A survey of Proverbs 3:1-12

The main idea behind chapter three of Proverbs is commitment to God’s will. The phrase “my son” connects this series of admonitions with the previous chapters; the teacher is teaching his son the ways of wisdom and here discusses the rewards of wisdom. There are a total of six expressions of wisdom in Proverbs 3.

One of the great themes of the book of Proverbs is the importance of acquiring “wisdom.” Although frequently portrayed as a woman throughout this book, we understand “wisdom” to be something much more than merely knowledge.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

1. Remember the teaching, verses 1, 2

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,

for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.

The first exhortation is to remember the father’s teaching. Fritsch writes:

One of the golden words of religion is “remember.” There is no spiritual life or growth apart from the great spiritual heritage of the past. No religion recognized this truth more clearly than Judaism, with its strong emphasis on the teaching of its youth concerning the great facts and truths of its history.

A strong and vibrant faith is rooted on sound teaching based on unchangeable truths. That’s why faith cannot be based on the teachings of man because they change with whims of culture and from generation to generation.

The reward remembering the teachings (torah) are “long life” and “prosperity.” The first, “long life,” comes from the Hebrew hayyim, which suggests a life free from danger and trouble. The second, “prosperity,” is the Hebrew shalom, which means wholeness or completeness. It refers to the destiny God intends for one; thus it is the equivalent of what we might refer to as “salvation.”

2. Practice love and be faithful, verses 3, 4

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and humankind.

The word hesedh, “love” in the NIV is translated variously as “loyalty” and “mercy.” It is a difficult word to completely understand because it must be understood within the context of a covenant. The Teacher may have in mind here to practice “covenant-love,” or to be faithful within the bounds of a relationship.

“Faithfulness” is the Hebrew emeth and it means to be trustworthy and firm.

Judaism took the expressions “bind them” and “write them” literally. Phylacteries were little boxes that contained portions of Scripture and Jewish men wore them around their foreheads and on their hands.

The reward for this: finding favor with both God and man. In other words, you will be in a relationship with God; you will be God’s friend, and respected among men.

3. Trust and submit, verses 5, 6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

These two verses reflect the tenor of the entire book of Proverbs. Human wisdom is inadequate but God’s wisdom is sufficient guidance for life.

The word “trust,” batah, means to rely on someone for security; one should place their entire confidence in the Lord and not on human understanding. “With all your heart” and “all your ways” means a total commitment. Man’s hope should never in what he can do for himself, but on what God will do for him. The real danger to faith is that is will deteriorate into a system of works: pleasing God by what you can do for Him. God’s desires to be at the enter of our belief.

The reward? God will protect and guide you on your way. Moffatt writes:

He will clear the road for you.

The sense is that God will remove obstacles for you in laying a highway. Note what the prophet said because Isaiah uses the same word:

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

4. Don’t take yourself too seriously, verses 7, 8

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

This is essentially a repetition of what the Teacher said in verses 5 and 6: put your whole trust in the Lord. This kind of reverence will result in health and healing. This makes all kinds of sense. Imagine all the ulcers and stress headaches that could be avoided if people practiced the divine philosophy!

5. Recognize the centrality of God, verses 9-10

Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;

then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

This couplet of verses is designed to help the believer keep a proper perspective on the important things in life. We have been blessed with great material blessings, however, the Bible teaches that we are but stewards of all we have been given because it all belongs to God, Psalm 50.

Earl Wolf has correctly observed that the Christian need never fear that they will be the loser by giving to God.

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:8-10)

Derek Kidner poignantly wrote:

To “know” God in our financial “ways” is to see that these honor Him.

God’s gifts to us are an expression of His goodness. He blesses us abundantly because He loves us and cares for us in abundance. Our gifts to God are an expression of our goodness to Him. Our gifts and offerings are not to be a means to an end, but rather our heartfelt response to all that God has done for us and what He means to us.

The reward? Full barns and bursting wine vats. In other words, the believer will have all that need and more.

6. Be grateful for discipline and reproof, verses 11-12

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,

because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.

These verses contain a “double whammy.” The problem of human suffering is introduced here; sometimes good people who do the right things are not blessed with riches or strong bodies, and sometimes the wicked seem to be given all the breaks in life. Verse 12 is a solution to this problem: discipline and reproof are evidence that God loves us. Recall Hebrews 12:5-11.

The text does not indicate that we will ever understand the “why’s” of the Lord’s discipline, however, we can know God’s love is ours and that our lives are forever in His hands.

The other way to look at these verses is to understand that even the choicest of God’s servants does not enjoy a present life of uninterrupted blessings. We all experience the ups and downs of life, but adversity does not destroy the everlasting happiness of the child of God.

The reward for the patient and grateful acceptance of God’s discipline is a deepening awareness of our relationship with God; that He is our loving father, and that He is the center of our lives.