar to Romans 2:6-7.

Proverbs 21:22. This verse shows that wisdom is really might. Ecclesiastes 9:13-16 tells of a single wise man who without great forces or great equipment was able to discomfit a mighty army. That wisdom is greater than might, consider the superior brute force of some of the ferocious animal world that man, who is inferior in physical strength, is able to subdue and handle through his superior wisdom.

Proverbs 21:23. Proverbs 13:3 contains a similar truth. A godly man will keep his heart (Proverbs 4:23), will keep himself in the love of God (Jude 1:21), will keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27), and will keep his tongue (this verse). Would you keep yourself from many troubles? Then keep your mouth and your tongue. Most trouble springs from something that one says!

Proverbs 21:24. Notice three words that go together: proud, haughty, and arrogance. This verse speaks of his working; but what does he do? He scoffs! He laughs at religion, makes fun of godly people, etc. Peter predicted that such would show up in the last days (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Proverbs 21:25. Proverbs 13:4 also speaks of the desire of the sluggard, saying that he hath nothing. This verse explains why: his hands refuse to labor. On his desire killing him, Pulpit Commentary suggests: The mere wish, combined with no active exertion to secure its accomplishment, is fatal to soul, body, and fortune.

Proverbs 21:26. This verse reflects two ways to live with reference to material things: (1) how can one get more for himself even at others-' expense? and (2) how can one help others who are in need? The first majors on selfishness, the second on service. Psalms 37:26 and Psalms 112:9 blesses the giver.

Proverbs 21:27. The first statement is also found in Proverbs 15:8. God does not want people to substitute religious rites for actual righteousness: To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Thus, God deplores the sacrifice of people who are not trying to live right (Jeremiah 6:20; Amos 5:22; Isaiah 1:11-15). To bring a sacrifice with a wicked mind must be to bring it with some motive to deceive God or to buy God off because of some sin being persisted in or because of some illegitimate gain from which he is bringing the sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:28. Very similar to Proverbs 19:5 and Proverbs 19:9, both of which say, A false witness shall not be unpunished. So as to endure in the second statement stands over against shall perish in the first, meaning that the true witness (one who speaks what he knows through his own seeing and hearing) will not be executed for perverting justice through lying such as will befall the false witness.

Proverbs 21:29. Another contrast between the wicked and the upright in which the wicked hardens his face instead of repenting and having his ways established like the upright. Septuagint: An ungodly man shamelessly withstands with his face. This continued wickedness will bring destruction. After showing the prosperity of the righteous, Psalms 1:4-6 says, The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish.

Proverbs 21:30. God may allow many things that are wrong to happen (until judgment), but when there is a known showdown between God and the forces of unrighteousness, His opposition always comes out on the short end. Aaron's rod that miraculously became a snake ate up those of Pharaoh's magicians (Exodus 7:10-12). When they tried to duplicate the plagues brought upon the land by Moses, they finally had to give up and acknowledge the supremacy of God (Exodus 8:19). Baal lost out to Jehovah on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:26-39). The people of Samaria could see the difference between Simon the sorcerer's fake miracles and Philip's genuine ones (Acts 8:6-13). Herod of Acts 12 began laying hands on the apostles, killing James and intending to do the same to Peter (Proverbs 21:1-3). But before the chapter was over, Herod was dead (Proverbs 21:21-23), and the very next verse shows God's triumph: But the word of God grew and multiplied (Proverbs 21:24). As 2 Corinthians 13:8 says, we cannot really do anything against the truth.

Proverbs 21:31. Horses were used in Bible days for war and not for agricultural purposes. This verse shows that even if horses were used (representing human military might), Israel's victory really came from Jehovah and not the human arrangements. See the following passages that bear on the subject: Psalms 20:7; Psalms 33:17; Isaiah 31:1; Psalms 3:8.

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 21:21-31

1.

How does the Bible represent a good person's quest for righteousness (Proverbs 21:21)?

2.

Give proof that wisdom is superior to brute force (Proverbs 21:22).

3.

What all is a godly person to keep (Proverbs 21:23)?

4.

What three words in Proverbs 21:24 go together?

5.

Why will the sluggard have nothing (Proverbs 21:25)?

6.

What two attitudes toward material things are found in Proverbs 21:26?

7.

What kind of people does God not want sacrificing (Proverbs 21:27)?

8.

What will not happen to the man who hardens his face (Proverbs 21:29)?

9.

Tell of instances in which God was purposely opposed to the defeat of His opposition (Proverbs 21:30).

10.

What does the Bible say about relying upon horses (Proverbs 21:31)?