PROVERBS 3

1 ¶ My son, forget not my law (Heb. Torah; Pentatauch; Decalogue…first 5 books of the Bible) but let thine heart keep my commandments:

• Forgetfulness of God’s law is the fault of the heart, not merely of the head; when our hearts get preoccupied with this project or that problem, our hearts begin to gravitate towards that object. God hide your word in our hearts tonight.
• Mom and dad, grandma and grandpa…children’s ministry teacher…as Solomon writes this, no doubt he is thinking about Deuteronomy 6:7-9.  ‘Teach God’s law to your children.  Talk about God’s law at home!  Talk about it, when you travel!  Talk about it, when you lie down!  Talk about it, when you wake! 
• In light of the totality of Scripture, the law that we are not to forget would be a reference to the law of liberty spoken of by James and the commandments would be what Jesus said were the great commandments.
• Mr 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
• Note the effect in our lives and in our fellowship when we observe the law of law of liberty and the commandment to love The Lord and one another….

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace (abundant welfare; prosperity), shall they add to thee.

• Peace- shalom; this speaks of harmony of relationships; wholeness; health. God’s word dwelling within our heart is the very source of life and peace beloved. By God’s grace, I can have peace in my heart towards someone who is at war with me. This promise of life and peace is not to be understood as a lock tight promise of the absence of trouble or tribulation that we all face in life. Nor does this promise negate the reality of the persecution and suffering that come our way as we live for Christ in a secular society.
• The truth of the matter is that some of God’s children live in poverty and die at a young age (Jesus was 33 years old when He died on the cross…Hitler outlives Jesus!). The Proverbs do not promise an immunity from illnesses, accidents or financial trouble. The Proverbs are instructions on how to live right, think right, and speak right and make wise decisions in a world that is wrong and in rebellion against God.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:

• 4 times in the Proverbs mercy and truth are linked together.
• The Heb word for mercy can also be translated lovingkindness or loyal love. Truth speaks of the need to reject falsehood and lying in all forms.

bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

• Bind them- This metaphor indicates that that mercy and truth beautify our lives and the lives of those around us.
• Write them- I.E. make them part of your life by conforming your life to them.

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

• Jesus must have practiced about showing mercy and truth to others, for we read Lu 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
• The flip side of this of course is the fact that Jesus was crucified because He spoke and lived the truth.

5 Trust (lean on, be confident in) in the LORD with all thine heart (19 times we find reference to the heart in the proverbs)

; and lean not unto thine own understanding (insight).

• Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

• This proverb is one of the best. It challenges us to put God’s directions above our own judgment.
• Pr 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
• If we truly desire for God to make our paths straight, we must walk by faith and not by sight, applying the teachings from his Word to our lives.
• This is now the third time “heart” has been mentioned in this chapter. Head faith is not a saving faith, but a heart belief is, (Rom. 10:9-10), for it is a trust in the Lord; i.e., a dependence upon Him to save.
• Divided hearts are faulty in their faith toward God.Ho 10:2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty. King David made this prayer to The Lord, Ps 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
• One’s “understanding” in Proverbs is his perception of the right course of action. The wise man or woman will govern themselves by what the Lord Himself declares, and will not set their own finite and often-mistaken understanding against His.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him (pray about everything), and he shall direct (make plain or make straight) thy paths.

One of the fundamental truths of living the Christian life is that I know nothing about anything and my God knows everything about everything!

Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

• How can we know the will of God for our lives? (1) Trust in Him completely (2) Do not lean upon your own understanding (3) Acknowledge or pray about every single thing in your life (4) Know that if your heart is sincere in all of the above, God will providentially direct your path.
• To direct or make straight a person’s paths means to make the course of the person’s life one that continually progresses toward a goal.
• “‘Acknowledge Him’ by referring all thy ways to His will, trusting in His power, wisdom, providence, goodness, righteousness, and feeling that without Him you can do nothing,” [Faussett].
• Pr 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
• Ps 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes (conceited, haughty): Paul alludes to this in Romans 12.16

• Self confident wisdomn is the wrong kind of wisdom….self confident thinking is whenever we are thinking independent of or contrary to the Word of God.
• Most of our failures in life are due to pride. “There is not a greater enemy to the power of religion, and the fear of God in the heart, than conceitedness of our own wisdom,” [M. Henry].

fear (reverence) the LORD, and depart (shun, turn your back on) from evil (even the appearance of evil).

• Pr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
• Pride is always hateful in God’s sight, (Prov. 6:16-17; 16:5, 18). This is because pride always exalts itself against the Lord and tries to idolize self. Pride turned an angel into a devil.
• Beloved, hate what God hates and call evil whatever God calls evil. True health of soul and body lies in fearing God and departing from evil.

8 It (the fear of The Lord) shall be health to thy navel, and marrow (nourishment; refreshment) to thy bones.

• True health is not only the health of the body.  Your relationship with God must also be healthy.  In fact, your relationship with God is more important than your body.  See Matthew 5:29-30.
• A right attitude toward the Lord; i.e., a reverence for Him, makes for a healthy person mentally, morally, spiritually as well as physically.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits (he first part) of all thine increase (produce, crops or we would say today, income):

• The truth of the matter is that all our possessions belong to God. We are not owners, but stewards of the resources that God has given unto us. A biblical view of possessions demands using them for honouring God.
• God does not need our wealth any more than He needs our help in winning souls into the kingdom…He presents us with the opportunity to put our faith into action and trust Him completely for the results.

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty (overflowing), and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

• New wine was a symbol of great joy. God shall be no man’s debtor: He shall more than repay that which is given to Him, when it is given with the proper attitude.

The Lord challenged the nation of Israel about giving, or the lack of it: 

• Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
• Guys, we can never out give God. To honor the Lord with the first-fruits is to acknowledge His ownership of all things; to refuse to do so is to deny His ownership of all things. He blesses those who honor Him.

It is not simply giving that The Lord is interested in; He is looking at the motives of our hearts beloved.

• 2Co 9:6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

·      Keep in mind beloved that Solomon himself was very wealthy.  But he knew that true wealth is not money.  The Proverbs teach us that wisdom (the fear of God) is worth more than silver or gold.  Wisdom is worth more than all our money.

11 My son, despise not (do not resent) the chastening (discipline) of the LORD (by making light of it, ignoring it); neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

• Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

• A good father’s correction is intentional; he has a plan for what he wants his child to become. His ultimate purpose is to teach His children to love The Lord and live for His glory. God is a good father. God is in charge.The Holy Spirit places these verses in Hebrews 12:5-6 to enforce his argument on the chastening of the Lord being a proof of His love for His people.
• Since even the wisest of God’s children are subject to sin, there is the necessity of God’s fatherly discipline. The purpose of discipline is to teach or instruct. Discipline is not to be confused with punishment, which is consequences inflicted for inappropriate behaviour.
• I find it encouraging that to lukewarm Laodeciea Jesus says, Re 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

• Remember my dear brother and sister in Christ, God does not correct us because He is angry.  God corrects us because He loves us.  His correction teaches us to do the right things.  His correction will save us from troubles. God corrects us, because we are His children. 
• He chastens us in order that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

13 Happy is the man that findeth (with diligent search; deliberate effort) wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

• And as we have already read in Proverbs, what is the true source of both wisdom and understanding? The fear of The Lord.
• Where does a person find happiness? Well, it comes from fearing God to begin with; however, we read elsewhere in the proverbs that divine happiness stems from:
• Pr 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
•  Pr 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. {handleth...: or, understandeth a matter}
•  Pr 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
•  Pr 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

• Wisdom is here regarded as a precious treasure, to be gained at whatever cost. No amount of money can replace the value of godly wisdom. A bank account may pay you interest, but following the wisdom of God will pay you with life, and that more abundantly.
• FBN- “The smallest measure of true wisdom is better than all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; for it makes us blessed here, and prepares us for eternal blessedness hereafter.”

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

• When we walk with Wisdom, our paths, even in the valley of the shadow of death are pleasant and peaceful.

18 She (wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:

• The things that are called a “tree of life” are pictured as means by which the righteous continue on and are further confirmed in the way that is blessed in the end.
• Pr 11:30 ¶ The fruit of the righteous (Gal 5.22,23) is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
• Pr 13:12 ¶ Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
• Pr 15:4 ¶ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
• Wisdom is a tree of life because of the rich blessings that result from those that receive her instruction.
• Later on in proverbs we will see that a wholesome tongue is a tree of life. Godly wisdom and sanctified speech are indeed a tree of life not only to us individually, but for our families and those around us.

and happy is every one that retaineth her.

• Happy, or blessed and to be envied; the happiness that wisdom brings is not just an emotion.  This is the same happiness that Jesus describes in Matthew 5:3-12.

19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

• As it says in the Psalms and throughout Scripture, when we really look at creation, the only proper response is to fall to our knees and give God the glory for His wisdom, understanding and knowledge.
• The very same elements that God used to create the universe must be eagerly sought after to live in His universe.

21 ¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion (discernment):

• Solomon repeats many of these exhortations throughout the Proverbs for the simple reason that we are prone to become apathetic or careless in applying these truths to our lives.
• Discernment is the ability to know the true source of something and respond appropriately.

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

• The phrase thy way reminds us that our lives are likened to a journey of some sort; the writer to Hebrews calls it a course.
• How important to life is walking in the wisdom of God and heavenly discernment. There is safety for those who walk God’s way, but not for the rebellious.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear (panic), neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

• Fear and anxiety are never the will of God for His children. When we are walking in the revealed will of God for our lives, there is this tremendous sense of peace and security, and that is because Pr 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence.
• Psalm 46.1-3 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
• It is written of the blessed man, the man that fears God that  Psa 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
• 2Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

27 ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.  28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

• Many are guilty of defrauding their neighbors simply because they have not recognized that the Bible teaches that we are to love our neighbors “as ourselves,” (Matthew 22:39). There is no lack of excuses for those who are unwilling in heart.
• An oriental asked to borrow a rope from his neighbor. “No, I must use it myself to tie up a pile of sand.” “But you can’t tie up a pile of sand,” he objected, to which the other replied: “You can do anything with a rope you don’t wish to lend out.”
• “Who is my neighbor?” is used as an excuse by many, but Jesus taught a parable to show that they are neighbors where one has a need and another has the remedy for that need, (Luke 10:25-27). It is not a matter of the proximity of homes, but rather of opportunity to help that makes neighbors.
• Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor (lit. man of violence), and choose none of his ways.

• Because of his present success in sinful practices as in Psalm 73. Instead, choose to fear God and walk in His ways.
• Pr 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

32 For the forward (perverse man or woman) is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

• Abomination. An abomination is an attitude or act that is incompatible with God’s nature, and intolerable to Him.
• This is the first of many references to people, attitudes or actions that are an abomination in the sight of God.
• Secret. God discloses Himself and His truth to the upright.
• Ps 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners (God mocks mockers): but he giveth grace unto the lowly (he who bends himself).

• It is the unchangeable purpose of God to abase the proud and exalt the humble. Both James and Peter used this verse in their own books.  See James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:6.
• As the proud sets himself in opposition to God and scorns Him and His people, so God sets Himself in opposition to the proud. And which, think you, will be the victor?
• Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Matt 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame (disgrace) shall be the promotion of fools.

• This reminds us of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-12. How often is man’s earthly condition reversed at the moment of death, (Luke 16:19-23). We see this reversal in both Lazarus and the rich man. Death strips man of all their pretensions, possessions and promotions, and only the promotion that God gives shall remain.
• The only promotion of fools shall be shame.