Posts

Proverbs 3:7-8

Image
Proverbs 3:7-8 "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."


In this third chapter of Proverbs, verses seven and eight are typically overshadowed by verses five and six.It is unfortunate when these four verses are broken up because they belong together and are so closely linked. In fact, verses seven and eight are best understood when keeping them connected to their sister verses in the text.
Early in this chapter, Solomon is emphasizing the physical benefits of following his father’s instruction.As has been mentioned, this principle had its foundation in the Fifth Commandment of the Jewish Law.As a part of following his father’s instruction, Rehoboam would have the opportunity to reap the benefits of truth - something he shouldn’t take for granted given the deceitfulness of the human heart beating in a world of deception.If he cherished truth along with mercy, Solomon’s son was told that he woul…
Post a Comment
Read more

Proverbs 3:5-6

Image
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."



Proverbs 3:5-6 should never be separated.  They belong together like peas and carrots.  Like a man and a woman in marriage, they give each other purpose.  On their own, they offer sound advice.  However, when combined, these two verses form one harmonious voice that heralds some of the greatest counsel Scripture has to offer. 
These paired verses offer two approaches to life: lean on ourselves OR lean on God.We can lean on ourselves OR we can lean on God but we cannot do both. If we lean on our intellect and abilities, then we have no need to acknowledge God.This is the definition of self-sufficiency.If we have no need to acknowledge God, then we will obviously have no need to trust God.On the flip side, if we don’t trust ourselves, then we will have a sincere need for God.If we have a need for God, then we will ac…
Post a Comment
Read more

Proverbs 3:3-4

Image
Proverbs 3:3-4 "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man."



Throughout the Bible, it is clear that God is a match-maker.In Genesis 1, God paired Heaven and Earth, Day and Night, Land and Sea, Sun and Moon and then finished with His grand pair, Man and Woman.This Divinely-intended pairing demonstrates God’s love for harmony and balance.God has given us two hips attached to two legs with two knees, two ankles and two feet all for the benefit of balance.He has given us two ears for balanced and enhanced listening; two eyes for balanced and enhanced seeing; two arms for balanced and enhancing handling; two lungs for balanced and enhanced breathing.When God sent His Son into the world, He sent Him as a pair – a perfect balance of God and of man described by John as being “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Inspired by God’s Spirit, Solomon’…
Post a Comment
Read more

Proverbs 3:2

Image
Proverbs 3:2 "For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."


When instructing his son to follow parental principles, Solomon promised excellent results.He promised three things - length of days, long life and peace.Since the days of Moses, Jewish culture has always emphasized long life as the holy consequence of righteousness and especially of parental obedience.The Fifth Commandment, dealing with parental obedience is the only commandment of Judaism’s Ten that came with a promise and that promise was long life.Exodus 20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”Hebrew culture has always seen long life as an accomplishment, one linked to virtuous living.Again, this perspective is not without Scriptural precedent.Throughout the Hebrew Pentateuch, Moses associated length of days with obedience and reduced days with disobedience.In fact, long life was the foundational incentive to ob…
Post a Comment
Read more

Proverbs 3:1

Image
Proverbs 3:1 "My son, forget not my law; but LET thine heart keep my commandments."


In each of the first seven chapters of his book of proverbs, Solomon directly addressed his son and urged him specifically to value paternal counsel.
1:8 - “My son, hear the instruction of thy father.” 2:1 - “My son, if thou wilt receive my words.” 4:20 - “My son, attend to my words.” 5:1 - “My son, attend unto my wisdom.” 6:20 - “My son, keep thy father's commandment.” 7:1 - “My son, keep my words.”
Although repetitive, the words in chapter three slightly stand out from the previously referenced verses.He used a word in 3:1 that he didn’t use in any of the other previously referenced verses and this word offers insight into Solomon’s understanding of children.He wrote, “My son, forget not my law; but LET thine heart keep my commandments.”The word, LET implies permission and allowance.Parents use this word when intervening on behalf of their children who are in the strong grip of an older sibling…
Post a Comment
Read more