Proverbs 20

By thissmallgroup, October 20, 2019

In this chapter, King Solomon includes one of the most powerful pieces of advice for believers. In the midst of warning his readers against fraud and other types of financial dishonesty, Solomon leaves one mention of battle preparation. While we can imagine this was originally intended for the literal battlefields of ancient Israel, the words also ring true figuratively for Christians facing spiritual warfare. According to Ephesians 6:12, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” If we believe this to be true, then we must also prepare our souls in the same way we’d prepare our bodies for battle. And in the words of King Solomon, the best way to prepare for these battles is to seek God’s guidance in order to make plans for victory.

Verse 18: “Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.”

Verse 27: “The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.”

Verse 29: “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.”