By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
DIRECTION OFFERED
Proverbs 3:1–12
We are studying the book of Proverbs because we need more than ethical principles. We need new hearts. We need God’s wisdom deep within as we navigate the concrete realities of our daily lives. Without God’s wisdom we cannot understand the true nature of reality nor our God-given purpose in this life.
Remember (1–4)
Solomon stressed the necessity of his son staying on the right path in life. He urged him not to forget his teaching but from his heart to obey and maintain his commands. This reminder is a necessary one — constant vigilance is required as we live in this Genesis 3 world.
Solomon was saying, “Pay attention to me. You are going to pay attention to something, but only my teaching will lead you into shalom.” This Hebrew word refers to much more than an absence of strife. Shalom means wholeness or completeness. God created humanity with the fundamental need for a relationship with Him. When we attempt to fill that need in our lives with anything or anyone other than God, we find that it brings only emptiness, inner turmoil and broken relationships.
The Apostle Paul declared Jesus Christ is our only hope to be restored to the wholeness God created us to experience (Phil. 4:7).
In verses 3–4 Solomon taught his son to embrace and demonstrate loyalty (hesed) and faithfulness in his life. Inner integrity should manifest itself in all interactions with God and people. For believers this means first of all a right relationship with God that results in a right relationship with other people in the covenant community. No one can live in harmony with others if he does not live in harmony with God.
Trust (5–8)
Solomon commanded his son not to put his confidence in an impersonal ethic or his own knowledge but rather to trust in the Lord with all his heart. Personally trusting in the Lord is necessary for fulfilling any of the wise ways of life taught in Proverbs. The expression “with all your heart” indicates that trust goes beyond intellectual assent to a deep reliance on the Lord, a settled confidence in His care and His faithfulness to His Word.
The wise son will not rely on his own understanding. The wise son will govern himself by what the Lord declares and will not set his own finite and often mistaken understanding against the Lord’s wisdom.
Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight. The Lord will guide you in the path of wisdom. “Do not be wise in your own eyes” is a warning against a spirit of self-assurance. It is the opposite of trust in the Lord and brings no healing or refreshment.
Honor (9–10)
Solomon stated that remembering the commandments and trusting in the Lord leads us to honor Him with our possessions and the first produce of our harvest. The Hebrew verb translated “honor” means “to treat the Lord as weighty.” It is also the Hebrew word for glory. We honor the Lord by making the Lord famous and prominent by means of our wealth. We are to use our money to increase God’s prestige in the world.
The opposite of honoring the Lord is making light of or regarding Him frivolously. As God looks at our financial priorities, should He consider Himself honored or slighted? Someone gets the honor of first place in your monthly budget. Who is in that first place of honor?
We should honor the Lord by giving Him the best of the harvest, and He will bless us with more to invest for His glory.
Accept (11–12)
Solomon reminded his son he should accept the Lord’s discipline as loving correction and not as unloving rebuke.
Love is an action that is accompanied by emotion that leads to good on behalf of its object. The Lord disciplines us because He loves us.
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