Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

There is a danger in forgetting. In fact, we are likely to forget unless we engage the heart in the process of remembering. We must be intentional about remembering and impassioned about keeping the commands of the wise.

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Wisdom is practical. It starts with things like, "Look both ways before crossing the street," and moves on from there. These sorts of life commands keep us alive and well. The y treat us well.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Mercy and truth are not fickle, but they slip away through neglect. Don't let that happen. It is your job to hold them close. Rehearse the, remind yourself of them. Cherish them. The teacher admonishes us to employ outward methods as a means to inward assimilation of truth. How do you learn? Then pul out the stops and learn this material. How do you internalize? Then commit yourself to do so.

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

Wise people are blessed in two directions, vertically and horizontally. Obviously, God is pleased with those who search for truth with loving eagerness. That kind of favor, once one understands its value, is enough incentive. However, experience itself tells us that the person who devotes time, energy, and heart to gaining wisdom moves ahead in the world, winning the favor of people. Such individuals are more interesting, conversational, and trustworthy. They make good business decisions, treat people well, and are sought out for advice - sometimes even paid for advice as Solomon often was.

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

We come to the high water mark of Proverbs and one of the greatest verses in the entire Bible. It cries out to be memorized, internalized, and radicalized in our lives. If we will trust in the LORD (capitalized as an indicator that this is God's personal name, revealed to Moses), we must do so wholeheartedly. It will preclude any notion that we can lean on our own understanding. Such trust is ...

T=Total (with all your heart)

R= Reliance (in the Lord – not your own understanding)

U= Unified (in all your ways)

S= Specific (acknowledge Him)

T= Trustworthy ( and He will ...)

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The teacher gets specific in describing trust in the Lord. Noted above, this is a unified position; it is specific on our part because we acknowledge Him verbally as well as spiritual; and it comes with a promise: directed paths.

What is the appeal of directed paths for a person? Nothing if we are absorbed in our own arrogant self-stuffiness. Everything is we are smart enough to know that we know relatively nothing and need God to guide us. Everything.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Our enemy is conceit. It blocks our learning and sabotages our understanding. We cannot take in truth as long as we believe we already have a handle on it. We must start with reverence for God, move toward rejection of evil, and land on reception of truth.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Don't laugh to hard. Your navel was the original pathway of all good things to your body. Your marrow continues to produce the blood through which every cell in your body is nourished.

The FEAR of the Lord is:

F = Faith is God, E=- Eagerness for God, A = Awe of God, R = Reverence for God

Fear of anything else is:
F = Futile, E = Egotistical, A = Amoral, R= Restrictive (Perhaps I can be persuaded to explain)

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

The heart bone's connected to the hip bone (or wherever one carries ones money). If you mean business with God, there will soon be a test and it is likely going to eventually come down to whether or not you love and honor Him enough to put Him in charge of your money.

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

In God's economy, giving is not subtraction. It is flow and the flow of resources does not end with our disbursals God-ward.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Likewise, in God's economy, discipline is not negative. It is corrective and redemptive. We relish it because it straightens our path and promotes our success.

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

God disciplines us because God delights in us. He sees, in us, the potential we cannot see in ourselves. For that reason, He does not abandon us in our bad behavior or mistakes. He redemptively corrects us.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

What would you give for wisdom? Time? Energy? Humility? Resources? Would you be willing to subject yourself to correction?

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

Wise people know the value of knowledge and wisdom and are willing to pay with time and moment to learn.

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

Some people call this making investments in oneself. The books we read, the audios to which we listen, the seminars we attend, and the classes we take are all a part of the process. If we consider wisdom precious, we will make the investments.

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

Wisdom is one of the major keys to success in life. The benefit list is seen below.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.c 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Benefit List: (1) Long Life - resulting from healthy choices, avoidance of foolish things and the reality that healthy minds take longer to die. (2) Riches - Great ideas with the ability to strategize and make wise decisions drive business success. (3) Honor - There is no end to the honors bestowed upon wise people.

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.

We are given a brief history of wisdom. Before He created anything, God created wisdom and by wisdom, He made all that was made. First the idea, then the implementation.

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

Again, it is our responsibility to keep wisdom close to us - close to our eyes where we can gaze upon it.

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

Wisdom will grace us and enliven us.

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

It will keep us safe and straight.

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

It will give us a sense of fulfillment and well-being.

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

It will give us peace and safety.

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

Wisdom will give us confidence and assurance.

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.

The truly wise person, having been morally informed, is not just about self-interest. Real reason gives us compassion and a sense of justice and mercy. Solomon will elaborate later.

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.

Moral wisdom also teaches us to do not hard to our neighbor. Again, there will be more elaboration later.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

Wisdom gives us a perspective on those who seem to be succeeded through devious means. They are not and are not to be envied.

32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. 33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

Wisdom reminds us that it is God's good pleasure that is at the center of our own quest for success and well-being. If God is not pleased, there is nothing good in store for us. What is for His glory is for our good.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

The life of humble reverence is the best life. The life of grace through lowliness is glorious. Go for wisdom and ignore the wooing of the wicked. In the end, you win.