Reflections on Proverbs 3

 Proverbs 03 (Contemporary English Version)

1. My child, remember my teachings and instructions and obey them completely.
   
2. They will help you live a long and prosperous life.
   
3. Let love and loyalty always show like a necklace, and write them in your mind.
   
4. God and people will like you and consider you a success.
   
5. With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment.
   
6. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.
   
7. Don't ever think that you are wise enough, but respect the LORD and stay away from evil.
   
8. This will make you healthy, and you will feel strong.
   
9. Honor the LORD by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops.
   
10. Then you will have more grain and grapes than you will ever need.
    
11. My child, don't turn away or become bitter when the LORD corrects you.
    
12. The LORD corrects everyone he loves, just as parents correct their favorite child.
    
13. God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.
    
14. Wisdom is worth more than silver; it makes you much richer than gold.
    
15. Wisdom is more valuable than precious jewels; nothing you want compares with her.
    
16. In her right hand Wisdom holds a long life, and in her left hand are wealth and honor.
    
17. Wisdom makes life pleasant and leads us safely along.
    
18. Wisdom is a life-giving tree, the source of happiness for all who hold on to her.
    
19. By his wisdom and knowledge the LORD created heaven and earth.
    
20. By his understanding he let the ocean break loose and clouds release the rain.
    
21. My child, use common sense and sound judgment! Always keep them in mind.
    
22. They will help you to live a long and beautiful life.
    
23. You will walk safely and never stumble;
    
24. you will rest without a worry and sleep soundly.
    
25. So don't be afraid of sudden disasters or storms that strike those who are evil.
    
26. You can be sure that the LORD will protect you from harm.
    
27. Do all you can for everyone who deserves your help.
    
28. Don't tell your neighbor to come back tomorrow, if you can help today.
    
29. Don't try to be mean to neighbors who trust you.
    
30. Don't argue just to be arguing, when you haven't been hurt.
    
31. Don't be jealous of cruel people or follow their example.
    
32. The LORD doesn't like anyone who is dishonest, but he lets good people be his friends.
    
33. He places a curse on the home of everyone who is evil, but he blesses the home of every good person.
    
34. The LORD sneers at those who sneer at him, but he is kind to everyone who is humble.
    
35. You will be praised if you are wise, but you will be disgraced if you are a stubborn fool.

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This proverb begins with instruction to "let your heart keep (the father's) commands," followed by instruction to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." No doubt there is intent in this order. It is no secret that a son's relationship with his father, and godly instruction by the father are key in the son's relationship with God. As with anything, there are exceptions. There are the sons who have good relationships with their father and receive godly teaching from that father but who nevertheless turn away from God, and there are those sons who don't have a good father figure nor godly instruction who turn to God. But this father is telling his son not to forget his teaching, and his teaching includes instruction to trust in the Lord with all his heart.

Though it would seem obvious that to trust in the Lord with all one's heart would require one to not rely on their own understanding, we do not always make this connection. We want to do both - trust in God and also rely on our own understanding. Too often, though, our trust in God is more a mental concept than reality, so we hold to the concept of trusting God while actually placing our reliance on our own understanding. If we will truly trust in the Lord, though, we are told that "He will guide you on the right paths." (3:6) Regardless of our understanding, we do not know the future. Only God foresees what is to come and knows the best path on which to guide us, and He will do so if we will "think about Him in all your ways." As we place our trust in the Lord we need to realize He will at times discipline us and we should not despise His discipline. Instead, we should recognize that the Lord's discipline is reserved for "the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in." (3:12)

Verse 13 is not a shift in direction when it moves attention from trusting and honoring the Lord to finding wisdom and acquiring understanding. Placing our trust in the Lord puts us on the pathway of finding wisdom and acquiring understanding. They are the same pursuit, for this is not about acquiring our own wisdom and understanding. As Solomon, the writer, tells us in the first chapter, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." (1:7) Solomon defends his instruction to find wisdom and acquire knowledge from the Lord by pointing out that it was the Lord's wisdom and understanding that "founded the earth."

Just a sidenote here to emphasize how key it is that we accept God as Creator of all that exists. If we do not accept God as the Creator our theology is weakened as is our trust and understanding of God. We don't have to be able to explain God's existence to accept that He is the source of all that is. Many scientists claim to reject creationism because there is no scientific explanation for God, but that doesn't keep them from proposing theories to explain the source of everything that are more far-fetched than the acceptance of God and they still have not identified a true source of everything.

To continue, having found wisdom and understanding, Solomon tells us not to lose sight of the sound judgment and discernment they provide us. For with sound judgment and discernment we are able to "go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble." Furthermore, "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant." (3:23, 24) The contrast to this is to have our sleep disturbed by the fear of sudden danger or ruin that might be lurking just around the corner. These are lingering fears we have when we rely on our own wisdom and understanding. But they need not disturb us when we rely on the Lord who knows what is around the corner and guides our paths accordingly.