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Wednesday 07/16/25
Thru the Bible: Proverbs
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The Promises of Proverbs 3
Proverb 3:1-35,
“(1) My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (2) for they will provide a long and full life, and well-being for you.”
I feel now is a great moment to revisit something from our ‘Word of Faith‘ days.
Sad, in mentioning our past connection with that movement, it is something negative though I almost always try to admit that there were some good things as well. One of those good things was their understanding of the power of God’s words.
Now I am not attempting to generate a theology here, but merely offering some speculation based upon well attested truths.
We were made in the image and likeness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The grammar of the Hebrew text only suggested one stated purpose for this which was so that we may rule over the works of His hands.
Without getting technical here, the grammar of the Hebrew if rendered more accurately turns the words “Let them have dominion” to “so they may rule over”. Other purposes might exist, but that is the one scripture states from the beginning.
Now we know that we are to be “like” God, in terms of character, holiness, purity, thought & speech.
Now I am NOT suggesting that we have creative power with our words, the scriptures are VERY clear that Jesus is the Creator and nothing was made apart from Him. No creature has true Ex Nihilo creative power. However, we are told by Jesus Himself that our words have a source, the abundance of what is in our hearts. That is the basis for why we will be judged by our words. They are outward expressions of who we are.
Now this is where the subjective bit comes in – if this is also true of God then it gives a deeper understanding as to the power of His words. They aren’t just words, they are the expression of His heart. They take the noun reality of Who God is internally and convert it into a verb form of action through His words.
Since He is God and Creator this would give His words the same power and His very person.
Now the reason for mentioning this here is that God is not only the source of all truth, He is the very embodiment of truth.
John 14:6,
“Jesus replied, “I Am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
This phrase says more than we have time to dig into, but it reveals that God IS THE TRUTH, and without embracing the truth as revealed in the person of Jesus no one can draw near to the Father.
This is why we can see God clearly in creation. He spoke from Who He is and created. So it naturally follows that all He made reveals Who He is.
As Paul said,
“(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, (19) because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (20) For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.”– Romans 1:18-21
Furthermore, God’s words, when spoken to, over or regarding us – these words are instructions which give our minds the power to understand and live in the light of them and by living in the light of them become like the source of those words – God Himself.
Even as James tells us, “receive the engrafted Word of God which is able to save your souls”. With this the parable of Parable of the heart soils agrees.
Beyond this God’s words are…
- Quick and living, penetrating and revealing, they themselves have the power to discern between right and wrong, intentions and motives, soul and spirit – Hebrews 4:12
- “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”
- They are seeds Mark 4
- They are spirit and life – John 6:63
So when we are told,
“(1) My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (2) for they will provide a long and full life, and well-being for you.”
These are not just empty thoughts. They are God’s words and carry with them the power to cause the very things they promise.
Furthermore, and this one is a serious problem, we have a tendency to treat God’s words as less than what they are. We always bring to scripture our own bias, our unanswered questions and the assumptions which spring out of these so that in our reading the scriptures, we are rarely just reading them. We read past, over, around, through God’s words but unless we are deliberate and careful to do so, we will almost fail to read God’s words in the present. James gives us insight into God’s wisdom which I think will help us as we traverse this book of wisdom.
In James 3:17 we read,
“but the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.”
The words “not hypocritical” include the notion of unbiasedness. So unless a promise is tethered to the Old Covenant, which covenant HAS been supplanted, then we are to read and accept these words as applying to us!
Even though we intellectually know God’s word is true. That it reveals WHO He is. That it is timelessly both everliving and life giving. Yet in the reading of it, we can default inwardly to a heart geometry which does not accommodate it being a living word to us – here – in the now! And that is a tactic of the enemy to keep God’s words, His living seeds from germinating in our hearts. In other words, it is a death sentence!
So let’s examine how we read God’s word as we continue…
“(3) DO NOT let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) THEN you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.
(5) Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
(6) Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He WILL make your paths straight.
(7) DO NOT be wise in your own estimation;
FEAR THE LORD and
TURN AWAY FROM EVIL.
(8) THIS WILL BRING healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.”
I don’t know to what degree you picked up on it, but God – the Creator of the universe, just gave us SEVEN specific instructions which promise certain outcomes. Were you taking notes (mentally or otherwise)?
Listen, I know as humans we have all kinds of reasons for “buts” and “ifs” when reading God’s word, but if you notice – they all tend towards making you and your situation the exception to the promise. They all tend towards separation rather than union and life. That really ought to make us suspicious of their source.
Might I suggest to you that while there may be times when this is true, it is almost certainly the uncommon exception and not the rule.
Instead of reading God’s word with the default thought that you are the exception, you should read it with the certain knowledge that unless the context demands another consideration, it all applies to you!
In the above verses the meaning of the words are straightforward with two minor concessions.
In verses 3-4 we are told,
“(3) DO NOT let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (4) THEN you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.”
Now immediately what springs to mind is the freewill and depraved thinking of those in the world and sadly, of many in Christ’s body. This makes one wonder – how can a promise guarantee my finding favor and good understanding in the sight of people in general?
Fair question, but first let’s look at the connected command.
“DO NOT let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
This imagery is used a fair amount in scripture so it will serve us well to become familiar with it. The picture is of tying mercy and truth around the neck and is a near perfect fit for the command and purpose of phylacteries. Phylacteries, if you will remember, were small leather boxes in which were scriptures. They served as reminders of the law and our commitment to obedience. We see this demonstrated in Deuteronomy 6:8 & 11:18. They would tie God’s commands on the hand or let them be frontlets for the eyes.
While the actual reality of doing this had its reminding effect, the use of this word imagery here is a call to live by the characteristics of Mercy and truth. Wearing them is compared to wearing clothes, so as to have these qualities adorn the “wearer.”
The further illustration of writing them on the heart emphasizes the inward appropriation of these instructions and truths which facilitate the outward obedience to them.
Then we are told we…
“(4) …will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.”
What does this mean?
Well it is NOT a promise that every human being will love and accept you. We know that from Jesus’ Own words regarding Himself and those who are His disciples. So what does it mean?
Well there are more grammar lessons to have here, but I will spare you the details. The truth is that there are several clarifications which might apply and I will set the more likely of them before you.
The Septuagint attaches the first two words to v. Proverb 3:3 and so renders verse 4 as
“and devise excellent things in the sight of the LORD and of men.”
It is possible to emend the Masoretic Text, to read “a good name”, but that hardly sidesteps people’s free will to slander you.
Finally it is also possible to take the two pivotal words “favor” and “understanding” as a hendiadys: the favor of good understanding, meaning, “a reputation for good understanding”.
In any case, it very likely means something akin to what we see with Jesus in His life. People could find no basis for condemning Him. They knew Him to be a man of excellent character, deep understanding of scripture and wisdom that could not be circumvented.
Did this mean they loved Him, accepted Him or followed Him? I think we all know the answer to that!
So this is a case where there are no exceptions, but where understanding what the promise is as opposed to what you want it to be is important.
You might ask? How do we know when further study is necessary to understand a passage?
Well, we have the Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide into truth, so sensitivity to Him is imperative. However, I think we have an inward witness in the voice of our conscience. Sometimes things just don’t settle well. We “sense” there is something amiss in our understanding. Don’t ignore that!
The only other promise which needs a little clarification is the one which promises health and healing.
First off we need to know that this is referring to a process of restoration and refreshment to a person that results in healing. In context the central focus and healing balm is “the fear of the Lord“.
If one “fears the Lord“ they do not rely upon themselves and their own thoughts – they honor Him as the ONLY One Who possesses perfect knowledge and so defer to Him and His words and ways.
There is a higher source of wisdom than human insight.
If one “fears the Lord“ they WILL turn away from evil, since the fear of the Lord is to Hate evil according to Proverbs 8:13.
Now the way we live this out is revealed in the grammar of the text. The second colon clarifies the first.
If one “fears the LORD” AND “turns away from evil”, THAT IS THE WAY in which they are “depending on the LORD and not being wise in their own eyes”.
The words “navel” and “bones” as are the words used in several translations, are considered figures of speech representing the whole body.
The only other thing I would clarify is what it means to acknowledge, because it runs deeper than the surface word in English.
To acknowledge here includes the idea of knowing God and obeying Him. Meaning we are to live in a way that is consistent with His authority.
The NET Notes say this:
The sage is calling for a life of trust and obedience in which the disciple sees the LORD in every event, submits to, and trusts Him.
The Holman translates this verse as.
“think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”– Proverbs 3:6
Picking back up with verse 9…
“(9) Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops; (10) then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Now someone tell me if this is an unconditional promise which is not predicated upon what covenant you are under?
In some ways it is!
I will begin my explanation with a spoiler – the promise under the New Testament differs. Instead of
This is not simply talking about the tithe. More specifically this is referring to firstfruits, which by extension would have included the tithe, but was not specifically referring to the tithe.
In the Old Testament, the first fruits were the first and best portion of the harvest given to God as an act of worship and recognition of His provision. The timing of the feast was spring and therefore was one primarily of barley, but the principle is greater than the festival itself.
Tithing, on the other hand, involves giving a tenth of one’s income or produce to God, often to support religious institutions and once every three years for the needy as well. [See Deuteronomy 26:12]
The principle is to honor God by acknowledging His rightful place of authority by rendering gratitude to Him through gifts of tribute and one of those ways included one’s wealth.
The word wealth not only applies to overabundance, but also simply to what one has.
So we are being told to honor the Lord with the first and best of our increase.
This has a similar expression in the New Testament which is where we can find EVERY example of Old Covenant theology which has been amended by the New Covenant. In other words, if the New Testament does not specifically go out of its way to clarify a different understanding or practice regarding a truth represented under the Old Covenant then it remains the same!
In this case Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 8 and it is important enough to disrupt the flow of our reading to understand this passage through the lens of the New Covenant…
2 Corinthians 8:1-15,
“(1) Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (2) that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
(3) For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, (4) imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (5) And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”
Are you already seeing a difference? Out of their gratitude to God, they gave not only money (and it was money for food would have spoiled before reaching Jerusalem), but first they gave themselves to God and to these Christian brothers!
“(6) So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
(7) But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
(8) I speak not by commandment, but I AM TESTING THE SINCERITY OF YOUR LOVE BY THE DILIGENCE OF OTHERS. (9) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (10) And in this I give advice:
It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; (11) but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
(12) For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. (13) For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; (14) but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.
(15) As it is written, “HE WHO GATHERED MUCH HAD NOTHING LEFT OVER, AND HE WHO GATHERED LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-15,
“(6) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
(7) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
(9) As it is written: “HE HAS DISPERSED ABROAD, HE HAS GIVEN TO THE POOR; HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”
(10) Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, (11) while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
(12) For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, (13) while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, (14) and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. (15) Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
So there is a connection between giving and receiving, but the promise is to meet our needs and if there is abundance beyond that we are to share so that there may be equality.
Remember the parable of the man with the abundant harvest? He decided to tear down his barns and build larger ones so as to store up for selfish use. Jesus called him a fool! [See Luke 12:18]
Proverbs 3…
“(11) My child, do not despise discipline from the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke. (12) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.
“(13) Blessed is the one who has found wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding. (14) For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.”
Better implies different. Wisdom does not always produce natural abundance, especially not under the New Covenant. It may very well help in maintaining enough, but the guarantee of abundance is regarding eternal riches.
“(15) She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you desire can compare with her.
(16) Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
(17) Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
(18) She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.”
“(19) By wisdom the LORD laid the foundation of the earth; He established the heavens by understanding.
(20) By His knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, so that the clouds drip down dew.”
“(21) My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion. (22) So they will become life for your soul, and grace around your neck. (23) Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble.”
The security here is more moral than physical, though both may result. For example wisdom will teach you the right way to walk morally, but it will also tell you not to walk down a dark alley in the middle of the night in a shady part of town.
“(24) When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.
“(25) Do not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; (26) for the LORD will be the source of your confidence, and He will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.”
Now wisdom instructs you to sow good seed and honor God in your actions…
“(27) Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.
(28) Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time.”
What do you suspect might be the harvest of conducting your life in this way?
“(29) Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly.
(30) Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.
(31) Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose any of his ways; (32) for one who goes astray is an abomination to the LORD, but He reveals His intimate counsel to the upright.”
Wisdom warns…
“(33) The LORD’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
(34) With arrogant scoffers He is scornful, yet He shows favor [grace] to the humble.
(35) The wise inherit honor, but He holds fools up to public contempt.”
Though employing different words, I want you to notice that James did not originate the statement that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. He was quoting this very passage in Proverbs.
This does two wonderful things for us. It affirms the validity of the Proverbs being inspired by God and worthy of canon, but also further expounds on our understanding of God, His ways with people, the existence of a form of grace before the cross and expands our understanding of this proverb!
In the first clause James uses the words “proud” and “resist” whereas Solomon used “arrogant scoffers” and “scornful”.
The words “arrogant scoffers” and “scornful” are all from a single Hebrew verb meaning, to boast, to scorn, to mock or deride. So this person’s actions demonstrate a resistance to God’s words and ways. So God responds with poetic justice and in turn resists them!
However, if one will simply humble themselves (which is an expression of the fear or respect for the Lord) God will show favor or grace towards them. In many ways these are good synonyms bridging the two languages of Hebrew and Greek.
The word grace is God’s unmerited favor which is expressed by His willingness to influence your heart towards life and union with Him. In like manner the Hebrew word here translated as “favor” favor, grace, acceptance. Genesis 6:8, where Noah is said to have found “favor” in the eyes of God – stands as THE biblical and fundamental application of this word where it meant unmerited favor or regard in God’s sight!
Blessings!
Tri
