Proverbs 21:31

‘The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
but victory is with Yahweh.’
(Proverbs 21:31)

The main point of this proverb is the punchline: ‘victory is with Yahweh’, i.e. the LORD God. It pairs with the proverb immediately beforehand: ‘There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh’(Proverbs 21:30). So this truth works both ways, and absolutely nothing will succeed outside of His ‘“determined”’(Acts 2:23, cf. Acts 4:27-28) purpose, which can nevertheless include some quite surprising things. As another proverb puts it: ‘There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail’(Proverbs 19:21).

So before we even think about preparing any horses or going into battle, metaphorical or otherwise, it’s important to consider what victories it is that God has planned for us. The Lord is on our ‘side’(Psalm 118:6&7, cf. Romans 8:31) only in the sense that we are on His, as His chosen ‘“‘servant’”’(Isaiah 41:9ff., cf. Joshua 5:13-14) people, on His mission. Enlisting for that we’ll find Him with us ‘“always, even to the end”’(Matthew 28:20).

The primary way for us to discern His plan, the conquests He’s planned, and how to conduct ourselves as ‘a good soldier’(2 Timothy 2:3ff.) in His army, is firstly by putting ourselves under His word, including with due reverence and respect. As this book of Proverbs begins: ‘The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge… wisdom… instruction…’(Proverbs 1:7). Then, if we follow His ‘ways’(Proverbs 3:6), not turning ‘“to the right… or… left”’(Joshua 1:7ff., cf. Proverbs 4:27) we’ll find ourselves on His ‘path’(Psalm 119:105), through a combination of simple obedience, accumulated wisdom and prayerful discernment.

One thing we’ll learn, as New Testament believers in particular, is that we’re primarily in a spiritual battle, although of course that’s always been the case, even when physical horses were more often involved. So we’re in combat alongside ‘“horses and chariots of fire”’(2 Kings 6:17) or their equivalent, which still accompany God’s people today. As the apostle Paul wrote: ‘though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds’(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) in the spiritual realm, i.e. ‘the darkness… spiritual forces of wickedness’(Ephesians 6:12).

So our careful preparation for battle will involve not so much physical war horses etc., as equipping ourselves with spiritual ‘armour’(Ephesians 6:11&13), including things like a good understanding of ‘truth… righteousness… the Good News of peace… faith… salvation, and… the word of God’(Ephesians 6:14-17) in all its capabilities, deployed at all times alongside ‘praying… in the Spirit, and being watchful’(Ephesians 6:18) with regards to these spiritual realities. In a similar way Peter suggests always being ‘ready’(1 Peter 3:15) and preparing our ‘minds for action’(1 Peter 1:13).

Some of this preparation, however, will involve quite practical wisdom, with regards to things like ‘producing’(Ephesians 4:28) material wealth to help fund various godly initiatives, alongside the more obviously spiritual ‘instruction’(2 Timothy 3:16) in the word. It’s all part of the careful preparation required for our ‘work of serving’(Ephesians 4:12) in these cosmic battles, which can appear quite domestic on the ground. The book of Proverbs is full of such practical wisdom, like learning from the industrious ‘ant’(Proverbs 6:6ff.) and the literally proverbial ‘woman’(Proverbs 31:10ff.) described at the end.

However, as much as careful preparation is appropriate, the main point of this proverb is that such diligence is all very well, but it’s God’s will and power that ultimately determines outcomes. When the Jews under Zerubbabel started to rebuild the temple, although they certainly had to do things like go ‘“up to the mountain, bring wood, and build”’(Haggai 1:8), as instructed by God’s prophets, success came not ‘“‘by might, nor by [their] power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh”’(Zechariah 4:6). It will be the same for us.

So, the most important detail in all of our endeavours, aside from praying for the initial discernment, is also praying everything through to completion: ‘“‘your will be done’”’(Matthew 6:10, cf. 1 John 5:14-15). God graciously loves to include us in His plans like that, ‘to will… work’(Philippians 2:13) and pray for their fulfilment. We must never lose sight of the fact that God is in total control, and ‘victory is with Yahweh’ as this proverb puts it.

Moreover, although some victories will come quickly, and be glorious, often long mysterious plot lines transpire, beyond ‘tracing out’(Romans 11:33). So we mustn’t lose heart when feeling hard ‘pressed’(2 Corinthians 4:8ff.) in the battle. Such struggles lead to the ‘eternal weight of glory’(2 Corinthians 4:17) promised after our ‘fight…, …on that day’(2 Timothy 4:7-8) of ultimate ‘“victory”’(1 Corinthians 15:54ff.), forever.

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