chapter21

King's heart in Lord's hand

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (Proverbs 21:1).

A ruler who knows the Lord is blessed. His heart is in the hand of the Lord. God's blessings flow in his nation as the rivers of water. The Lord leads him in His path of righteousness. A ruler who does not know the living Lord will never bring any divine blessing to his nation.

Way of man

(Verses 2 and 8 are clubbed together).

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts (Proverbs 21:2).

A man thinks he is right in his own ways but the Lord examines his heart and knows what in his heart is. The people in this world cannot hide their motives before God who ponder the hearts.

A child of God need to acknowledge God in all his/her ways and to know whether he or she is right in his/her ways.

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right (Proverbs 21:8).

In this world, the way of man is evil and crooked because the sin has defiled every man. His way seems strange to others. But if he or she becomes a child of God, he or she does things in accordance with God's will. As such, the work becomes right in the eyes of those children of God who lead pure or holy life. It is for the children of God to discern the way of a man of God or a woman of God.

Justice and judgment

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice (Proverbs 21:3).

If we do not do justice and righteous judgment but give offerings to the Lord, He does not accept our offerings. Nowadays, people are exhorted to pay sacrificially to ministers of God but if they fail to do justice to others and to judge in a righteous manner, God does not accept their offerings. Though the ministers of God accept their offerings, God hates such offerings.

High look

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin (Proverbs 21:4).

When you look down upon others with a prideful heart, you become a wicked person committing a grave sin. The wicked person committing this sin plows for the kingdom of Satan for fortifying it. Wherever the sin of pride raises its ugly head, the people of God have to resist and fight it. In their hearts, this sin lurks.

Thoughts of diligent

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want (Proverbs 21:5).

A diligent person thinks in terms of goodness, justice and righteousness and not in terms of evil, injustice and unrighteousness. The thoughts of the diligent person result in abudandance of blessings. But a person who is hasty does not think properly and act wisely cannot abound with much produce but would lack in produce.

Lying tongue

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death (Proverbs 21:6).

Nowadays, corrupt people acquire assets by fraud. Ultimately, they inherit curses for them and leave the same for their descendants because enjoying such assets result in diseases and physical death. It is a vanity fair in this world.

Robbery of wicked

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment (Proverbs 21:7).

Wicked people acquire assets and earn illegal money by fraud or robbery. They do face perils in their lives as they enjoy the same. They do not judge their actions by weighing the pros and cons of the same before committing a fraud.

Brawling and contentious woman

(Verses 9 and 19 are clubbed).

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house (Proverbs 21:9).

Normally, in this world, there is always a brawl between the husband and the wife. When the brawling wife accuses her husband always without any justification, the husband feels that he can live alone in the house sitting in a corner of his house. He is not happy even in a big house with all comforts when his wife picks up brawls with him in every matter without provocation. Even in the lives of believers, such a brawl takes place that may lead to divorce.

It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman (Proverbs 21:19).

A husband finds it extremely difficult to live with him wife if the latter is always contentious and angry with him without seeing any reasonableness of her contentions or quarrels with her husband. He prefers living in the wilderness to living with her in the house. The house should be a place for happiness for a couple.

Soul of wicked

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes (Proverbs 21:10).

A wicked person desires evil in his life and no goodness emanates from his life because he is evil. His neighbours or friends cannot take any help from him because they do not find favour in his evil eyes.

Scorner, simple and wise

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge (Proverbs 21:11).

In the government, there are laws to punish the scorner who damages the reputation of a person by lies. When the scorner is punished, the people who lead simple lives are warned and become wise because the simple receives knowledge when instructed in the way of righteousness.

God overthrows wicked

The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness (Proverbs 21:12).

A man made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ is wise enough to recognize the house of the wicked by his discernment. Let him not do anything to destroy the house of the wicked because it is God who overthrows the wicked for their wickedness. Taking revenge is the act of God.

Cry of poor

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard (Proverbs 21:13).

When you hear the cry of the poor, you should help him or her immediately. If you fail to do so, a time will definitely come in your life for you to cry yourself and God will not hear your prayers. Nowadays, many children of God cry out in distress because God is not hearing their cry as they have stopped their ears continuously when the poor cried in agony.

Gift in secret

A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath (Proverbs 21:14).

You have to do charity secretly without any publicity. The person to whom you give this gift may be your opponent. When you give him this gift out of love, the anger of your opponent does vanish away. You can win all your enemies by deeds of love. When you give a reward for some good work to someone who hates you, it will take him by surprise and that person's strong wrath against you will disappear. Do not reward evil for evil but good for evil.

Joy and destruction

It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity (Proverbs 21:15).

A person who has been made just by God through the blood of Jesus Christ should make righteous judgment. If he does so, this brings joy to his heart. When he does such judgment, this will result in destruction for the workers of iniquity. He need not do offend the workers of iniquity but his just action or righteous judgment will make God nullify the plan of the workers of iniquity against him. God will ultimately destroy them. You will just see through your eyes what befalls them.

Congregation of dead

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead (Proverbs 21:16).

You should not neglect the way of understanding in any matter. You should examine every way you walk and understand the perils that lie ahead. If you fail to do so, you would be considered as a dead person who is not conscious of his state. You have to be in the congregation of the living, the company of the people of God who would guide you when you do not understand the way by which you choose to walk.

Loving pleasure, wine and oil

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich (Proverbs 21:17).

You should not desire to have undue pleasure in this life by wasting your money. Your unbridled enjoyment without saving for the future will make you a miserable person and you will become a poor man. When you spend your money to covet wine and oil, you will never become rich in this world because you would be spending all your savings to enjoy consumption of liquor and buying unnecessay luxury things. You will not leave any savings for your last days. You need to be wise with your money.

Righteous and transgressor

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright (Proverbs 21:18).

Whenever a wicked person does evil for a person made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ, God punishes the former by making him liable for his acts. Similarly, one who transgresses the law of God has to compensate for the upright person who has suffered the wrong done by the transgressor.

Oil in dwelling of wise

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up (Proverbs 21:20).

Oil in the dwelling of the wise means enough savings for the livelihood and for taking care of the needs in old age. Treasure necessary for the livelihood has to be desired. But a foolish man spends all his savings in buying things not needed for his livelihood. One has to be frugal in the spending of money.

Righteousness and mercy

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour (Proverbs 21:21).

One need to get righteous with God through the blood of Jesus Christ and to seek mercy from God so that he inherits eternal life from God. He then gets the righteousness of God imputed to him and then honour from God. If a person is in Christ Jesus with the righteousness of God, he or she is honoured by God, though the world does not honour him or her.

Wise man

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof (Proverbs 21:22).

A child of God who has received the gift of wisdom from God can do great exploits by winning any great battle against the mighty people in any government or in any organization. He or she as the wise person can attempt to overcome any hindrances placed on the path to the desired destination. No power on the earth can stop him or her on the mission approved by God. Laws of the land or rules can be overthrown by God Who fights the battle for His child.

Controlling mouth

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles (Proverbs 21:23).

It is very difficult to keep your mouth and your tongue under your control. If you do so, you can keep yourself from any trouble. You should not be quick to speak but slow to speak. James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”.

Proud scorner

Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath (Proverbs 21:24).

A proud and haughty person is one who does not accept any correction or any advice from others. His prideful actions invite wrath of others. He gets his name a scorner.

Desire of slothful

(Verses 25 and 26 can be clubbed together).

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour (Proverbs 21:25).

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not (Proverbs 21:26).

A slothful person does not work with his hands. He lives on charity. By remaining idle, he does not improve his health but kills his own body. His mind and body become inactive which do not augur well for his body. The slothful person covets others' money or possessions all the days of his life. But a hardworking person works with his own hands and earns more so as to give to others on charity or otherwise. He becomes righteous in the sight of God as he gives to the poor.

Sacrifice of wicked

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? (Proverbs 21:27)

When a wicked person gives to God, it is an abomination because his heart is wicked and is not in right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

False witness

A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly (Proverbs 21:28).

Giving false testimony will result in the death of the witness by the divine punishment. But he or she who speaks or witnesses to the truth are blessed by God. Even unbelievers who speak the truth are rewarded by God.

Wicked and upright

A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way (Proverbs 21:29).

A wicked person hardens his face to do mischief despite warnings by others. But an upright person can get directions from God because of his integrity. Those who walk uprightly in their lives are guided by God without their knowing His leading.

Nothing against Lord

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30).

In this world, no power on this earth can act against the Lord who has His way. None can understand His wisdom or understanding. However, His children can get His wisdom so as to understand His ways clearly in this world.

Day of battle

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord (Proverbs 21:31).

For the children of God, the horse for the battle is prepared by God. They need not look to the earthly rulers for this battle as it is the Lord who equips their horses for such battles. We need horses for our fight. Horses mean those tools available to us for fighting for our rights. Though their horses are in the battlefield, their safety comes from His presence. This may be a battle for their rights in a court of law or before an earthly ruler.

Next....Chapter 22