Pro 21:31 | KingComments | STEP | The chapter ends what it began with: the absolute sovereignty and exaltedness of God. Everything He purposes to do will come to pass. There is nothing that and no one who can prevent Him from carrying out His plans ( ). He laughs at everything man undertakes to thwart His plans ( ). Human “wisdom”, “understanding” and “counsel” are nothing but foolishness in the light of the wisdom, understanding and counsel of God. It speaks of total blindness and impotence. The use of the word “no” three times emphasizes that there really is nothing that can be done against the LORD. All His purposes and actions are perfect and untouchable to any power whatsoever. We see this in everything that was planned against the Lord Jesus in order to kill Him. Yet everything went the way God had determined ( ). For example, if the religious leaders assigned His grave with the wicked, yet He is with the rich in His death because God has determined it that way ( ; ). God proclaims the end from the beginning and man cannot change that. On the contrary, God even uses him for the fulfillment of His plans. A man can be wise in certain respects and have understanding and therefore can give wise counsel. He may have studied and gained experience. But if he has no fear of the LORD, he lacks true wisdom and understanding, and his counsel proves to be foolishness. We offend God if we would compare human wisdom, understanding and counsel with His wisdom, understanding and counsel. Man is of “yesterday and knows nothing” ( ). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” ( ). He, Who is God, oversees the past, the present and the future. Man cannot see into the future. He can make predictions based on experience and assumptions, but he cannot offer guarantees. God determines what happens. Man would be wise to agree with that and not turn against Him. The so-called wise do not possess foresight and they have no control over the future. They do moderate that by presenting goals for the future with lofty words, but all their claims fail because of the LORD, for He alone has wisdom, understanding and counsel. The ultimate success of a venture or victory in a battle comes from God and not through human effort ( ). The contrast here is between the plans and efforts for battle on the one hand, “the horse is prepared for the day of battle”, and on the other hand the recognition of the true source of victory, “the LORD” ( ). Means may be used to accomplish something, but we must never forget that we owe it to God when we succeed. We may use means, but never turn them into an idol (cf. ).

‏ Proverbs 21:31

Unconquerable and Victorious

The chapter ends what it began with: the absolute sovereignty and exaltedness of God. Everything He purposes to do will come to pass. There is nothing that and no one who can prevent Him from carrying out His plans (Pro 21:30). He laughs at everything man undertakes to thwart His plans (Psa 2:1-4).

Human “wisdom”, “understanding” and “counsel” are nothing but foolishness in the light of the wisdom, understanding and counsel of God. It speaks of total blindness and impotence. The use of the word “no” three times emphasizes that there really is nothing that can be done against the LORD. All His purposes and actions are perfect and untouchable to any power whatsoever.

We see this in everything that was planned against the Lord Jesus in order to kill Him. Yet everything went the way God had determined (Acts 2:23). For example, if the religious leaders assigned His grave with the wicked, yet He is with the rich in His death because God has determined it that way (Isa 53:9; Mt 27:57-60). God proclaims the end from the beginning and man cannot change that. On the contrary, God even uses him for the fulfillment of His plans.

A man can be wise in certain respects and have understanding and therefore can give wise counsel. He may have studied and gained experience. But if he has no fear of the LORD, he lacks true wisdom and understanding, and his counsel proves to be foolishness. We offend God if we would compare human wisdom, understanding and counsel with His wisdom, understanding and counsel.

Man is of “yesterday and knows nothing” (Job 8:9). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8). He, Who is God, oversees the past, the present and the future. Man cannot see into the future. He can make predictions based on experience and assumptions, but he cannot offer guarantees. God determines what happens. Man would be wise to agree with that and not turn against Him. The so-called wise do not possess foresight and they have no control over the future. They do moderate that by presenting goals for the future with lofty words, but all their claims fail because of the LORD, for He alone has wisdom, understanding and counsel.

The ultimate success of a venture or victory in a battle comes from God and not through human effort (Pro 21:31). The contrast here is between the plans and efforts for battle on the one hand, “the horse is prepared for the day of battle”, and on the other hand the recognition of the true source of victory, “the LORD” (Psa 20:8 ; Psa 33:17). Means may be used to accomplish something, but we must never forget that we owe it to God when we succeed. We may use means, but never turn them into an idol (cf. Hab 1:16).