Proverbs 21:29-31 "A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. (30) There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. (31) The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."
There is a descriptive word that comes to mind as I think about the children of
Israel traveling through the wilderness. That word is, "stiffnecked".
They were stubborn people who wanted to do things their own way. I think of
that as I think about verse 29, that man "hardeneth his face." In
other words, that man is set and unyielding in his ways. Some might say,
"What is wrong with that?" The thing that is wrong with that
part of the verse is that the man is "wicked", which means "He
is wrong." We are called upon to be set in our determination to
follow the Lord. The Psalmist said, "My heart is fixed, O LOrd." In
other words, I am resolved - I am determined - to follow the Lord each day.
Verse 29 sets forth the contrast between the two. One is wicked (wrong) and the
other is upright (correct) in their ways.
It isn't a good thing to be set in our ways that are contrary to God. We will
never win that battle, no matter how strong we think we might be. The truth of
the matter is that we really do not want to win that battle. There is no wisdom
nor understanding that can change, or redirect, the counsel of God. We saw a
few days ago that there are many devices in the heart of man, BUT, the counsel
of the Lord - that shall stand. No matter how difficult it may seem, we are
always in the path of righteousness and safety when we seek to follow the
direction of the Lord that is found in His Word. "Safety is of the
LORD."