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As we open Proverbs 3 we see again the pattern of a father instructing his son, or paternal appeal. This is now the third time we have seen the call from a father to a son to hear instruction. When we encountered it the first time in Proverbs 1, the word for instruction is the Hebrew word, torah. The Torah is the Law of the Lord and so the charge from this father to his son is a charge to meditate on the Law of the Lord. Proverbs is Deuteronomy 6 in action. In Deuteronomy 6 Israel is instructed to teach the precepts and Law of the Lord to their children and their children’s children. Proverbs is demonstrating the pattern of teaching.
In Proverbs 3 we encounter 6 sets of instruction:
Vv.1-2 – Let your heart keep the commandments of the Lord
Vv.3-4 – Bind faithfulness and stead-fast love around your neck
Vv.5-6 – Trust in the Lord with a whole heart
Vv.7-8 – Don’t be wise in your own eyes
Vv.9-10 – Honor the Lord with your wealth
Vv.11-12 – Do not despise the Lord’s discipline
Heeding these instructions means living in the light of God’s delight.
Before we leave this section, I would like to take just a moment and talk about Proverbs 3:5-6. 3:6 is a reversal of 2:15. Trusting in the Lord brings a recognition of his absolute power and authority and means depending upon him for all things. The heart of a worshipper is developed as they learn to trust in the Lord. Trusting the Lord is the only way to walk the pathway of wisdom laid out in the Proverbs. Leaning not unto our own understandings means listening to what God says and placing value in what he says even more than what we think or see. The result of trusting in the Lord is the reversal of 2:15 – God will make a crooked path straight. Notice, the text does not say there will be no ups and downs or winding turns. The text says a crooked path will become a straight path. The assurance a straight path gives is a clear destination. In this case, the clear destination is to the presence of God.
We shift into verses 13-20 and again understand the Lord governs both wisdom and understanding. The benefits of wisdom and understanding are more to be desired than anything on the earth.
The Lord founded the earth by wisdom. Here is an implied reference to Jesus who created all things who himself is wisdom personified, who is, according to Hebrews, upholding the world by the word of his power.
Notice the language in 3:20. This is a reversal of the flood account. In Genesis 7 when the deeps broke out and the clouds dropped down dew, the earth was destroyed in a 40 day and night deluge. Here, by the knowledge of the one who founded the earth, creation, not de-creation was the result.
But before we leave this section, go back to 3:18 and notice a reference that comes only a few times in the biblical text – the tree of life. The Tree was in Genesis 2, 3, and then does not show up again in the writings of Moses. There is a reference in Ezekiel and then 3 references in Proverbs. Then the Tree is not referenced again until Revelation. 3 references occur in Proverbs. The point: Adam and Eve forfeited the Tree of Life for the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The result of the knowledge they acquired led to death. The Proverbs presents life available through following the straight path the wisdom of God provides. As Proverbs 3:34 says, God gives favor to the humble.