Free group study handout
Proverbs 21: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Proverbs 21 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
Proverbs 21 focuses on the sovereignty of God, contrasting divine wisdom with human plans. The chapter outlines how God ultimately directs the hearts of rulers and people, emphasizing that human efforts are insignificant without His guidance. It underscores that righteousness and justice are esteemed by God more than mere ritual sacrifices.
Key verse
“The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.”
Proverbs 21:1 (WEB)
Outline
- Proverbs 21:1–3 God's Control over Kings
- Proverbs 21:4–7 The Nature of Wickedness
- Proverbs 21:8–11 Consequences of Behavior
- Proverbs 21:12–16 Divine Justice
- Proverbs 21:17–20 Wealth and Foolishness
- Proverbs 21:21–25 The Path of the Righteous
- Proverbs 21:26–31 The Inevitability of God's Will
Discussion questions
- In v6, what does getting treasures by a 'lying tongue' imply about the pursuit of wealth?
- What does it mean in vv. 9-10 to dwell in the 'corner of the housetop' instead of sharing a house?
- In v15, how does the joy of the righteous in doing justice contrast with the destruction of the workers of iniquity?
- The phrase 'a false witness will perish' in v28, what implications does this hold for truth and justice?
- When have you felt the temptation to love pleasure as described in v17?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Proverbs 21: 1 Samuel 15, Proverbs 16, Psalm 33.
Before next time: read Proverbs 22.