” Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. “-{Prov 3:5-7}
The word “Proverbs” means,”to be Like.” It is a book of comparison, comparing one thing to another. They are moral statements or illustrations, it shows us God’s principles, truths about life and help guide us. It is written by king Solomon and shows us about living practical righteousness {1:3} and how to live as God intended when He made us {Psalm 90:1-2,12}. Proverbs teaches upright living which come out of a right relationship with God-1:3. In 4:1-4 Solomon connectd three generations. What he learned from David and Bathsheba he passes on to his son Rehoboam. It is practical. Proverbs shows the principles and applications to truth of how the Godly are to live on a day to day basis. Proverbs calls us to consider how we think and live, choices we make in light of the Scripture.
Proverbs has us live thinking and considering “the fear of the Lord” and living wisely as a result. {1:7;9:10}. The “fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” The fear of the LORD is mentioned many times, including -Proverbs 1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10;14:26,27; 15:16
Two major themes are wisdom and foolishness. FOOLISHNESS is everything that is opposite to GODLY WISDOM. Foolish are those who disregard God’s Word. He says they are “corrupt,”-{Read Psalm 14:1}. The fool is opposed to God, His teaching,is morally corrupt and spiritually bankrupt! “… and the complacency of fools will destroy them.”-{Prov 1;32}. “…Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord. “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.“-{Prov 1:29-30}. They reject HIM!
Wisdom includes knowledge, understanding, discretion, obedience, as a result of choosing to build your life on “the fear of the LORD” and the Word of God. The call of Proverbs is a call to wisdom, and the father tells the child “If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God, for the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” -{Prov 2;4.}
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”-{Prov 9;10}
So you want to be wise and not be foolish? Live in reverence to God. One aspect is to turn away from sin, evil. You want to honor God and be wise? To submit to God is to be wise, to reject God is to be foolish. To submit and build your life on His WORD IS TO BE WISE, TO REJECT IS TO BE FOOLISH-{Read Matt 7;24-27 }. Do you want to be wise, and live right with and before God on a daily basis? Then the book of Proverbs gives you some practical insight in how to be such a person.
Prov 3:5-6 is one of my son’s favorite verses.
Let’s Look at some Truths to help us to be wise and fear the Lord as a result….
- TRUST IN THE LORD
- RENOUNCE and REPENT of TRUSTING YOURSELF
- BE CONFIDENT HE WILL GUIDE YOUR PATH
1. RELY ON THE LORD-
TRUST IN THE LORD;
The “LORD,”-{Jehovah}. He is revealed as Creator God,-{Gen 2:4 }; Providing One, -{Gen 22:14 }; Self-Existing One – {Exodus 3:15 }; Promise Keeping One -{Deut 7;9}; {Sovereign One, -{Ish 46:9}; Unchanging One -{Mal 3:6}. To Trust in the LORD we need to know Him and His character as revealed in His Word. It is imperative you know who you are trusting and and what He is like. God has supplies His Spirit to “guide us into all truth.”-{John 16;13}.
The word, “TRUST,” means -To have come to a settled conviction about some truth. In this context it is that The LORD has your best intentions at heart. He alone is worthy of your trust. It is to trust Him entirely and exclusively!
“Trust”- “batach “means to stretch out or to lie face down. It is a picture of a man totally stretched out on his face before God. The message of his posture is his total helplessness and dependence upon God. It bespeaks that he is totally yielded to that will.’ {Higgins}. It speaks of reliance having confidence in something or someone.
“Batach expresses sense of well-being and security from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. Notice all the uses in the book of Psalms where many if not most refer to trust in Jehovah.”- {preceptaustin}.
Lit “clinging to” and setting your hope and confidence in Him, as opposed in yourself! It speaks of our helplessness and dependency. In ourselves we are helpless and our dependency is in Him who alone is sufficient for me.
Trusting , placing your confidence in who He is and revealed in His Word. Confident In Him, His Word, character, goodness, generosity, greatness, Love, Sovereignty, Promises!
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”-{Psalm 20:7}
Trusting in The LORD with all of your heart means full surrender to Him, nothing with-held, no plan “B” in reserve but wholly, total reliance upon Him, His character, His promises. Trusting HIM with all of your heart includes…
A. – “In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
What is it you are facing? Turn and acknowledge Him in the matter. Acknowledge He is present. Acknowledge He cares. Acknowledge He is able to meet, advise, impart wisdom, power direction and guidance to you! “In all your ways,” not just some ways, like when a major crisis comes, but in every way encompassing all of your life.
“YADA”- The Hebrew verb “to know,recognize.” “to consider reflect upon.” To acknowledge Him in every area of life. His overruling providence, Sovereignty, intimate, personal dealings in our life. Joseph saw this when he said to his brothers that what was meant for evil, God meant for good. At the time when they sold him and his journey of suffering seemed anything but “good.” But God’s involvement was indeed working it all out for good. For in the end Joseph’s brothers were shown mercy cared for and in wisdom God imparted to Joseph, he was used to benefit a nation. God is always working even when we cannot see it, or fits in with our “time table.” Like a quiet forest does not show underneath the amount of water each tree is receiving to nourish, sustain, strengthen and impart life resources. God is never passive but always working for good in the believers life. The good ultimately is to conform us to the image of the LORD Jesus.{Read Rom 8:28-29}. It is not theory but reality. Thinking, considering, recognizing He is who He said He is and doing what He said He would do!
To acknowledge Him is also to consider, think about what we are about to do. Is it in compliance with HIS Word or not? And then look to Him for His way, means in doing His Will, as revealed in His Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path!
“All of your heart,” is to live in total reliance upon Him to undertake. Full dependence upon Him. One reason we struggle with trusting Him is due to how little we know Him. Another is we don’t want to let go of the problem but want to handle it ourselves and it brings on stress, anxiety and corrodes our thinking and affects our body at times as well as those around us, as there is a lack of peace and chaos. The safest, securest, wisest thing to do, is to turn and in our hearts prostrate before HIM, in entire and exclusive dependency upon Him, His wisdom, goodness, mercy and love, relying upon Him to undertake. HE IS THE WISE CHOICE! It is always a choice for Him or against Him!
B. – Trust He will Make your Paths Straight.
“And he shall direct thy paths (v’hu y’yashsher or’khotheyka); i.e. He Himself shall make them straight, or level, removing all obstacles out of the way; or they shall, under God’s direction, prosper and come to a successful issue; they shall be virtuous, inasmuch as deviation into vice will be guarded against, and happy, because they are prosperous.
The pronoun v’hu is emphatic, “He Himself;” Vulgate, et ipse. Yashar, piel. is “to make a way straight,” as in Proverbs 9:15; Proverbs 15:21; Proverbs 11:5. Cf. the LXX. ὀρθοτομεῖν, “to cut straight” (see on Proverbs 11:5).
God here binds Himself by a covenant (Lapide). This power is properly attributed to God, for “it is not in man to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). “- {Pulpet commentary }
Wow! What an undertaking by God. What hope and encouragement and fuel for your faith and worship to Him in light of what He commits Himself to do!
Trust he will undertake to guide you. He will direct, make your paths plain. Be Confident He will undertake for you. Jehosaphet when facing the potential onslaught said, We don’t know what to do… but our eyes are on You, LORD.” {2 Chron 2o}. And to look to Him to direct our paths in a way that is right, honoring Him and wise, He does so and some means are as follows;
He Himself will personally be involved in undertaking for you. Clearing the obstacles so your path is directed by Him!
He directs our path through His Word;“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”-{Psalm 119:105}; The Word of God shows you the will of God!
He directs our path through believing Prayer; ” “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”-{James 1:5}.
He directs our path through “Providence;“ through orchestrating circumstances and people to bring about the end He desires. God always guides and provides! “…See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. “-{Rev 3:8};
He directs our path through wise, Godly advice;“For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. “-{Prov 24:6}
He directs by using other people to help, even non believers as in Nehemiah’s case in chapter 2 where the king gave him what was needed for his trip. Also believers as in the case of the Philippian believers, who sacrificially supported Paul by sending a man to help him and also a gift for his needs. God will provide!
He will direct your paths. He will personally undertake and see to it, that all you need will be provided. This is either true or not! To those who trust Him wholeheartedly he WILL DIRECT THEIR PATH!
C. To trust Him with all of our heart includes to “Fear Him.”
It includes the “fear The LORD,” not in some cowardice way like a dog that has been cruelly treated by its wicked owner cowers in a corner when the owner comes in its presence, but a reverential, loving respectful attitude that influences our choices and living. One way it is manifested is as verse 7 says “turn from evil,”Such is the effect of trusting the LORD it is manifested in Fearing the LORD and turning from evil! To “fear the LORD” having a healthy respect, honoring Him above all else as seen in living to love and obey Him. It is the beginning of wisdom.
2. RENOUNCE TRUSTING YOURSELF;
“Lean Not to your own understanding,”
It’s either, or. Either Trusting the LORD or LEANING TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. They are mutually exclusive. It is one or the other. A Definite decision is made to renounce while embracing one or the other!
Self sufficiency is ultimately a weak support system and foolishness in light of the alternative. THE LORD!
“verb shāʿan is “to lean on” something or someone. Saul leaned on his spear (2 Sam. 1:6).
Samson leaned against the pillar (Judg. 16:26). This meaning led to the common usage of this verb as a figurative idea of “relying on” someone for help.
Kings had a close aid or officer to “lean on” or accompany them and give advice, help and even protection (2 Ki. 5:18; 7:2, 17).
The idea of having a sense of security and support is found in Job 24:23.
A person can trust in his house (8:15).
Abraham told the three angels to rest or recline under the tree, using this verb (Gen. 18:4).
A graphic picture of leaning on someone for help who is the wrong source is Judah trusting in and leaning on Egypt like a staff and having it break like a reed and hurt them (Ezek. 29:7).”- { Gilbrant}
Leaning on, is to trust, rely on yourself for support, security, protection, help. It is to falsely believe you are sufficient, to the exclusion of the LORD!
Your resources, your intellect, your strength,your abilities, you are leaning on. It is to refuse to “acknowledge Him” as LORD, rightful Sovereign King, Owner and deserving of willing loving submission, and glad service to Him and for Him. We are told to “Serve the LORD with gladness.” But when you rebel, for it is rebellion against the LORD, and instead choosing to lean, trust in your own understanding, Verse 7 says it is to “be wise in your own eyes.” It is PRIDE! It is warped, perverse faith and building your life on the foundation of sand , for when the storms of life come it will not stand, for it is not made to. And you were not created to build your life on you!
It is to reject HIS Wisdom and substitute it with your own! HOW INSANE IS THAT! Then again, pride is insane. I once heard “EGO” is “Easing… God… Out!” Renouncing self reliance is to turn away from evil.
It is evil to reject trusting in the LORD, and instead leaning, relying on self, Trusting in your own understanding. How weak is that in light of the eternal God. Do you hold His breath in your hands? Or does He hold yours? Have you created the heavens and earth? Or has He?- {Gen 1:1; John 1:1-3}; Do you uphold all things by the power of your word or does He? -{Heb 1:3}; Will people answer to you upon the Throne or will they answer to Him? Why are you so foolish, arrogant, self conceited that you believe you are wiser than God? Why are you so full of dread, anxieties and fears at times that cower over you descending like a dark cloud and erupting at times in anger when your will is not done? Why do you lack peace? He says,”There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the LORD.”-{Isaiah 48:2}.He promises peace that surpasses all understanding-{Phil 4:6-7}; He promises wisdom to those who ask in faith-{James 1:5}.
Leaning to your own understanding is playing “GOD,” Usurping His position, seeking to overthrow His Throne and siting in His place as though you are all wise, and trustworthy, and sufficient!
Psalm 1:1 speaks of those who “walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand with sinners and sit with scoffers.” They too lean to their own understanding, have no respect for The LORD and are wise in their own hearts and their end is eternal damnation, Yet they have their listeners who take their counsel, who sit with those whose aim is not the LORD and who mock, scoff at the LORD, the things of God the Word of God! Such are those who lean to their own understanding. Note the contrast between ‘fools,” and the “wise.”
“The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice. “-{Proverbs 12:15}
“Everyone doing what is right in their own eyes!” And do you want to follow them?
Don’t Follow their lead. It is good to have a Distrust of yourself and a wholly Trust in the LORD!
“Lean Not” to your own understanding as used here is used as relying on something that is unreliable for support -{Read Isaiah 10:20}. Using the mind God has given you to learn to think and rely on Him and instead relying on the unreliable for your support!
3. REST IN HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS!
BE CONFIDENT HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.
When you trust Him with yourself, committing all of you into His care through submission to Him as LORD, Master, Owner. And He will do what? “Direct your steps…”
To those who trust in Him with all of their heart, He will “make…{direct} your paths straight!”
His Word He imparts to guide us,“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”-{Psalm 119;105}.
He imparts His Spirit to teach and instruct us,”But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; “-{John 16:13},
All the wisdom you need for the path, choices before you, are found in The Lord Jesus, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”-{Col 2:3}.
We have Divine Power for the path we walk and will walk... Through Him He has granted us EVERYTHING pertaining to life and Godliness…precious and magnificent Promises to empower you. {Read 2 Peter 1;3-4}.
How foolish for a lost person, but what about us who are followers of the LORD Jesus when we at times out of fear, or foolishness choose to lean to our own understanding! You no longer need to lean to your own understanding,..or be wise in your own eyes or follow the path of evil and succumb to fears, despairs, anxieties, for He is able, willing, lovingly able to guide you and lead you in the path of righteousness for His Name sake!
Why Can you be CONFIDENT He will direct your path? Because He said so and He cannot lie!- {Read Jude 1:2}
THE CALL?
RELY TOTALLY UPON THE LORD!
TRUST in THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART!… FEAR HIM…HE WILL DIRECT AND MAKE YOUR PATH STRAIGHT.
REJECT AND REPENT OF
Leaning to your own understanding
Being WISE in your own Eyes
Turn From Evil
” Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. “-{Prov 3:5-7}
One translation says,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
on your own intelligence do not rely;
In all your ways be mindful of him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes,
fear the Lord and turn away from evil; “-{Prov 3:5-7 NABRE}
- TRUST IN THE LORD
- RENOUNCE and REPENT of TRUSTING YOURSELF
- BE CONFIDENT HE WILL GUIDE YOUR PATH.
- REPLACE TRUSTING IN SELF WITH TRUSTING IN THE SCRIPTURES!