Provérbios 3

Provérbios 3

Poole observed that mercy and truth could be understood both as God’s mercy and truth to us and as the mercy and truth that is man’s duty to show to others. Both are important and should never be forsaken. “Mercy and truth are frequently joined together, as they are in God, as Psalms 25:10 57:3, &c., or in men, as Proverbs 16:6 20:28 Hosea 4:1, and here.” (Poole) BIND (Qal Imp) THEM AROUND YOUR NECK (Pr 6:21, 7:3, Dt 6:8) - The virtues of mercy and truth that come from God are to become part of us inwardly and then exude outwardly in our behavior for all to see as an adornment of Christ-like spiritual beauty and inwardly as the subject of our meditation. Such inward and outward mercy and truth is evidence of New Covenant salvation (cf. Jer. 31:33, 34) and shines light a light giving glory to our Father (Mt 5:16+). Perowne - mercy and truth] The phrase is often used to represent the character of Almighty God as exhibited in His dealings with men (Gen. 24:17, 32:11; Ex. 34:6; Ps. 25:10). Hence it comes to represent the perfection of moral character in man (16:6, 20:28). Bridges - Mercy and truth are the glorious perfections of God—always in exercise—always in combination (Gen. 32:10, Psalm 25:10; 85:10; 89:14; Ps. 100:5; 117:2, Mic. 7:18–20.)—for his people’s good. While we rest upon them for salvation, let us copy them in our profession. Are not his children new created in his image. Let then our Father’s image be manifested in us, “as his dear children.” (Eph. 4:24; 5:1, 2, 9.) Let these graces be, as with God, in combination. ‘The want of one buries the commendation of the other. Such a one is a merciful man to the poor; but there is no truth in him. Such a one is very just in his dealings, but as hard as flint.’ (F. Taylor’s exposition of Prov. 1–9. 4to. 1655–7.) “Put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercy. But lie not one to another. Speak every man truth with his neighbor.” (Col. 3:12, 9, Eph. 4:25.) Nor must these virtues be in temporary or occasional exercise. Mercy (Lovingkindness) (02617) (Hesed/Chesed/Heced See detailed study on hesed/chesed/heced) is the idea of faithful love in action and often in the OT refers to God's lovingkindness expressed in His covenant relationship with Israel (His "loyal love" to His "Wife" Israel [cp Hos 2:18, 19, 20-see note, Is 54:5, Je 31:32] = His "loyalty to covenant"). God's hesed His denotes persistent and unconditional tenderness, kindness, and mercy, a relationship in which He seeks after man with love and mercy (cp God immediately seeking man Ge 3:9, who was immediately hiding Ge 3:8trying to cover their shame Ge 3:7 - contrast God's lovingkindness manifest by spilling blood to provide skins to cover their shame! Ge 3:21). Hesed expresses both God’s loyalty to His covenant and His love for His people along with a faithfulness to keep His promises. Hesed/heced in Proverbs - Prov. 3:3; Prov. 11:17; Prov. 14:22; Prov. 14:34; Prov. 16:6; Prov. 19:22; Prov. 20:6; Prov. 20:28; Prov. 21:21; Prov. 31:26; Truth is that which one can rely on because it is stable and so it includes the idea of faithful and faithfulness (trustworthy). Truth (faithfulness, faithfully) (0571)('emeth from the verb aman = to confirm, support, believe, be faithful) is a feminine noun meaning truth, faithfulness, that which gives complete reliability. It is frequently connected with lovingkindness (Pr 3:3; Hos 4:1, 40:11, 61:7, 69:13, 85:10, 86:14, 89:14, 108:4) and occasionally with other terms such as peace (2Ki 20:19); righteousness (Isa. 48:1); and justice (Ps. 111:7). To walk in truth is to conduct oneself according to God’s holy standards (1Ki 2:4; 3:6; Ps. 86:11; Isa. 38:3). Truth was a measure of one’s word (1Ki 22:16; Da 11:2) and actions (Ge 24:49; Josh. 2:14). God is the God of truth (Ps 31:5, Ps 57:3, 10, 69:13 = "saving truth"; Ps 71:22, Ps 111:7, 115:1) See God's attribute of Truth. The Lxx often uses aletheia (or cognates like alethinos) to translate 'emeth. All uses of 'emeth in Proverbs - Prov. 3:3; Prov. 8:7; Prov. 11:18; Prov. 12:19; Prov. 14:22; Prov. 14:25; Prov. 16:6; Prov. 20:28; Prov. 22:21; Prov. 23:23; Prov. 29:14; Let them not forsake thee. Bind them as jewels about thy neck. (Pr 6:21, 7:3, Deut. 6:8.) Let them be “written—not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.” (Pr 7:3, 2 Cor. 3:3) God indeed is not thy debtor—yet none shall serve him for naught. The man who shews mercy to his neighbor shall find it with him. (Psalm 18:25, Matt. 5:7) “They that deal truly are his delight.” (Pr 12:22) Perowne - bind them … write them] Cultivate alike their outward exhibition “about thy neck,” and their inward possession upon the table of thine heart. Let them be in thee at once attractive and genuine. (Comp. 7:3; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4). The neck houses the throat, which in Hebrew [thought] is the very life of the person. POSB - Mercy and truth or faithfulness are to be tied to the throat, so that they are literally a part of a person’s every breath. This is the better explanation, and more accurately expresses the intent of the command. Guzik on Bind them…write them: “Striking expressions for glorying in, meditating on and (Pr 7:3) acting by these principles.” (Kidner) “By ‘binding’ and ‘writing’ the teacher is stressing that the teachings become a part of the disciple’s nature.” (Ross) POSB - The binding to the neck and the writing upon the heart express the fact that God desires His commands to be the very life of His people-every breath they breathe and every beat of their hearts. I am reminded of Moses description of the primacy and sufficiency of God's Word in Dt 32:47 where he says to Israel... “For (TERM OF EXPLANATION - see Dt 32:46) it (THE WORD) is not an idle (empty, vain, worthless) word for you; indeed it (THE WORD) is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.” THOUGHT - Do you consider the Word as so important that it is your life? Jesus said "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing, the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (Jn 6:63) Are you daily taking in the living and energetic Word of life (1 Jn 1:1,cf Php 2:16) that you might truly live (cf Lk 4:4+, Mt 4:4) and grow in grace and Christlikeness (1 Pe 2:2, 2 Pe 3:18) and allow the Spirit to renew your mind (Eph 4:23, cf Ro 12:2, Col 3:16)? Write (qal imperative) them on the tablet of your heart (see below on heart) - First, notice this is a command not a suggestion. Application point - Just do it! But how? Clearly this description is figurative, so the question is how can one write them on the table of one's heart? Obviously we can read the word, but an even more profitable way to "write" the Word on our heart is to memorize it! If you are not practicing the precious discipline of memorizing God's Word (under grace not law), you are missing the opportunity of a lifetime. There are not many things that will survive when heaven and earth fade away, but the written Word of God is one of those things and thus it behooves us to write it on our heart (heart speaking of our "control center" so to speak). The Holy Spirit then will take the Holy Word "written" on your heart and use it to make you progressively more holy. Paul writes But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (IN THE WORD), are (CONTINUALLY) being transformed into the same image (INTO GREATER CONFORMITY WITH GOD'S SON) from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit (THE SPIRIT SUPERNATURALLY TRANSFORMS US).(2 Cor 3:18+). Here are some passages to ponder (and even memorize)... Psalm 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. QUESTION - This question is simple yet profound - what is a major impediment to that sin that so easily trips you up? Now beware because by just memorizing a relevant passage you should not think that you have a "lucky charm" that will keep you from slipping into that sin again. What you do have is "24/7" ready access to is the Word of Truth, the "sword of the Spirit" (Eph 6:17) which you can use even as did Jesus when He was tempted in the wilderness. He defeated the Devil's intense temptations because He was (1) filled with the Spirit (Lk 4:1+) and (2) filled with the Word. Psalm 1:2 But his delight (SEE THE REQUIRED "PREREQUISITES" FOR DELIGHT = Psalm 1:1) is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip. QUESTION - Why do David's steps not slip? Do you desire a more stable spiritual walk? This passage makes it clear the practice you need to begin (memorize)! Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.” QUESTION - Why does David delight to do God's will according to this passage? Do you see the impact writing (treasuring, memorizing) God's Word on your heart can have on your spiritual life? Gilbrant notes that "The Hebrew language was often written on readily available potsherds with ink, for everyday uses and letters. Shorter texts were written on flat pieces of wood and waxed over; these tablets could be bound together with leather straps forming a booklet (cf. Isa. 30:8; Hab. 2:2). Leather scrolls were also popular in Palestine, and writing was done in columns (Jer. 36:23). In Ezek. 2:9f the unusual length of the message is indicated by the necessity to write on both sides of the scroll. This differs from scrolls found in Qumran which have writing only on the hairy side for the most part. (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) There is a parallel exhortation by Moses (yes, given to Israel but applicable to all followers of Christ)... Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deut. 6:4-9) Even better than writing them on doorposts is to write them on our heart! How? Clearly but daily reading of God's Word of truth. But even better by daily memorizing God's Word so that we have it with us all day long (like "frontals" on our forehead!) and can facilitate the lost discipline of meditating on the Scriptures. John