Proverbs 3:5-6 confusion

[Blake_]

Throughout proverbs, wisdom and understanding is stated as a valued teasure that's God's people should seek. It is also explained that fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, and that understanding comes from the mouth of God.
However, I am tripped up on this verse, as it seems to contradict all that proverbs is saying. I know the bible cannot contradict itself, so I need some insight here. How am I to read God's word, and gain understanding, if I am not to rely on my own understanding? Am I relying on my own understanding as I read God's word and attempt to gain wisdom and understanding from this? Am I relying on my own understanding as I write this and try to figure it out?

"Trust in the Lorde with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;"

It seems to me that drawing conclusions from God's word would be relying on our own understanding, as we use our own intellect to read and process the information. However, I have a hunch that this cannot be true, and I am just overthinking this. Is there any biblical answer to this question?

Thanks,
-Blake

 

[dysert]

Throughout proverbs, wisdom and understanding is stated as a valued teasure that's God's people should seek. It is also explained that fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, and that understanding comes from the mouth of God.
However, I am tripped up on this verse, as it seems to contradict all that proverbs is saying. I know the bible cannot contradict itself, so I need some insight here. How am I to read God's word, and gain understanding, if I am not to rely on my own understanding? Am I relying on my own understanding as I read God's word and attempt to gain wisdom and understanding from this? Am I relying on my own understanding as I write this and try to figure it out?

"Trust in the Lorde with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;"

It seems to me that drawing conclusions from God's word would be relying on our own understanding, as we use our own intellect to read and process the information. However, I have a hunch that this cannot be true, and I am just overthinking this. Is there any biblical answer to this question?

Thanks,
-Blake

I think the deal is that we're not to lean on *our own* understanding. The secular person does this because they are not in the Word. However, if you're in the Word, and "rightly dividing" it, following proper principles of interpretation, comparing Scripture with Scripture, etc., then you're not leaning on your own understanding. Instead you're leaning on the understanding that comes from the Bible. Of course you can still get it wrong, but the passage is setting a direction of getting our understanding from the Bible instead of just making things up or depending on our experiences to teach us spiritual truths.

 

[Edmond Smith]

Dysert is correct.
Plus it's how you study the Bible that matters. I'm hoping you are studying using the methodology of Hermeneutics. It is the best way to study and quite simple to pick up and learn.
Remember, Secularist or non-chrisitans, try to understand the Word from their perspective. Which is usually incorrect or misleading to them.
Those of us Born Again, should study the Word to get the principles that God wants us to learn from it. It's God's perspective that's important...not ours.

 

[Blake_]

I think the deal is that we're not to lean on *our own* understanding. The secular person does this because they are not in the Word. However, if you're in the Word, and "rightly dividing" it, following proper principles of interpretation, comparing Scripture with Scripture, etc., then you're not leaning on your own understanding. Instead you're leaning on the understanding that comes from the Bible. Of course you can still get it wrong, but the passage is setting a direction of getting our understanding from the Bible instead of just making things up or depending on our experiences to teach us spiritual truths.

I really like the way you explained that, that certainly is a reasonable way of looking at it. I also like the "rightly dividing" aspect you there in there.

Thanks!

 

[Blake_]

Dysert is correct.
Plus it's how you study the Bible that matters. I'm hoping you are studying using the methodology of Hermeneutics. It is the best way to study and quite simple to pick up and learn.
Remember, Secularist or non-chrisitans, try to understand the Word from their perspective. Which is usually incorrect or misleading to them.
Those of us Born Again, should study the Word to get the principles that God wants us to learn from it. It's God's perspective that's important...not ours.

So you're saying we should be objective and use Hermeneutics to study the bible to get the perspective God wants us to get, rather than using our own biased perspectives to study the bible, correct?
I have heard of Hermeneutics but haven't looked into it much. I usually just try to look at the whole context of a passage, not just the passage itself. I also try to use other scriptures to interpret what that particular scripture would mean as well, since the bible cannot contradict itself.

 

[talitha]

Two things occur to me here....

First, I believe that the proverb is talking about how we live our lives and make decisions - we should let God lead us rather than do what makes sense to us, when the two are in opposition.

Second - and this is harder to explain - the deeper truth here is that we should live by the spirit. Many times there is a debate between whether to follow our hearts, meaning our emotions, which can lead us astray, or our minds. The answer is - neither. We need to walk by the spirit. The heart has emotion, the mind has logic, but the spirit has the ability to recognize truth and wisdom. For this, there is no logical process, and it has nothing to do with feelings. There is a "knowing" that we don't really have words for. This is faith. It seems "blind" to the outsider, but it is not, because the spirit has eyes and ears..... Do you get it?

 

[Edmond Smith]

So you're saying we should be objective and use Hermeneutics to study the bible to get the perspective God wants us to get, rather than using our own biased perspectives to study the bible, correct?
I have heard of Hermeneutics but haven't looked into it much. I usually just try to look at the whole context of a passage, not just the passage itself. I also try to use other scriptures to interpret what that particular scripture would mean as well, since the bible cannot contradict itself.

Yeah,

The way you've studying isn't wrong. You'll do the same thing with Hermeneutics. It's more of a planned way. I'm not the most organized person...if something will help me organize the information coming to me. I'm able with the Holy Spirit of course to get the principle(s) that God wants to relay to me.

I always tell new born Christians this one thing....Never ever go by one verse. I tell them to do the 20/20 plan.
Read 20 scriptures before and 20 after. Keep a pad and pen next to you and be ready always to pray.

 

[ScottA]

Throughout proverbs, wisdom and understanding is stated as a valued teasure that's God's people should seek. It is also explained that fearing God is the beginning of wisdom, and that understanding comes from the mouth of God.
However, I am tripped up on this verse, as it seems to contradict all that proverbs is saying. I know the bible cannot contradict itself, so I need some insight here. How am I to read God's word, and gain understanding, if I am not to rely on my own understanding? Am I relying on my own understanding as I read God's word and attempt to gain wisdom and understanding from this? Am I relying on my own understanding as I write this and try to figure it out?

"Trust in the Lorde with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;"

It seems to me that drawing conclusions from God's word would be relying on our own understanding, as we use our own intellect to read and process the information. However, I have a hunch that this cannot be true, and I am just overthinking this. Is there any biblical answer to this question?

Thanks,
-Blake

There is no contradiction. As with all the scriptures, would-be contradictions simply come from misunderstanding.

"Gaining understanding" from Him...is..."trusting in Him" (and not in yourself).

 

[Edmond Smith]

Blake,
I think what your doing is trying to come to a conclusion by your own understanding. I do think you may be overthinking this.
We study God's Word as you have spoke of and understand. Praying and asking God to help us to gain wisdom and to understand. For understanding only comes through wisdom and wisdom comes from God and time.

Job 28:20-28 Job ask: Where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding come from?

God explains it to him.

 

[Mark51]

A person's "understandings" about social conduct, religion, philosophy, politics, and all the other "isms" that reflect who we are have been in a continued state of development over the millenniums'. In a particular society, a person's conduct and views may be within the social norm and thus be considered a model citizen. However, in another society, this same person's conduct may be consider outside the social norm. In other words, there is no universal standard. The question to meditate on is: Whose social standards are correct? The answer: none! All nations are rebellious to God's word. All of mankind's "institutions" are likened to the counsel at Isaiah 40:15. Therefore, strive to put God's word first above "worldly wisdom" and when conflictions to your own understandings are challenged, put faith and endear Bible counsel.

 

[Shane R]

One word for you to consider: tradition. You are not the first bloke to read the Bible.