Reading the Word

Proverbs 21:30–31 (ESV)
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.

Understanding and Applying the Word

The final two verses of Proverbs 21 go together. Verse 30 states a general truth and verse 31 gives a specific illustration of that truth. We are first told that there is nothing that can stand against the Lord. There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no counsel that can prevail against what God has set in place. Mankind may plan battles and bring its powers together, but it is God who determines the outcome. Victory belongs to the Lord.

The truth of God’s sovereignty has been discussed previously as we have been going through Proverbs. It is no surprise to find it again. Understanding that God is in control should bring us great comfort. It means that when things feel out of our control, we can trust the One who is Lord over all. He is on our side and he is good. God has not told us every detail of his plans or the timing of how things will unfold in this world, but he has told us the end result. Sin and evil will be judged and Christ’s people will dwell in the presence of God for eternity. There will be a last battle before that day, but the outcome has already been determined. Victory belongs to the Lord!

---

**If you enjoy reading Shaped by the Word, please consider sharing this post on social media. Doing so helps us reach a larger audience. Thanks for reading!

Follow Shaped by the Word on WordPress or Facebook.