Provérbios 3
John Trapp · Citado em PreceptAustin
Provérbios 3
Trapp - To trust in God is to be unbottomed of thyself, and of every creature, and so to lean upon God, that if he fail thee thou sinkest. Trust - The Lxx uses peitho emphasizing the idea of having come to a settled persuasion concerning some truth -- in the present context, the truth that God has our best interest at heart.
Provérbios 3
Trapp - “Ask counsel at his mouth, aim at his glory, be evermore in the sense of his presence, and light of his countenance.” NET NOTE on acknowledge Him - Heb “know him.” The verb יָדַע (yadah, “to know”) includes mental awareness of who God is and the consequential submission to his lordship. To know him is to obey him. The sage is calling for a life of trust and obedience in which the disciple sees the LORD in every event and relies on him. To acknowledge the LORD in every event means trusting and obeying him for guidance in right conduct. POSB comments on acknowledge that the "Hebrew word (yada) “is not fully represented by ‘acknowledge Him.’” This is the word that means to know intimately and personally. It describes experiential knowledge (Pr 1:2). It is the knowledge David spoke about in his counsel to Solomon at the end of His life: "“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." (1 Chr.28:9). Our trust in God grows as we learn more and more about Him. The more we know God, the closer we draw to Him and the easier it becomes to commit our ways to Him. Trusting God cannot be separated from intimacy with God. These three…(1) trusting Him (2) leaning wholly upon Him and (3) knowing Him intimately are the mechanics of a life that is totally committed to Him. If we live such a life, we are assured of this promise: He will direct your paths or make them straight. What does this mean? In Old Testament times, roads were rough at best and dangerous at worst. Travel was exhausting and perilous. When a king took a journey, some of his servants would go ahead of his caravan to smooth the rough places and remove the obstacles in the road. They would make his paths straight. This image is used of John the Baptist’s role in relation to the coming of Jesus: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain” (Is.40:3-4). It is also what God promised to do for Cyrus: “I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts” (Is. 45:13). This is what God does for the people who trust in Him-who lean wholly upon Him. He will go ahead of us and smooth the road. He will remove all the obstacles in our way so we can reach the destination He intends for us. This does not mean, however, that there will be no difficulties, interruptions, or deterrents along the way. It means that God will be with us and help us to rise above everything in our path that threatens to trip us up or throw us off course. We, in turn, have to put ourselves in His hands. We have to trust and lean upon Him wholly. Bridges - Next—let our confidence be uniform—In all thy ways acknowledge him. Take one step at a time—every step under plain warrant, and Divine direction. (Comp. Ez. 8:21–23, Neh. 1:11) Never venture to plan for yourself, except in simple dependence on God. (James 4:14. If the Lord will—as Fuller remarks with his pithy quaintness—‘a parenthesis, and yet the most important part of the sentence.’) It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive, that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted. Therefore take all thy difficulties to be resolved by him. Be in the habit of going to him in the first place before self-will, self-pleasing (See the awful hypocrisy, and judgment of asking counsel of God under this deadly influence. Jer. 42:1–3, 19–22, Ezek. 14:1–6), self-wisdom, human friends, conveniences, expediency. Before any of these have been consulted, go to God at once. Consider no circumstance too clear to need his direction. (See the evil consequence of this inconsiderate neglect. Jos. 9:14) In all thy ways, small as well as great—in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable “peace” of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear? (Phil. 4:6, 7. “In every thing.”) Thus it was that Abraham acknowledged God. Wheresoever he pitched a tent for himself, there was always an altar for God. (Gen. 12:7, 13:18) In choosing a wife for his son there was a singular absence of worldliness. No mention of riches, honor, beauty, or of any thing, but what concerned the name and honor of his God. (Pr 24:1–8. Comp. also his servant, Pr 3:12–27.) Thus did the wise man’s father in all his ways acknowledge God, asking counsel of him in all his difficulties, and never disappointed. (1 Sam. 23:9–11, 30:6–8, 2 Sam. 2:1, 5:19. Compare the smarting rod from the neglect of this godly habit. 1 Sam. 27:1,29.) This is indeed to walk with God as a Father. This is true faith—not superseding, but invigorating exertion. (Comp. Gen. 32:9–20, Neh. 2:4–20, 4:9.) Now if we be weaned from the idolatry of making our bosom our oracle, and our heart our counsellor; if in true poverty of spirit we go every morning to our Lord, as knowing not how to guide ourselves for this day—our eye constantly looking upward for direction (Psalm 5:3, 143:8–10, 25:4, 5. - see on site study = "Vertical Vision"), the light will come down. NET NOTE on way - The term דֶרֶךְ (derekh, “way”) is figurative (hypocatastasis: implied comparison) referring to a person’s course of life, actions and undertakings (Prov 2:8; 3:6, 23; 11:5; 20:24; 29:27; 31:3; BDB 203 s.v. 5; cf. TEV “in everything you do”; NCV, NLT “in all you do”). This is a call for total commitment in trust for obedience in all things. Gilbrant on way (derek) - Metaphorically, derek often refers to the actions and behavior (or ways) of people (Ps. 10:5; 35:6; 37:5). People either follow the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked (Ps. 1:6). The way of the righteous is closely linked to "the way of the Lord." Parents are to direct their children in the way of the Lord (Gen. 18:19; Prov. 22:6). God's ways are much higher than man's ways, and the wicked are urged to forsake their sinful ways (Isa. 55:7ff). Derek is a key word in Proverbs. Prov. 1:15; Prov. 1:31; Prov. 2:8; Prov. 2:12; Prov. 2:13; Prov. 2:20; Prov. 3:6; Prov. 3:17; Prov. 3:23; Prov. 3:31; Prov. 4:11; Prov. 4:14; Prov. 4:19; Prov. 4:26; Prov. 5:8; Prov. 5:21; Prov. 6:6; Prov. 6:23; Prov. 7:8; Prov. 7:19; Prov. 7:25; Prov. 7:27; Prov. 8:2; Prov. 8:13; Prov. 8:22; Prov. 8:32; Prov. 9:6; Prov. 10:9; Prov. 10:29; Prov. 11:5; Prov. 11:20; Prov. 12:15; Prov. 12:26; Prov. 12:28; Prov. 13:6; Prov. 13:15; Prov. 14:2; Prov. 14:8; Prov. 14:12; Prov. 14:14; Prov. 15:9; Prov. 15:19; Prov. 16:2; Prov. 16:7; Prov. 16:9; Prov. 16:17; Prov. 16:25; Prov. 16:29; Prov. 16:31; Prov. 19:3; Prov. 19:16; Prov. 20:24; Prov. 21:2; Prov. 21:8; Prov. 21:16; Prov. 21:29; Prov. 22:5; Prov. 22:6; Prov. 23:19; Prov. 23:26; Prov. 26:13; Prov. 28:6; Prov. 28:10; Prov. 28:18; Prov. 29:27; Prov. 30:19; Prov. 30:20; Prov. 31:3 AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT: God will clear obstructions and enable you to go forward. He directs the paths of those who wholeheartedly trust in Him. Bridges - He shall direct thy paths. We want no new revelations or visible tokens. (Such as Ex. 13:21, 22) Study the word with prayer. Mark the Divine Spirit shedding light upon it. (See on site topic Illumination of the Bible) Compare it with the observation of the Providence of the day; (Psalm 107:43) not judging by constitutional bias (a most doubtful interpreter), but pondering with sober, practical, reverential faith. Let the will be kept in a quiet, subdued, cheerful readiness, to move, stay, retreat, turn to the right hand or to the left, at the Lord’s bidding; always remembering, that is best, which is least our own doing, and that a pliable spirit ever secures the needful guidance. (Comp. Psalm 32:8, 9, Isa. 48:17, 18, with Isa 30:21.) We may “be led,” for the exercise of our faith, “in a way that we know not.”(Isa. 42:16, 50:10)—perhaps a way of disappointment, or even of mistake. Yet no step well prayed over will bring ultimate regret. Though the promise will not render us infallible; our very error will be overruled for deeper humiliation and self-knowledge; and thus even this mysterious direction will in the end be greatly acknowledged—“He led me forth in the right way.” (Psalm 107:7) Make straight is translated in the Septuagint with orthotomeo (in present tense - continually) which literally describes cutting a straight road through difficult terrain and so to make a straight path. Figuratively orthotomeo is used in 2 Ti 2:15+ to refer to correctly or accurately teaching God's Word of Truth, "holding to a straight course," so to speak. NET NOTE on make straight - The verb יָשָׁר (yashar) means “to make smooth; to make straight” (BDB 444 s.v.). This phrase means “to make the way free from obstacles,” that is, to make it successful (e.g., Isa 40:3). The straight, even road is the right road; God will make the way smooth for the believer. Yashar in Proverbs - Prov. 3:6; Prov. 4:25; Prov. 9:15; Prov. 11:5; Prov. 15:21 Paths (0734)(orach/orah) means way, byway, or highway, sometimes a literal path one walks on (Jdg. 5:6), but more often figuratively to describe the course of one's life (Job 6:18), their characteristic lifestyle as either good or evil (Ps 16:11, Pr 2:13). "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word." (Ps 119:9) But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. (Prov. 4:18) Gilbrant - A prime function of the word (orach) is describing the way or path of life or of death. The word can mean "way" or "lifestyle." Theologically, the usage of ʾōrach is to contrast the life activities or character orientation of the sinner with the obedient, godly person. Essentially, one chooses one or the other "path," but there are sure and certain consequences which result from that choice. True life is in following Yahweh's path (his righteous character). See Ps. 25:10; 27:11; 44:18 for a penitential perspective. (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) Victor Hamilton on orah - Most often ʾōraḥ is used in a figurative way, describing the way to life or to death. It often is parallel with the word derek, meaning "way, lifestyle." (Ps 27:11).(Pr 4:14; cf. Ps 139:3; Pr 2:8; Pr 12:28, Job 6:18; Isa 30:11). The contrast is between the way of sin/death and the way of obedience/life. These exhaust the options available to man. Man makes his own choice but he cannot choose his own consequences. The path of life (Ps 16:11; Pr 2:19; 5:6; 10:17; 15:24) corresponds with the path of integrity (Ps 27:11), the path of uprightness (Pr 2:13), the path of justice (Pr 2:8;17:23; Isa 26:8; 40:14), the path of righteousness (Pr 8:20). Conversely, one is to spurn the path of evil (Ps 119:101) for it is a false path (Ps 119:104, 128). To follow the path of truth and life is to follow God's own path (Ps 25:4, 10; 44:18; 119:115, where the word is a synonym for God's Torah; Isa2:3). The way which one chooses determines one's destiny. There is such a thing as the "road" of no return (Job 16:22). Bildad speaks of the "fate/path" of all that forget God (Job 8:13). Interestingly, the LXX translates ʾōraḥ here as ta eschata "the end." Pr 1:19 indicates, "Such is the 'way/end' for those who are after dishonest gain," that consequences of evil behavior are intrinsic to that action and are not superimposed as a penalty. Thus the Bible can say that the way (derek) of the transgressor is hard. When Jesus contrasts the two ways, the two doors and the two destinations in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 7:13-14), he is basically repeating the concept of ʾōraḥ and derek, as taught in Hebrew wisdom literature. Our Lord's reference to himself as "the way, the truth, the life" (Jn 14:6) means that Jesus is the way to the truth about life. He is not the answer. That would be an oversimplification. He is the way that leads to the answer. Only after one steps out on the way does he discover that Jesus is the truth about life. Wisdom literature too challenges us to step out on the right way, the way of life, the way that leads to life. (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Orach/orah - 59x in 57v - caravans(1), childbearing*(1), course(1), highways(1), path(13), paths(19), traveler(1), way(15), ways(6). (Genesis 18:11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. (Genesis 49:17) "Dan shall be a serpent in the way, A horned snake in the path, That bites the horse's heels, So that his rider falls backward. (Judges 5:6) "In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, And travelers went by roundabout ways. (Job 6:18) "The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish. (Job 6:19) "The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them. (Job 8:13) "So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish, (Job 13:27) "You put my feet in the stocks And watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet, (Job 16:22) "For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return. (Job 19:8) "He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, And He has put darkness on my paths. (Job 22:15) "Will you keep to the ancient path Which wicked men have trod, (Job 30:12) "On the right hand their brood arises; They thrust aside my feet and build up against me their ways of destruction. (Job 31:32) "The alien has not lodged outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. (Job 33:11) 'He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.' (Job 34:11) "For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way. (Psalm 8:8) The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. (Psalm 16:11) You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 17:4) As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. (Psalm 19:5) Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. (Psalm 25:4) Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. (Psalm 25:10) All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. (Psalm 27:11) Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a level path Because of my foes. (Psalm 44:18) Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Your way, (Psalm 119:9) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. (Psalm 119:15) I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. (Psalm 119:101) I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. (Psalm 119:104) From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Nun. (Psalm 119:128) Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way. Pe. (Psalm 139:3) You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 142:3) When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. (Proverbs 1:19) So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. (Proverbs 2:8) Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. (Proverbs 2:13) From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; (Proverbs 2:15) Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; (Proverbs 2:19) None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. (Proverbs 2:20) So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 3:6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 4:14) Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. (Proverbs 4:18) But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. (Proverbs 5:6) She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it. (Proverbs 8:20) "I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, (Proverbs 9:15) Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight: (Proverbs 10:17) He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who ignores reproof goes astray. (Proverbs 12:28) In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death. (Proverbs 15:10) Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die. (Proverbs 15:19) The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway. (Proverbs 15:24) The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below. (Proverbs 17:23) A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice. (Proverbs 22:25) Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself. (Isaiah 2:3) And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 3:12) O My people! Their oppressors are children, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray And confuse the direction of your paths. (Isaiah 26:7) The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level. (Isaiah 26:8) Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O LORD, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls. (Isaiah 30:11) "Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 40:14) With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding? (Isaiah 41:3) "He pursues them, passing on in safety, By a way he had not been traversing with his feet. (Joel 2:7) They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like soldiers; And they each march in line, Nor do they deviate from their paths. (Micah 4:2) Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Learning From Lincoln Read: Proverbs 3:1-8 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. —Proverbs 3:6 The day before his 52nd birthday, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield, Illinois, to become President of the United States. With the threat of civil war looming, he said goodbye to the friends and neighbors who had come to see him off. “I now leave,” he told them, “not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.” Lincoln’s reliance on God for guidance and strength reflects the instruction of Solomon: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). On this 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, we celebrate his kindness, integrity, and courage. And we can also learn from him how to face a daunting future with confident hope in the Lord. Into His hands I lay the fears that haunt me, The dread of future ills that may befall; Into His hands I lay the doubts that taunt me, And rest securely, trusting Him for all. —Christiansen Living without trust in God is like driving in the fog. Too Close Read: Proverbs 3:1-18 In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 I grew up in Oklahoma where severe weather is common from early spring through the end of summer. I recall one evening when the sky boiled with dark clouds, the TV weather forecaster warned of an approaching tornado, and the electricity went out. Very quickly, my parents, my sister, and I climbed down the wooden ladder into the storm cellar behind our house where we stayed until the storm passed by. Today “storm chasing” has become a hobby for many people and a profitable business for others. The goal is to get as close as possible to a tornado without being harmed. Many storm chasers are skilled forecasters with accurate information, but I won’t sign up for a tornado tour anytime soon. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) In moral and spiritual areas of my life, however, I can foolishly pursue dangerous things God tells me to avoid because of His love for me, all the time believing I won’t be harmed. A wiser approach is to read the book of Proverbs, which contains many positive ways to elude these snares of life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” Solomon wrote. “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6). Our Lord is the master of the adventure of living, and following His wisdom leads us to fullness of life. Father, Your wisdom leads us along the path of life. Help us to follow Your guidance today. How can you trust the Lord today? Every temptation is an occasion to trust God. By David C. McCasland Alternate Route Read: Proverbs 3:1-12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. —Proverbs 14:12 My daughter was coming home from college for the weekend to play the piano at her friend’s wedding. Before she left, I sent her an e-mail directing her to take an alternate route instead of the one she usually travels for the 6-hour drive home. Why? Because on that road a few weeks earlier my wife and I had been delayed for 2 hours by construction crews. As parents, we must provide alternate routes in life as well. We’ve observed the wrong highways others have traveled or perhaps the foolish ways we have taken, and we know they lead to delay or danger. Think of all the possible paths our children might choose—the road of sexual immorality, the avenue of alcohol and drug abuse, the way of ungodly friends. But in Christ, there is an alternate path—a route that will lead our children away from the struggles we know they’ll face on any other road. The right route starts with the Via Dolorosa—the way of the cross. It starts with salvation. It continues with a path that is straight (Prov. 3:5-6) and is directed by God’s Word (Ps. 119:105). It includes Jesus as a traveling companion (Jn. 8:12). That’s the ultimate alternate route. Let’s model it clearly so our children will see the right way. The journey that we're on each day Has many roads to choose; But if we trust the Lord to guide, Our way we cannot lose. —Sper To guide your children on the right way, you must go that way yourself. Rerouting . . . Rerouting Read: Proverbs 3:1-8 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. —Proverbs 3:6 Don’t worry. I know right where I’m going,” I said to my passengers. Then an almost-human voice ratted me out: “Rerouting . . . rerouting.” Now everyone knew I was lost! These days, millions of drivers recognize those words, or others like them, as a sign they’ve gone off track or missed a turn. The GPS device not only recognizes when a driver is off course, but immediately begins plotting a new path to get back on track. Sometimes followers of Jesus need help to get back on track spiritually. We may intentionally veer off course because we think we know best, or drift away slowly, failing to notice we’re moving further and further from the walk God wants with us. God has not left us on our own, however. He has given all believers the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17; 1 Cor. 3:16), who convicts us of our sin (John 16:8,13). When we’re going off course, He sounds the alarm and triggers our conscience (Gal. 5:16-25). We may ignore the warning, but we do so to our own detriment (Isa. 63:10; Gal. 6:8). What comfort to know that God is at work in our lives through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit! (Rom. 8:26-27). With God’s help and guidance, we can continue on a path that is pleasing to Him. Holy Spirit, we would hear Your inner promptings, soft and clear; And help us know Your still, small voice So we may make God’s will our choice. —D. DeHaan We’re never without a helper, because we have the Spirit within. Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. KJV Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Septuagint - me isthi (2SPAM) phronimos (Lxx:relating to the quality of one's thinking resulting fr. insight: wise, intelligent, sensible, Mt7.24; Gn3:1; 41:33,39; 1Ki3:12) para seauto phobou (2SPMM) de ton theon kai ekkline (2SPAM: Command to continually turn fr. doing what is bad 1Pe3.11; declining to follow false teachers Ro16.17) apo pantos (all) kakou Be. Proverbs 26:12. Is. 5:21. Ro. 11:25; 12:16. fear. Proverbs 14:27; 16:6. Ne. 5:15. Job 1:1; 28:28. Ps. 34:11–14. Ec. 12:13. ONE NEGATIVE COMMAND AND TWO POSITIVE COMMANDS NLT “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.” This is a sure sign that we are headed for trouble!!! "Abraham did this when he went to Egypt (Gen. 12:10–20) and so did Joshua when he attacked the little town of Ai (Josh. 7:1-26)." Do not be wise in your own eyes - In the Greek this is a command in the present imperative, which means stop being wise in your own eyes (or don't let it begin). There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. Paul gave a similar exhortation in Romans - "Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation." (Ro 12:16) The Septuagint for wise is phronimos which means sensible, thoughtful, prudent. Being "sensible" by relying on self is not sensible! There is a place for being prudent as when one hears Jesus' words (in Sermon on the Mount) and acts on them or obeys them (enabled by the Spirit), for then that person is like a wise man who built his house on the rock and when the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. (Mt 7:24, 25). Matthew Poole on wise in your own eyes: “Be not puffed up with vain conceit of thine own wisdom, as if that were sufficient for the conduct of all thine affairs without direction or assistance from God, or without the advice of others.” Fear the LORD and turn away from evil - Fear is a command in Hebrew and Greek (present imperative = fear Him continually). This is a powerful principle and repeatedly seen in the Bible. When God is our affection, the lesser (sinful) affections lose (or at least are more likely to lose) their power and grip on our hearts. Look as Job 1:1 "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil." See this principle in Pr 8:13, 14:27, Ne 5:15, Job 1:8, 28:28, Ps 34:11-14, Eccl 12:13, 2 Co 7:1+. In Romans 13:14+ Paul commands us "put on (aorist imperative - Just do it!) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision (present imperative with a negative = Stop doing this! It is a subtle but sticky trap!) for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Notice the order - Jesus first! The old Scottish preacher, Thomas Chalmers, has a sermon, “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection,” where he argues that the only thing powerful enough to drive out our love for the world is our new love for the Father. Guzik on fear the Lord - This is the natural result of trusting God. As we trust Him we come to know Him better, leading to natural reverence and awe (to fear the LORD). As we trust Him, we are drawn more to God and further from evil. What is fear of the Lord? Or how is it manifest? Or how is it cultivated in the soil of our heart? Read - Ps 112:1 "Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments." Note that in Hebrew the second phrase often is given to help deepen the understanding of the first phrase! GODLY FEAR MANIFEST ITSELF IN ACTION THAT PLEASES GOD: [Ge 22:12] "for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Related Resource: Fear of the Lord - in depth discussion In the Septuagint turn away is ekklino (present imperative = make this your habitual practice! Necessitates continual reliance of the supernatural enabling power of the indwelling Spirit) which means to keep away from, steer clear of or avoid. Ekklino was used in a secular writing advising staying clear of prickly shrubs! Good advice physically but even more morally/ethically! One is reminded of Paul's commands in 1 Cor 6:18 and 2 Ti 2:22 Bridges - Another warning against self-confidence! (Pr 3:5. Comp. Pr 23:4, Ro 12:3, 16. See the mind of God expressed in that solemn woe, Isa. 5:21.) and who needs it not? So natural is it to idolize our own devices! Yet self-wisdom is self-delusion. (Even a heathen could remark—‘I suppose that many might have attained to wisdom, had they not thought they had already attained it.’ seneca de Irâ.Lib. iii. c. 36. Comp. 1 Cor. 8:2, Gal. 6:3.) True wisdom is its opposite—the fear of God and the fear of sin. (Pr 14:27; 16:6, Gen. 39:9, 10, Neh. 5:15, Job 28:28.) God is loved and honored. Sin is hated, loathed, resisted. (Rom. 7:18–24.) It lives indeed; but it is condemned to die. (Ro 6:6) It cleaves to the child of God; but his heart departs from it. Often is it the sickness of the body: always of the soul. (Hos. 7:9) The departure from it, in the exercise of self-denial and godly discipline, is health to the body (Pr 3:1-2). The soul revives in fruitfulness. (Hos. 14:5–7) The man that feareth the Lord, under “the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness goeth forth,” (Mal. 4:2) as from his sick chamber, full of life and Christian energy. “The joy of the Lord is his strength.” (Neh. 8:10) NET Note - If one fears the LORD and turns away from evil, then he is depending on the LORD and not wise in his own eyes. There is a higher source of wisdom than human insight. Arnot - The Health of Holiness “Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones.”—3:7, 8. BY a striking and strongly figurative expression, which can be perfectly comprehended by readers of any age or clime, it is intimated that a religious rectitude preserves mental and physical health, and gives fullest play to all the human faculties. All God’s laws come from one source, and conspire for one end. They favour righteousness and frown on sin. The law set in nature runs parallel, as far as it goes, to the law written in the word. It is glory to God in the highest, as governor of the world. Vice saps the health both of body and mind. Every one of us has seen monuments of this awful law, almost as deeply blighted as the warning pillar on the plain of Sodom, only they stalk about, and so publish their lesson more widely. When the brain has been dried, and the eye dimmed, and the countenance bleared, and the limbs palsied, and the tongue thickened by drunkenness, and other vices that march in its company or follow in its train, what remains of the man should be to us as dread a warning against his course, as if he had been turned into a salt statue, and stood upon the wayside to scare the solitary passenger. It behoves us to walk circumspectly, and not as fools. All around us, sin is withering the bloom of youth, and wasting manhood’s strength—is shrivelling the skin upon the surface, and drying up the marrow in the heart of the bones. Verily we are in the hands of the living God: in Him we live, and move, and have our being: we cannot elude His observation, or break from his grasp. Dreadful though its results be, I rejoice in these providential arrangements. The law by which disease and imbecility closely track the path of lust, is of God’s own making, and, behold, it is very good. It is righteous, and merciful too. The link which connects the suffering with the sin, I would not break though I could: even so, Father! for so it seemed good in thy sight. These wastings of the marrow are the terrors of the Lord set in array against evil; if they were wanting, human governments could not withstand the tide of universal anarchy. These providential arrangements clog the wheels of evil, and so secure for the world a course of probation. If the Creator had not fixed in nature these make-weights on the side of good, the tide of evil that set in with sin would have soon wrought the extinction of the race. It is especially those sins that human governments cannot or will not touch, that God takes into his own hands, and checks by the stroke of his judgment. He has bowed his heavens and come down. He concerns Himself with the details of human history. He who does the great things, neglects not the less. He who makes holiness happy in heaven, makes holiness healthful on earth. Gather up the fragments of his goodness, that none of them be lost: set them all in the song of praise. The High Cost Of Sin Read: Proverbs 3:1-12 Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones. —Proverbs 3:7-8 It was only a little comma, but it cost the Lockheed corporation millions of dollars! An error was made in a contract with an international customer—a misplaced comma in a crucial number. The company insisted that the manufacturer honor the contract as written. Unfortunately for Lockheed, the error was made in an equation that adjusted the sales price, and it cost them $70 million. That’s the way it is with sin too. It has a high cost, even though at the time it may seem so small. Seemingly harmless transgressions can end up doing great damage. Carrying a few extra pounds can cost a runner valuable time in an important race. Likewise, a “root of bitterness” or hatred in our lives can produce enormous spiritual harm to ourselves, others, and to our relationship with God (Heb. 12:15). Proverbs 3 tells us that we can expect God’s chastening if we disobey Him (vv.11-12). That’s why we would be wise to “fear the Lord and depart from evil” (v.7). If we take God and His Word seriously, we will hate any sin in our lives—big or little. The price of sin is very high, Though now it may seem low; And if we let it go unchecked, Its crippling power will grow. —Fitzhugh Uproot the weed of sin while it's still small. Avoiding Spiritual Sickness Proverbs 3:7, 8 Wood, C. R Introduction: There is more than one way to get sick. You can get physically sick, but you can also get spiritually sick. Spiritual sickness is often far worse as it affects that part of us that will live forever. Here are some tips on how to avoid spiritual sickness. I. ?Be Not Wise in Thine Own Eyes? (v. 7) A. Do not be impressed with yourself 1. Nothing uglier than the pretty girl who knows it 2. Nothing dumber than the intelligent one who knows it B. Do not be closed to instruction 1. Learn from your critics 2. Listen to your teachers 3. Find some models on which to pattern your life II. ?Fear the Lord? (v. 7) A. Basic meaning 1. Hold God in awe 2. Old Testament term for salvation B. Further implications 1. Need some fear of the Lord in the sense of being afraid of what He can do 2. Remember a. God sees everything you do b. God knows everything you think c. God knows everywhere you go 3. You will answer for all the above, in the judgment III. ?Depart From Evil? (v. 7) A. Turn away from doing evil 1. Other side of doing right 2. Avoid every potentially evil situation B. Stay away from the evil man (vv. 31?35) 1. Envy him not 2. Choose not his ways 3. Agree with God?s analysis of him ? he is wicked and a fool Conclusion: A good spirit in any group depends on the members of that group. The success of any enterprise also depends on every person in the group. Spiritual sickness will ?take you out of the play.? Resolve to stay healthy by avoiding spiritual sickness. Proverbs 3:8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. KJV Proverbs 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. shall. Proverbs 4:22; 16:24. Ps. 147:3. Is. 1:6. Je. 30:12, 13. health. Heb. medicine. thy. Eze. 16:4, 5. marrow. Heb. watering, or moistening. Job 21:24. THE RESULT OF TURNING The NET Note on it will be helps understand how this verse expresses the result of Pr 3:7 - Heb “it will be.” The form is Qal jussive of הָיָה (hayah) and is one of the rare uses of the volitive to express purpose or result, even though there is no vav prefixed to it. This indicates that Pr 3:8 is the outcome of Pr 3:7. If a person trusts in the LORD and fears him (Pr 3:5–7), God will bless him (Pr 3:8). Gibrant on healing - The noun riphʾûth refers to the "healing" or "medicine" that comes to a person as a result of godly wisdom and reverence for the Lord. Hebrew word for "body" = umbilical cord, navel (the source of nutrition in utero). The Hebrew word is synecdoche to refer to the entire body. NET Note - Heb “your navel” (cf. KJV, ASV). MT reads שָׁרֶּךָ (sharrekha, “your navel”) which functions as a synecdoche of part (= navel) for the whole (= body), meaning “your body” (BDB 1057 s.v. שׂר). The geminate noun שֹׂר (sor, “navel; navel-string [= umbilical cord]”) occurs only two other times in OT (Ezek 16:4; Song 7:3). The LXX reads τῷ σώματί σου (tō sōmati sou, “your body”). So the BHS editors suggest emending MT to the more commonly used terms בְּשָׂרֶךָ (bésarekha, “your flesh”) or שְׁאֵרֶךָ (shé’erekha, “your body”). But this kind of emendation runs counter to the canons of textual criticism; normally the more difficult reading or rarer term is preferred as original rather than a smooth reading or common term. Since “navel” occurs only twice elsewhere, it is difficult to imagine that it would have been confused for these two more common terms and that a scribe would mistakenly write “your navel” instead. If MT “your navel” is a synecdoche for “your body,” the LXX is not pointing to a different textual tradition but is merely interpreting MT accordingly. In similar fashion, the English versions which read “your body” are not rejecting the MT reading; they are merely interpreting the term as a figure (synecdoche) for “your body.” POSB on navel - The image here in Proverbs is of the health-giving nourishment and strength that flow from the mother’s body through the umbilical cord into her preborn baby’s body. The fear of the Lord is a healing flow into our sin-sick souls. It is the marrow or nourishment-drink, refreshment-for our bones. And refreshment (drink) - The Hebrew word means liquid served to a person to drink. The Septuagint translates it with the noun epimeleia and is used to describe the "Good Samaritan" in Lk 10:34+ who "took care of" the man who had been robbed and beaten. NET Note - Heb “drink.” The noun שִׁקּוּי (shiqquy, “drink”) is a figure: metonymy of cause (= drink) for the effect (= refreshment); see BDB 1052 s.v. Just as a drink of water would bring physical refreshment to one’s body, trusting in God and turning away from evil will bring emotional refreshment to one’s soul. Bones - figure of speech = seat of the emotions. E.g., [Jer 20:9;23:9] both used parallel to "heart"). David speaks of the burden of sin "There is no health in my bones because of my sin." (Ps 38:3). NET Note on bones - Heb “your bones.” The term עַצְמוֹתֶיךָ (’atsmotekha, “your bones”) functions as a synecdoche of part (= bones) for the whole person (= physical and moral aspects); cf. Ps 6:3; 35:10; Pr 3:8; 14:30: 15:30; 16:24; Isa 66:14 and BDB 782 s.v. עֶצֶם 1.d. Scripture often uses the body to describe the inner person (A. R. Johnson, The Vitality of the Individual in the Thought of Ancient Israel, 67–8). Bones (Heb = etsem) in Proverbs = Prov. 3:8; Prov. 12:4; Prov. 14:30; Prov. 15:30; Prov. 16:24; Sin makes for spiritual sickness, while righteousness leads to healing. George Lawson - Proverbs 3:8. The navel is a useful part of the body, being a sort of ligament to knit the bowels together;—the bones are the strength and fence of the body. The fear of God is health to the outward, as well as to the inward man. Health is an object of great desire to all, and the wise man will not only use medicines when sick, for the restoration of it, but will attentively consider what food and what exercise are the most proper for preserving health in the navel, and marrow in the bones. The spiritually wise will remember, that in God’s hands is our life, and breath, and all our ways,—that diseases are his servants, which come and go at his pleasure,—and that the surest way to health is to walk before him unto all pleasing. Does he then enjoy health? he has a blessing along with it. Is he the victim of disease? it will be more beneficial to him than is to the wicked his unsanctified health. Religion has a natural tendency to impart health and vigour to the body, because it preserves a man from those distempers which proceed from unsubdued lusts, and diffuses over the mind that calm serenity and heartfelt joy, which even upon the body exercise a medicinal influence. Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; KJV Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Proverbs 14:31. Ge. 14:18–21; 28:22. Ex. 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; 35:20–29. Nu. 7:2, etc.; 31:50, etc. De. 26:2, etc. Hag. 1:4–9. Mal. 3:8, 9. Mar. 14:7, 8, 10, etc. Lu. 14:13, 14. 1 Co. 16:2. 2 Co. 8:2, 3, 8, 9. Phi. 4:17, 18. 1 John. 3:17, 18. A COMMAND TO HONOR GOD WITH THE FIRST AND THE BEST! This is an admonition to see that one's financial ways honor God (cf. Luke 11:42). God's part is not what is left over but the "firstfruits," which consisted of the first of the produce of the land (Ex. 22:29; 23:19; 34:20; Lev. 23:10). The Israelite brought the "firstfruits" in order to acknowledge that God was the ultimate owner of Canaan (Lev. 25:23), thus honoring Yahweh with his substance and expressing gratitude and thanksgiving. POSB - It has long been said that worship involves three books: God’s book (the Bible), the hymn book, and the pocketbook. Trusting the Lord with all your heart includes trusting Him with your substance or wealth-your possessions. Fearing the Lord-submissively obeying Him-extends to His commands about finances and material things. The experience of God's people through the years is distilled into a pithy proverb by the inspired writer. It shows that God's people can count on His blessings when we honor Him with our offerings. As with all proverbial wisdom, this is not an ironclad rule without exceptions. It is a principle proved through experience and inspired by God. Stewardship is not an attempt to bribe God and ensure our own wealth. It is a committed response to the God who never forgets the needs of His people. See Lk 6:38. HIggins writes that "Faith moves beyond dependency for the pathway and now embraces a man's possessions. How are they held? To whom do they belong? A man's thinking on all these and more will be revealed by what he does with them." (What the Bible Teaches) The Hebrew word for honor is also the word for glorify! Honoring God with one's wealth is a way to glorify Him.