This week we look at Wisdom’s Direction (Proverbs 3).
Remember
Ch 2 – Wisdom Protects Our Path
Ch 3 – Wisdom Directs Our Path
Ch 4 – Wisdom Perfects Our Path
The key verses for Ch 3 are verses 5 & 6.
This chapter is setup as an If / Then statement. If we follow God’s precepts, then He will guide us.
Vs. 1-2 show a poetic summary of the law of God. It states that long life will be added when we keep God’s commandments. If you remember back to the giving of the 10 commandments, the 5th commandment states, “Honour thy father and mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Note the promise in this statement that is similar to Prov. 3:1-2.
This promise can be looked at from a few angles.
1. The promise gives some special blessing of additional years to our lives. (Hezekiah)
2. A more practical angle would be that the precepts of God lead to a safer, happier and healthier life, thus extending our years.
3. Probably it is some combination of the two views.
I like this summary of verses 1-4 – “Obedience to God’s Word can add years to your life and life to your years.” – Wiersbe Too few of us truly live our lives.
Vs. 5-8 we see that we must obey God’s will. Read Vs. 5 & 6a and then 6b. It states that when we trust, then God will guide our path just as in Prov. 2:8 God promised He would preserve our path. It makes sense. God can’t possibly guide our path if we aren’t trusting Him. If we don’t trust Him, every time we had a struggle we’d venture off on our own. Trust is vital! It’s not a robotic following, but yet it’s not our own path. The only way to trust God is to maintain close fellowship with Him. It comes from asking and listening during our quiet time of prayer and reading as well as we spend our daily lives. When we don’t listen we become as Vs. 7 states , “wise in our own eyes” as Abraham was when he went to Egypt and as Joshua was when he went to battle Ai.
Vs. 9-10 deals with our stewardship. The Jews associated outward wealth with God’s blessing, but in the age of grace we must realize that all is God’s, both spiritual and material. We are simply the stewards (care takers) of what’s been entrusted to us. In these verses we are instructed to give of our first fruits. The principle is that we give to God from the beginning and not what’s left at the end (time, talent & treasure). To live out this principle means that we must live within our means. When we add and add everything we “want” we won’t typically have the time and resources to give to God. Living this principle has to be an intentional decision. When we make God’s way a priority it does two things – First, it put us in right fellowship with God & Second, it focuses our trust and love in God. We don’t live this way as a payoff, but we do realize that there will be blessings from it.
Vs. 11-12 we see that we must submit to God’s chastening (correction). This has to be one of the most under taught doctrines in the Bible and has led to false doctrine and even denominations. When we don’t teach or understand God’s correction of His children it often leads to insecurity in our salvation. A thought that if I sin enough or commit a sin bad enough that I can lose my salvation (fall from grace). It’s a logical conclusion if there wasn’t chastisement. This is a critical issue. Ask yourself – How many sins or which sin could cause this to occur? You could never be sure of your salvation or standing with our Lord. This is contrary to the Bible and God’s nature. We give ourselves too much power. No one can pluck us out of God’s hand, including us. We did nothing to save ourselves and we can do nothing to lose it. God did ALL the work – we simply believe. It is grace – receiving that which we do not deserve.
What’s the issue here? The question is what does God do with a wayward Christian? If we can sin without loss or correction, we would be become beasts. That is where chastisement comes into play. Once we are saved we become a child of God and just as we correct our children, God corrects us. God’s chastisement goes from simple to severe just as our punishments do with our kids. To the Christian in close fellowship it may be as simple as conviction, but as we deny God’s beckoning to return, it progresses to loss of joy, possession, even health in some instances. Heb. 12:1-11 shows this same principle with more detail. The key is to be receptive and even glad when chastisement comes. It means that you’re one of His children. We should then bow our pride and get right our relationship.
Vs. 13-20 sums it up by singing the praises of God’s wisdom.
When we’ve surrendered as we’ve spoken, God’s wisdom will direct our:
Vs. 21 – Eyes
Vs. 22 – Neck
Vs. 23 & 26 – Feet
Vs. 25 – Sleep
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.
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