Proverbs: Chapter 21

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.Salient points:V.1 alludes to the irrigation canals common in the Middle East. The king's heart is in the hand of the King of Kings -- the only being with true and absolute sovereignty.Religion alone isn't enough (v.3). This emphasis on the heart is prevalent in all three divisions of the Old Testament -- Torah, Prophets, Writings.Hedonism will impoverish us (v.17). Work is what brings the profit (25). Living for pleasure isn't life at all (but death, according to Paul in 1 Tim 5:6).Impulse control (v.20). Guilty of gluttony? Applications: diet, sexual abstinence, drinking, exercise, expression of anger, and more.Discipline over our words (v.23).V.23 is an example of Hebrew rhyme (less important than parallelism, but still present here and there): Shōmēr pīv 'ûlshôlnô shōmēr mitsārôth naphshô. Don't place all your hope in human planning: your own or someone else's. God is the one in ultimate control (30-31).Challenge:Hand your eating over to the Lord.Gluttony is a serious sin in our culture.Obesity discredits the gospel.Eating with wisdom brings longer life, better health, greater alertness, greater ability to engage in various activities, and increased credibility as an ambassador of Christ.Next Up: Chapter 22.