Today I continue the discussion of Proverbs with Chapter 3, which provides us with some rich and practical advice as to how to have a good relationship with God and man.
1. Remember the Commandments. Proverbs 3:1 tells us that we should remember what God has told us to do. This memory can be attained from a consistent and diligent study of the word. The theme of Judges, where every man did what was right in his own sight and as a result society effectively collapsed, is a consequence of the fact that Joshua and the elders of his time (the keepers of the Word after Moses) died out and the people forgot God and his Word. If we do not keep the word then we can expect a similar spiritual (and perhaps physical, mental, emotional and even financial) decline in our lives. We need to both study and practice the law so that it is ingrained in us (see also David Guzik commentary).
2. Be merciful and loyal to God and Man.
On Mercy: One who is merciful in my opinion is one who gives up something that he has a right to in regards to another (perhaps a claim of justice or retribution) as a sacrifice or a peace offering to God. The Lord is the Prince of Peace and we are commanded to be peacemakers so we should be merciful as he is merciful, therefore "[l]et not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 3:3 ESV).
On Loyalty/Consistency:
God honors those people who are loyal to him and place him on the throne of their hearts (to borrow a phrase from A.W. Tozer in his book Pursuing God). We see how Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his only son, was blessed with a nation to come from his seed. The Lord Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God as a result of his loyalty to God and steadfast resistance to all temptations. A loyal man is one who can be counted on and has value in the eyes of God and man.
Part of wisdom is consistency in our actions and deeds to God and Man. This is why vows were considered so important in Jesus' time (and still are, though we are cautioned against making them). A person who can be relied upon and is consistent in his actions and words has credibility and builds a good reputation for himself. Per James "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial..." (James 1:12 ESV). Otherwise he is a double-minded man and such men cannot expect to be fruitful (James 1:8 ESV).
If one is merciful and faithful there is a reward. "You will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:4). For more specifically on the favor of man as a blessing see Guzik id.
3. Incorporate God Into All Aspects of Your Life. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6 ESV). There is no area of our lives that is too small (and certainly no area too big) where we should not seek God's counsel. This is not to say that we seek God's permission and counsel for every thought or utterance or deed but rather to say that just because a thought, deed or word appears to be trivial and not worthy of God's attention should not proscribe us from seeking it. Proverbs also mentions straightening of paths and I think this is important because it foreshadows John's call of repentance and command to make our paths straight. If we desire to walk in holiness then we need to consult the Holy One to make sure that our paths are as straight as we think they are, because in our self-deception we can think we are walking correctly but are mistaken. The Bible provides examples of the grievous consequences that result for not consulting God (Numbers 14:39-45; Joshua 7:2-5).
4. Don't Listen (Exclusively) to Your Own Counsel. We are told "be not wise in your own eyes" (Proverbs 3:7 ESV). I interpret this not to say that we should not pursue knowledge but rather that we should not put ourselves as the ultimate source of knowledge. If we think we have come to a conclusion or gained some wisdom we should check it against the Word (Guzik id). This also applies to wisdom we receive from others or the world at large. It should be checked against the wisdom of God, which is higher than the wisdom of man.
----------------------End of Part 1
*ESV=English Standard Version
1. Remember the Commandments. Proverbs 3:1 tells us that we should remember what God has told us to do. This memory can be attained from a consistent and diligent study of the word. The theme of Judges, where every man did what was right in his own sight and as a result society effectively collapsed, is a consequence of the fact that Joshua and the elders of his time (the keepers of the Word after Moses) died out and the people forgot God and his Word. If we do not keep the word then we can expect a similar spiritual (and perhaps physical, mental, emotional and even financial) decline in our lives. We need to both study and practice the law so that it is ingrained in us (see also David Guzik commentary).
2. Be merciful and loyal to God and Man.
On Mercy: One who is merciful in my opinion is one who gives up something that he has a right to in regards to another (perhaps a claim of justice or retribution) as a sacrifice or a peace offering to God. The Lord is the Prince of Peace and we are commanded to be peacemakers so we should be merciful as he is merciful, therefore "[l]et not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart" (Proverbs 3:3 ESV).
On Loyalty/Consistency:
God honors those people who are loyal to him and place him on the throne of their hearts (to borrow a phrase from A.W. Tozer in his book Pursuing God). We see how Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his only son, was blessed with a nation to come from his seed. The Lord Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God as a result of his loyalty to God and steadfast resistance to all temptations. A loyal man is one who can be counted on and has value in the eyes of God and man.
Part of wisdom is consistency in our actions and deeds to God and Man. This is why vows were considered so important in Jesus' time (and still are, though we are cautioned against making them). A person who can be relied upon and is consistent in his actions and words has credibility and builds a good reputation for himself. Per James "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial..." (James 1:12 ESV). Otherwise he is a double-minded man and such men cannot expect to be fruitful (James 1:8 ESV).
If one is merciful and faithful there is a reward. "You will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:4). For more specifically on the favor of man as a blessing see Guzik id.
3. Incorporate God Into All Aspects of Your Life. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6 ESV). There is no area of our lives that is too small (and certainly no area too big) where we should not seek God's counsel. This is not to say that we seek God's permission and counsel for every thought or utterance or deed but rather to say that just because a thought, deed or word appears to be trivial and not worthy of God's attention should not proscribe us from seeking it. Proverbs also mentions straightening of paths and I think this is important because it foreshadows John's call of repentance and command to make our paths straight. If we desire to walk in holiness then we need to consult the Holy One to make sure that our paths are as straight as we think they are, because in our self-deception we can think we are walking correctly but are mistaken. The Bible provides examples of the grievous consequences that result for not consulting God (Numbers 14:39-45; Joshua 7:2-5).
4. Don't Listen (Exclusively) to Your Own Counsel. We are told "be not wise in your own eyes" (Proverbs 3:7 ESV). I interpret this not to say that we should not pursue knowledge but rather that we should not put ourselves as the ultimate source of knowledge. If we think we have come to a conclusion or gained some wisdom we should check it against the Word (Guzik id). This also applies to wisdom we receive from others or the world at large. It should be checked against the wisdom of God, which is higher than the wisdom of man.
----------------------End of Part 1
*ESV=English Standard Version
