Proverbs 3:1-12 English Standard Version Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart 3 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Verses 5 and 6 are probably some of the most well-known verses in the Bible. It seems that God is now speaking through Solomon to plead with Solomon's son to keep His commandments. Obedience to the Law brings peace, long life and blessing, and this is what the LORD wants for Solomon's son, even though He knew how things would go.
The LORD pleads through Solomon that his son does not forsake the steadfast love and faithfulness of the LORD. Instead, he should bind them around his neck, and more importantly to write them on the tablet of his heart (making reference to the tablets that the Law was written on in the book of Exodus). God promises success in His eyes and in the eyes of men for His people who obeyed His Law. That doesn't mean that they would never experience any bad times--look at Job as an example of how someone who was richly blessed suffered immensely, yet in the end he was still blessed twice as much as what he originally was because he endured the suffering without cursing the LORD, and he came through it even wiser than before. Now for the verses we know so well. "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 straight your paths." God is not going to try to trip you up. While the road is narrow and hard, it is straight. There is a broad and easy road (though it is crooked) that leads to destruction. We are then told not to be wise in our own eyes--this is great wisdom from the LORD. Instead, we are to turn away from evil. This will be healing to our flesh and refreshment to our bones. Next, Solomon tells His son to honor the LORD with his wealth (whatever it is that the LORD allows him to be a steward of). One of the ways in which the people of Israel did this is by giving their firstfruits to the LORD (an additional sacrifice that was required above and beyond their regular tithe). This was the first part of the harvest that showed they trusted the LORD to bring more fruit and better fruit if they gave Him their firstfruits. The LORD promises that if they follow this command, they will have plenty to eat and not wanting for anything, even during the years that He told them not to plant or harvest, because He would give them such an abundance to take them through those years. They will not have vats that will be able to contain all the wine that the LORD will bless them with. The same for their grain that they would store in barns. Last, but not least, Solomon warns his son not to despise the LORD's correction (discipline and reproof), for it is a sign of the LORD's love that he chastises us. A father who does not correct his child does not love his child, and God loves His children, so He must discipline them. Comments are closed.
|
Daniel WestfallI will mostly use this space for recording my "journal" from my daily devotions as I hope to encourage others to read the Bible along with me and to leave a legacy for others. Archives
January 2025
Categories
All
|