Sleep ,sleep Peaceful Sleep Series

Sleep ,Sleep Peaceful Sleep

Prov. 3:1 -35

A fairy tale often ends with the statement that they lived happily ever after. Proverbs chapter 3 on the other hand, start with happiness and a long life. " My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you." Pro. 3:1 . Proverbs makes a great effort to bring home the idea that there is a "right way" to live, and a wrong one. Every effort must be made to find the right way. Nothing must stop you from doing that. And everything possible must be done to avoid the wrong way.

In light of the challenges and temptations that come about our way, the decisions we make are determined by our values and principles. All situations do not always have a clear right and wrong answer. Making the right decision in these situations means that we need to depend on our strong value system to make these decisions.

Such a strong principle-based value system grows from our relationship with God. and this brings about the fear of God

Wisdom then is the capacity to see things from God's perspective and respond according to scriptural principles.

Proverbs 3 emphasises Solomon’s concern that his son live a life of trusting the Lord. Coupled with this is his desire that his son be trustworthy—both to man and God. The person who lives a life trusting the Lord will find much treasure in God’s accompanying promises. Proverbs 3:1–12 focuses our attention on love to God which is expressed in keeping his commands (verse 3), trusting his leading (verses 5-8), honouring him with gratitude for all of our possessions (verses 9-10), and accepting his correction

( verses11-12).

The main theme is that of trust. Trust in the Lord, because, after all, He is trustworthy. The father knew that God is trustworthy and wanted to pass this on to his son. That is good parenting. Good parenting focuses on the child’s faith in God. This, of course, is essential for the salvation of their soul, but it is also essential for the child to become godly. And “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). This, in many ways, submerses the first section of Proverbs 3.

In these verses, Solomon exhorts his son to trust God and provides incentives to do so. These verses contain several promises (treasures) that attend trust in the Lord.

We will study these verses under two major headings:

(1) The Command to Trust (vv. 1–4); and

(2) The Consequences of Trust (vv. 5–12).

First, in vv. 1–4, we must consider the command to trust:

The exhortation in Proverbs 3:1–4 is straightforward: The son must not forget the commandments of God that the father has taught him. “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments” (v. 1).

If the son will not forget God’s commands, a glorious promise can be his: “for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you” (v. 2). As in Deuteronomy 6, the trusting and trustworthy son will be blessed with fullness of life (cf. 1 Timothy 4:8).

Solomon continues: “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart” (v. 3). In Deuteronomy 6:5–9, Moses exhorted fathers to teach their children well by teaching them the word of God. As head of the family the father was to bind the word to the home. Here, the faithful father exhorts his son to bind the qualities of “steadfast love” (mercy) and “faithfulness” (trustworthiness) to his “neck” and to his “heart.” Love and faithfulness … these are two of God’s most glorious perfections, at the very heart of his covenant with Israel.

The father exhorts his son to remember these truths about God, yet the emphasis seems to be more on the son exercising these qualities. In other words, the father exhorts, “Like Father, like son.” “Your heavenly Father is faithful and trustworthy; you are to be as well.”

Another promise is given in v. 4: “So you will find favour and good success in the sight of God and man.” Integrity is the fruit of one who obeys God. Though the godly person will have plenty of enemies, the godly will respect him. "Good Success" or Prosperity( as some will interpret this word) is not about attaining wealth or living a life of luxury, but about thriving as the person God created you to be. Sure, True prosperity is about living a life fully engaged with the principles laid out in the Bible. Most importantly, this individual will live under the blessing of God (see Psalm 15).