Preparation and Deliverance

Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.”

The battle is always the Lord’s. If there is a victory, it is the Lord’s. If there is deliverance, it is the Lord’s. Yet, the verse says that the horse is prepared for the day of battle. We are to make preparations for conflicts, testing, trials.

We are accountable to attend to our horses. That is, we are accountable to make preparations. The verse is not a teaching against foresight or preparation. However, the verse cautions us against a reliance in ourselves, in our machinations, in our intelligence, our foresight. We are not clever enough, we are not strong enough, we are not rich enough to deliver ourselves.

Psalm 147:10-11 says, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.” Let us fear Him and hope in His mercy.


Excerpts from "Preparation and Deliverance"