April 6
Reading: Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, 14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing 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 ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of these– keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”– when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
In Proverbs 3 we are in the thick of the book of Proverbs and get to see how these sayings will be presented. They are not simply thrown together, but grouped, and often presented in a thematic way. Some sayings are but one verse, others amount to a short paragraph. Some stand alone to be pondered. Others are part of a collection, meant to speak together about wisdom.
In chapter 3 we find six sections, or more, or less, depending on how you read them. Sometimes there is no one right way. God wants us to contemplate different ways these sayings might be put together. Such is the way of wisdom. It always takes thinking and a desire to apply what you learn, so says the first eight verses here. You must take the Lord and His proverbs with you throughout the day.
The two proverbs in verses 9-12 work together to depict two aspects of life with God that work in tension. The first is the principle of sowing and reaping. Honor God with your wealth and He will bless you with more. This could easily be turned into prosperity gospel heresy if not for the next proverb. God is going to send you tough times for your good, embrace them.
In verses 13-18 Lady Wisdom herself is commended to us. Then, in verses 19-26, wisdom is presented as spoken into the way the earth has been created. Wisdom helps us to live in the Lord’s world because it is woven into its very design, even when things look like a mess.
In verses 19-32 wisdom is applied to how we treat others in the Lord’s world. Verses 33-35 tell us that to live by the Lord’s wisdom is to live under His blessing. To ignore wisdom is to invite the Lord’s curse. This is the way His world works.
Think about your life this week. Are you neglecting wisdom when it comes to another person? Are you asking for a curse from the Lord?