A Life in Exile

In our previous post, Solomon told his son the importance of being protected by the shield of righteousness, which is God Himself covering us against the attacks of the evil one. As we move into the third chapter of Proverbs, we find some of the most treasured verses passed down not only from a king to his son but also from countless parents to their children.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 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 straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:1-6 ESV)

In these six short verses, we are given three sets of actions to guide our lives.

Remember and Keep

Solomon wants his son (and by extension us) to learn the truths of God’s Word. He’s going to pass so much wisdom down to him. Speaking through the words of an earthly king, God is giving this same word to us. We’ve got His teaching in our hands, but how are we doing at remembering it? The moment we forget, that is when Satan fills that space with all that contradicts God’s Truth.

Thankfully, we have a way to help us remember God’s commands—put them into action. Jesus mentioned the same principle as he drew his sermon on the mountainside to a close.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

What are you doing today to keep God’s commands?

Bind and Write

The more we remember and live by God’s Word, the more confident we grow in His hesed (steadfast) love and faithfulness. If there is any one phrase I could speak to myself in times of trial, it’s “God loves me and is faithful in all things.” The acknowledgement of His love and faithfulness is always what keeps me moving forward in trust and obedience. All I have to do is look back to see how true that love has been in my life; to recognize His faithfulness through it all.

Being bound by his steadfast love and faithfulness and embedding that message in my heart enables me to stand in confidence before others. I think about the young boy Jesus, standing in the Temple of His Father and being bold enough to speak God’s Word to the “learned” religious men of His day. That took some nerve! But it was more than just nerve; it was confidence based on the foundation of His Father’s love and faithfulness. He knew His mission on earth and never hesitated to do the Father’s will.

His parents found him after days of searching and took Him home to Nazareth. He demonstrated obedience in His submission to them until the time of His ministry was revealed. In the meantime, the Scripture tells us: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

Jesus set the standard for the Proverbs 3:3-4 life.

Trust and Acknowledge

As I walk in God’s commands, move forward secure in His steadfast love and faithfulness, then I can trust in the Lord with all my heart, acknowledging Him in all things. It’s not about understanding the ways of God, because I know His ways are not my ways, and His ways are so much higher than my own. When I trust my own understanding, I often miss the mark and fail. It’s only in turning over my days to Him that my path is made clear and straight.

Again, Jesus set the standard for this.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. (John 5:19-20a)

Why did Jesus do only what the Father showed him? Because He knew the Father’s love. Jesus was bound by the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Father; thus, he knew that everything the Father asked of Him was for His good and God’s glory.

Lord, help us to remember and keep your Word, bind and write the truth of your love and faithfulness on our minds and hearts, and that we may trust and acknowledge you and your ways above all.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start this Walking in Wisdom series from the beginning.