Day 946: Proverbs 3- Wise Heart

​My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
    and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man.
 
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones.
 
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights.
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.
 
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
    and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of these--
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.

23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of the ruin[d] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to do it.
 
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
    who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
    and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
    but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but fools get disgrace.
 
 
Meditation
God offers you explicit direction to obtain wisdom: Trust in Him with all your heart. To illustrate a wise heart, we look back at Solomon’s request as he assumed the throne of His father David. Solomon asked for “an understanding heart” to lead with justice and righteousness (1 Kings 3:9). Literally Solomon asked for a “lev shome,” accurately describing a listening heart. To obtain wisdom, therefore, we have hearts open to hear God’s design and direction for all of life.
 
Solomon shares the wisdom of Proverbs to shape the hearts and steps of the saints. Hearts keeping God’s commandments (1) will embed God’s character in their hearts (3), and trust God’s design and direction in every step of life (5). To walk in wisdom begins with a heart that hears! And is manifest in joyful commitment to God and His ways as a young child trusts their father (1-8).
 
Wisdom is developed through the loving discipline of the Lord (11-12) and carries with it everything else you want or need for life (13-18) because wisdom is the structure of God’s creation (19-20) and the greatest crown for His creatures (21-26).
 
Wisdom means walking with God (23, 26) in relationship from the heart (1, 3, 5). Wisdom offers peace in personal relationships and problematic situations (28-35) through relationship with our Heavenly Father.
 
Jesus is the treasury of God’s wisdom (Colossians 2:2-3) and only His love can truly transform our hearts so that we have ears to hear God’s design and direction for all of life.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the heart of wisdom from today’s reading?
 
-What does your heart listen to OTHER THAN the design and direction of the Lord?
 
-How does the love of God revealed through the work of Jesus give you ground to begin again, to walk in wisdom- trusting God’s design and direction for all of life with all your heart? WHERE do you need to apply this?
 
Key Verse
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.