Proverbs 3:1-8
1 My son, do not forget my torah, but let your heart keep my mitzvah;
“Fix God’s law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in everything be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may be ready to us whenever we have occasion to use them. (4.) Our wills and affections must be subject to them and must in everything conform to them. Not only our heads, but our hearts, must keep God’s commandments; in them, as in the ark of the testimony, both the tables of the law must be deposited.” (Matthew Henry)
“Solomon then says, ‘Let your heart keep my commandments.’ The original commandments were written upon tablets of stone. Theses stone tablets were then placed in the Ark of the Covenant. The symbolism of God’s Word being written on stone tablets and then the tablets being safely guarded within the Ark of the Covenant translates to us today. Jeremiah foretold what would happen someday and that day has come. He said, ‘The new covenant that I will make with the people of Israel will be this: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people’ (31:33). Jeremiah talked about a day where God’s law, His Word, would no longer have to be written on tablets of stone and carried around in an ark, but it would rather be written upon our hearts and safely guarded within the essence of our beings. Paul said something similar in his second letter to the church at Corinth. He said, ‘For ye know that ye are an epistle of the Messiah, ministered by us; not written with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on the tablets of the heart of flesh’ (2nd Cor 3:3). Even as God wrote many letters, through Paul, and sent them to different churches, He tells us here that we are a living letter. If we allow Him to, He will write upon the tablets of our hearts of flesh and send us out for others to read.
When you keep God’s Word in your heart, you literally allow Him transform you into a living letter to be read of men. You might be the only Bible that someone reads. When they read you, your words, your life, your example, what will they learn? Will they be drawn to God or away from Him? Will they learn about love or hate, bitterness or kindness, mercy or revenge? When you hide God’s Word in your heart you become the tablet, the letter, the light, the life He wants you to be in your environment.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that you must keep God’s Word in two places: your mind and your heart. When His Word is at the forefront of your mind you will make wise decisions. When His Word is locked safely within your heart you will walk in His love. Do you want to make a difference? Then hide God’s Word in your heart and mind!”
http://todaysword.org/teaching-series/development/power-of-proverbs/proverbs-chapter-3/
2 For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.
“God’s commandments shall add to us length of days; to a good useful life on earth, they shall add an eternal life in heaven, length of days for ever and ever, Ps. 21:4.” (Matthew Henry)
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
Mercy and truth.. “The phrase is often used to represent the character of Almighty God as exhibited in His dealings with men (Genesis 24:17; Genesis 32:11; Exodus 34:6; Psalm 25:10).” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) “..Mercy and truth are attributes of God and Solomon is teaching us that if we want to live the life that God desires for us to live, if we want to win with people, if we want to have healthy relationships, then we should walk in mercy and truth...
So what does this mean to you today? It means if you want the healthy and lasting relationships God wants you to have, then you should develop mercy and truth. Solomon tells us to display them around our neck and to write them upon the tablets of our heart. Mercy and truth are character traits that we should be both known by (externally) and made of (internally). There are few things in life as precious and rewarding as a relationship with a true friend. Develop mercy and truth and you will enjoy the gratification that comes from having them.”
http://todaysword.org/teaching-series/development/power-of-proverbs/proverbs-chapter-3/
5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
Proverbs 3:9-12- Firstfruits
These four verses go together for me, because if truth be told, I am not a good steward of God’s gifts of material possession in this world. I need to take correction here. I read through many article on this and many folks seem like me. They seem to be like the man in the parable of the Good Samaritan who want to justify their disobedience, but I decide to take one on the chin.
9 Honor Yahweh with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
“Honoring the Lord goes much further than just attending church and stating that we are a believer. Our heart is where our pocket book is." http://www.lovethelord.com/books/proverbs/03.html “The law of the firstfruits is found in Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:20; Leviticus 23:10; Numbers 18:12: Deuteronomy 18:4; Deuteronomy 26:1-3. The firstfruits were presented by every Israelite to the priests, in token of gratitude and humble thankfulness to Jehovah, and consisted of the produce of the land in its natural state, or prepared for human food (Maclear, 'Old Test. Hist.,' bk. 4, c. 3, a). The ‘firstfruits’ also carried with it the idea of the best. The custom of offering the firstfruits of the field and other revenues as a religious obligation was observed by ancient pagan nations (see Diod. Sic., 1:14; Plut., 'De Iside,' p. 377; Pliny, 'Hist. Nat.,' 18:2 (Zockler). Some of the ancient commentators find in this verse an argument for the support of the ministry. It is well known that the priests ‘lived of the sacrifice,’ and were ‘partakers of the altar,’ and as their support by these means tended to the maintenance of Divine worship, so those who supported them were in the highest degree ‘honoring God.’ The injunctions also show that the honouring of God does not consist simply of lip service, of humility and confidence in him, but also of external worship, and in corporeal things. They are not peculiar to Israel, but are binding on all. They oppose all selfish use of God's temporal gifts, and lead to the thought that, in obeying them, we are only giving back to God what are his own. 'The silver and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts’ (Haggai 2:28).
‘We give thee but thine own,
Whate'er the gift may be;
All that we have is thine shine,
A trust, O Lord, from thee.’(Day's 'Psalter.')” ( The Pulpit Commentary)
This is no prosperity Gospel. It is just fact. But it is also true that people do not always get their return in this life. And many who seem to get a return are actually wicked. Jesus said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mathew 6:19-21) And the main thing is a right heart before Yahweh our God made possible through the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of Yahweh, nor detest His correction;
12 For whom Yahweh loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.
“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord — Either by making light of it, or not being duly affected with it, or by accounting it an unnecessary thing; but rather esteem it a privilege and favour from God. Neither be weary of his correction — Neither think it tedious or hard, but endure it with patience and cheerfulness. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth — Afflictions are not calamities, but benefits and comforts, because they are testimonies of God’s love, which is infinitely more desirable than any evil can be terrible. They show God’s design, desire, and care to purge us from our sins, and make us fit for his presence and kingdom.” (Benson Commentary) The question is whether I am willing for Him to change me.
Proverbs 3 True Happiness
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
14 For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand 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 take hold of her,
And happy are all who retain her.
19 Yahweh by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes—
Keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 So they will be life to your soul
And grace to your neck.
23 Then you will walk safely in your way,
And your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
26 For Yahweh 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 the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
30 Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.
Proverbs 3- Choose. Wisely
31 Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord,
But His secret counsel is with the upright.
33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the home of the just.
34 Surely He scorns the scornful,
But gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise shall inherit glory,
But shame shall be the legacy of fools.