Pearls From Proverbs - Chapter Three
We continue our study on the Book of Proverbs. Let us now look at chapter three.
DO NOT FORGET MY LAW
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; Proverbs 3:1 (NKJV)
As the ark of the covenant held the two tables of the law placed into it – so too are we to keep God’s law in our heart. It is of utmost importance. Two verbs here join in this verse to make a parallel command – do not forget – keep. First and foremost is not to forget but to always keep them in mind and the second to keep them – or to do them. Just knowing them is not enough. We are to be doers of the word – not just ones who have a photographic memory. It does no good to know something – if you do not practice it. God’s Word tells us:
“Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s teachings say.” James 1:22-25 (GW)
The second verse gives us the reason that we are not to forget God’s Word:
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:2 (NKJV)
God has promised us three blessings when we keep His Word:
1. Length of days
2. Long life
2. Peace
There are always rewards for being obedient to God.
“If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” Leviticus 26:3-4 (NKJV)
‘If you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ Nehemiah 1:9 (NKJV)
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10 (NKJV)
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3-4 (NKJV)
Keep mercy and truth close – so close that you bind them around your neck to keep then close to your heart. In fact write them on your heart and in so doing you will find favor with God and with man.
Barnes says:
The two elements of a morally perfect character:
(1) “Mercy” – shutting out all forms of selfishness and hate.
(2) “Truth” – shutting out all deliberate falsehood, all hypocrisy, conscious or unconscious.
Mercy is an important character quality. It involves actions as well as attitudes. A person who knows the truth and yet acts in mercy is a kind person. A kind person works for justice for others. Thoughts and words are not enough — our life reveals whether we are truly a merciful person. Do your actions measure up to your attitudes?
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)
Clarke says:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart - This is a most important precept:
1. God is the fountain of all good.
2. He has made His intelligent creatures dependent upon Himself.
3. He requires them to be conscious of that dependence.
4. He has promised to communicate what they need.
5. He commands them to believe his promise, and look for its fulfillment.
6. And to do this without doubt, fear, or distrust; “with their whole heart.”
Lean not unto thine own understanding - It is on God, not on thyself, that thou art commanded to depend. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.
When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone – not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we need than we are! We must trust Him completely in every choice we make. We must not be wise in our own eyes but be willing to listen to God’s Word. Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide; and then follow God’s leading. He will direct your paths by both guiding and protecting you.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-10 (NKJV)
A true test of humility is to ask: “How teachable am I?” If you are not teachable – then there is no humility in you and you have become “wise in your own eyes”. God tells us not to reach this point. The Lord is opposed to those with pride, high-mindedness, and vain conceit. We must have reverence of God, faith in Him, dependence on Him if we are to show that we truly fear Him. It will be to our health if we fear the Lord and depart from all evil.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:7-10 (NKJV)
Many people give God their leftovers – this is not what God asks for. He says we are to give of our first-fruits. Though the hunger pains consume our bodies – before we can eat – we are to give our best to God. God wants the first part of our income not the last.
Giving to God helps us conquer greed and helps us to properly manage God’s resources. I heard at church service once that if we were truthful God gives us not only our needs – but many of our greeds. We all could get by with much less than most of have.
ACCEPT THE CORRECTION OF THE LORD
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJV)
As a loving Father has the deepest desire for His children to do right – so God has that desire for His children – and more so. God does not correct us because He is mean – but because He is loving. His desire is for our welfare – not for our punishment. Therefore we should not “despise” His correction.
Clarke has said:
Teaching is essentially necessary to show the man the way in which he is to go; discipline is necessary to render that teaching effectual; and, often, correction is requisite in order to bring the mind into submission, without which it cannot acquire knowledge. Do not therefore reject this procedure of God; humble thyself under his mighty hand, and open thy eyes to thy own interest; and then thou wilt learn specially and effectually. It is of no use to rebel; if thou do, thou kickest against the pricks, and every act of rebellion against him is a wound to thine own soul. God will either end thee or mend thee; wilt thou then kick on?
BENEFITS OF FINDING WISDOM
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; 14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Proverbs 3:13-18 (NKJV)
A man who finds wisdom is truly happy because he is blessed of God. Wisdom and understanding go hand in hand. What good is it to have wisdom if there is no understanding – so my friend seek both – for they are more important than silver, gold and rubies. Nothing compares to them.
A long life, riches and honor come with wisdom and understanding. A pleasant life filled with peace follow at her right hand. Happy and blessed are those who find her and hold on to her.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes-- Keep sound wisdom and discretion; 22 So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. Proverbs 3:19-22 (NKJV)
As the Lord created the earth and heavens – wisdom was present. It was in wisdom that all things were established. He understood it all for all things were created by Him and for Him. Therefore all things have a pattern and a purpose. Nothing was by accident. Nothing just happened. God oversaw all. He formed the earth. He established the heavens. He is in charge. We are not to let these facts out of our sight – we are always to keep them in the forefront of our minds. We are not an accident – we are not a product of chance – we are product of God’s creative power. God is sovereign – to acknowledge this fact – to understand this fact – to live this fact – will lead to a life of security. We will walk safely in His ways and our feet will not stumble nor shall we slip.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:24-26 (NKJV)
When you go to bed – your rest will not be encumbered. There will be no worries – no fear. The rest that you receive will not be restless – but it will be sweet. There is no need to be afraid (and here is why) for the Lord is your confidence. It is in Him that you take your refuge. God is a God of promise – He is to always be our refuge:
“Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will support you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (GW)
We will be able to sleep sound – if we put our faith in Him – even in the midst of the storm.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. 29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; 32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools. Proverbs 3:27-35 (NKJV)
Matthew Henry has said of this passage:
Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These truths may be despised by the covetous and luxurious, but everlasting contempt will be the portion of such scorners, while Divine favour is shown to the humble believer.
God always gives us His best – we are to return our best to Him – but we are also to help others. Jesus taught:
“Give to everyone who asks you for something. If someone takes what is yours, don’t insist on getting it back. “Do for other people everything you want them to do for you. “If you love those who love you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Even sinners love those who love them. If you help those who help you, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners do that too. If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend. Rather, love your enemies, help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward. You will be the children of the Most High God. After all, he is kind to unthankful and evil people. Be merciful as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:30-36 (GW)
Our faith in the Most High God affects our relationship with the lowliest of the low. Our actions are to be in the image of the Father who created us. We are to be His children.
