Proverbs 3:1-35

Opening our Bibles today this third day of the month, we come to chapter 3 of the book of Proverbs. It’s the continuing saga of our God’s attempt, through His servant Solomon to bring wisdom and understanding to His people.

PRAYER

Our heavenly Lord we kneel before you asking for your loving kindness. We seek after your face which is why we’ve opened your word today. Let the words of your servant Solomon pour over us and wash our minds in your everlasting wisdom that is matchless and beyond all understanding. -Amen

1-2. My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life, And peace they will add to you.

Interestingly the author of the third chapter of Proverbs begins this chapter much the same as the last, with a specific call to His son. Interestingly enough the term in the Hebrew used for “teaching” is the word -torah which we learned in Chapter 1 means “law” but in this context its actually from the prime root word -yarah or -yara which actually means to “be cast like an arrow from an archer’s bow”.

The second half of verse 1 echoes Deuteronomy 30:16 “…in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”

Then God makes us a promise. It’s probably one of the few places (the book of Proverbs) where God actually promises to add life to our days. So by keeping His commands we are actually extending our lives.

Jesus explains this entire concept in Matthew 19:16-17 “And behold, one came to Him and said, ‘Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?’ And He said to him, ‘Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’”

3-4. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

v.3 takes us to a very different understanding of what is being said. In the Hebrew the words “kindness” and “truth” have very different meanings. Kindness is actually the word -chasad which means “to be reproached or ashamed” essentially humbleness. Truth on the other hand is the word -emeth which means “firmness” it actually comes from the root word -aman which means “established” or “faithful”

Thus making v.3 actually begin like this: “Do not let humbleness and firm faithfulness leave you;”

The verse goes on to instructus to “bind them around our neck,” and to “write them on the tablet of our hearts” this is analogy of the heart being a tablet is used to describe the condition of our hearts:

• SINFULNESS IS WRITTEN ON THE HEART: Jeremiah 17:1 The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of their altars

Likewise…

• OUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS WRITTEN ON THE HEART: Corinthians 3:3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.

Why should we keep these things: The LORD says that we will find good repute, that is a good reputation in the sight of God (first) and man (second).

5-6. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

v.5 is a famous verse used often and seen on many t-shirts; it begins with the word “trust”. Let’s stop there for only a moment, the word trust in this verse is actually translated -batach which is the Hebrew word meaning “careless or complacent”. Be “careless” in the LORD, let your cares rest on him and be complacent to the things of the world leaving it all up to His tender mercy and grace.

We’re told not to lean on our own flawed human understanding. What have we been talking about these last three chapters so far in proverbs…God’s understanding is so much more vastly effective and than ours.

v.6 is huge because its been shortened by our limited English vocabulary to become almost watered down. “In all (the word is -kol from -kalal meaning total and perfectly whole) your ways (-derek meaning manner, journey, conduct from the root word -darak which means to tread or march with a purpose) acknowledge Him. And He will make (-yashar to make smooth) your paths (-orach course, childbearing, bring forth; from the root word -arach which means to journey on) straight.

In total there a several things this verse can be saying:

1. In your complete manner, journey, behavior acknowledge Him. And He will smooth your course/journey.
2. In your perfect and complete, purposeful march or direction acknowledge Him. And He will smooth the things you bring forth.
3. In everything you do with a purpose acknowledge Him. And He will make smooth your children’s journey.

I tend to believe that all of these are true in and of themselves. The Bible is a many faceted and splendid thing.

7-8. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body, And refreshment to your bones.

The sentiment in v.7 is echoed in Romans 12:16 which Paul wrote: “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” What he is saying the Body of Christ is in unity, those who are wise in their own eyes DO NOT fear the LORD and turn toward evil.

But when you are in “awe” of our God and truly believe in that awesomeness then you will turn from evil because how can anything evil compare to that great and mighty God who is our LORD?

Then we are given assurance that when we do these things we will find healing in our bodies and refreshment in our bones. How often do the sick turn to human remedies because they have lived a sinful life without understanding in God’s power. He will heal His own as He did Job.

9-10. Honor the LORD from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Not only must we be aware of the awesomeness of our God, but we must also “honor” Him with our “wealth”. The word “honor” is unique in this context because it does not mean what you might expect it to.

Dictionary.com defines “honor” as: …a fine sense of, and a strict conformity to, what is considered morally right or due: a high sense of honor;

However, the word “honor” in the Hebrew is actually the word -kabad or -kabed which means to become fierce, heavy, or burdensome.

God wants our first…specifically in this passage it’s referring to our monetary firsts. Give of the LORD what is His. He blesses us with good jobs and rewards us with every good thing we have the least we can do is give back to His ministry. Be it the local church, far off missions, or some other need that is required.

He goes on to tell us that we do this so that our barns will be filled with plenty. Similar sentiment is given in Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

11-12. My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, Or loathe His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father, the son in whom he delights.

v.11-12 are pretty straight forward. Our God is a loving God to His children. Because he loves us he will not allow us to go unpunished. We askt he question why so many sinners thrive. It is because their gains are ill gotten while we must suffer under the heavy hand of God. But it is a heavy hand held open for us be safe inside rather than a heavy hand that covers over us and suffocates us.

John re-states this in Revelation 3:19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.”

13-14. How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, And its gain than fine gold.

Again an affirmation of the benefits of finding wisdom and understanding. They are related to the profit of monetary or material gain.

15-18. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.

We come now to v.15 where “wisdom & understanding” are referred to as being a woman.  She comes with rewards in both hands. Her “ways” are described as pleasant and her paths are peace. When we have wisdom and understanding we find ourselves taking the path in life that is peaceful and pleasant. God compares wisdom and understanding (in the physical “she” form) to a “tree of life” but we are told take hold of her because happiness comes to those who hold stead fast to her.

19-22. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not depart from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul, And adornment to your neck.

My favorite part of this entire chapter is here in v.19 the LORD’s power is put on display. We are being told that wisdom and understanding are all important. Now God displays His power to us through wisdom and understanding which are how he created the earth and the heavens.

23-24. Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

With Godly wisdom and understanding, comes the knowledge(or surety) of the christian’s election.  Also with that knowledge comes the surety of peaceful rest. In all truth, I have not had a nightmare since the day I was saved. I sometimes find it curious when people tell me that they’ve had nightmares because I fell in my heart that my sleep is restful because Christ resides within me.

25-26. Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

It goes on to reassure us that we need not be afraid. But it also does not say we WILL NOT be attacked it says “when” the onslaught comes. 1 Peter 3:14 says “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,”

Why? Because the LORD is our sure footing and confidence.

27-28. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

Along with all of this “surety” come some instruction as well. Does our God withhold anything from His children? No. Then how much more should we hold things back from those we CAN help.

Also we need to stop putting off till tomorrow what we can do today. Leviticus 19:13 states ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

29. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives in security beside you.

v.29 finds us with a warning against jealousy.

30. Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

v.30 seems like a simple warning to us not to fight with others who haven’t done anything to us. Is it that simple? How often have we become upset because we were told second or third hand that something had happened that actually hadn’t. I think this is a deeper call to not only not contend with those who have done nothing, but also to make sure we have all our facts straight.

And Paul says in Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

31-32. Do not envy a man of violence, And do not choose any of his ways. For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright.

In today’s culture thug rappers and immoral rockers are constantly put on pedestals. We glorify (as a culture) the negative. From horror movies about villains winning or thieves succeeding and all the while glorifying those things.

33-35. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor.

And as has been the pace thus far throughout the book of Proverbs clear lines are drawn. The wicked are cursed and the home of His children is blessed. When it says “He scoffs at  the scoffers,” its saying that God delights in the justice that is met out on the ungodly. And those who are “afflicted” a term used specifically (often times) to mean the adversity that comes against the godly are given grace.

-Amen