Proverbs 3 - Do Not Forget My Law Series

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.