Verses 1-2
v1 My son, do not forget my law.
Keep my commands in your heart.
v2 My commands will bring you long life.
They will bring you wealth.
Commentary
Chapter 3 begins, as usual, with advice for Solomon’s son. Solomon encourages his son to remember his commands. The son must remember the words. But he should also aim for a deeper experience. Wisdom should enter his heart. Wisdom should guide his thoughts. Wisdom should control his emotions and desires.
The son will benefit from wisdom. Solomon mentions health and wealth. Wisdom brings health because wisdom teaches safe actions. A wise person eats good food and takes care of his body. Wisdom brings wealth because the wise person is careful. The wise person works hard and he does not waste money.
Do not think that health and wealth show wisdom. A thief can become wealthy because he steals. An evil person can take money from other people. Sometimes God gives health and wealth to a person, but not always. ‘Remember God! He makes you able to get wealth…’ (Deuteronomy 8:18)
True health is not only the health of the body. Your relationship with God must also be healthy. In fact, your relationship with God is more important than your body. See Matthew 5:29-30.
Solomon was very wealthy. But he knew that true wealth is not money. See Proverbs 3:14-15. Wisdom is worth more than silver or gold. Wisdom is worth more than all our money.
Verses 3-4
v3 Never let love and trust leave you.
Wear them about your neck.
Write them on your heart.
v4 You will win love and honor.
God and people will show you love and honor
Commentary
Love and trust should always be with us. As Solomon writes this, he is thinking about Deuteronomy 6:7-9. ‘Teach God’s law to your children. Talk about God’s law at home! Talk about it, when you travel! Talk about it, when you lie down! Talk about it, when you wake! Tie the words of God’s law on your hands! Tie the words about your head! Write God’s law at the side of your doors and gates!’
‘Wear them about your neck.’ You cannot really wear love and trust. But you can show your love and trust to other people. Everybody will know your attitudes when they see your behavior.
‘Write them on your heart.’ You cannot really write ‘love and trust’ on your heart. But love and trust should direct your whole life, even in private. Love and trust should direct your thoughts, plans and attitudes. Love and trust should always be in your heart and mind.
Love and trust should not be just ideas. We must not remember them today, and then forget them tomorrow. They must be part of our lives. They should guide every decision.
Verses 5-6
v5 Trust in God with your whole heart.
Do not depend on your own intelligence!
v6 Wherever you go, think about God.
He will clear the path for you to follow.
Commentary
Verses 5 and 6 are very important. It is a good idea to learn them. They will help us if we worry about the future.
‘Trust in God.’ People trust many things. Some trust money. Some trust governments. Other people trust luck or fate. You might trust your family or your church. Sometimes all these things will fail. But God never fails. ‘God is like a castle. We are safe with him, because he is strong. He is always with us. He protects us whenever there are troubles.’ (Psalm 46:1)
‘Your whole heart.’ Perhaps you trust God sometimes, but not at other times. Some people become Christians, but do not trust God with their whole hearts. God is part of their lives, but only part. Maybe they want God at home, but not at work.
God wants our whole hearts. We should always desire his wisdom. He wants us to live as Christians at work and at home. We must trust God, even when our lives are difficult.
God encourages us to trust him in everything.
‘Do not depend on your own intelligence!’ God is wiser than we are. We may know many things, but God knows everything. We must not be proud. We must not imagine that we are wiser than God.
The future is unknown to us. But God knows the future. He is able to lead us. He can guide us. We should trust him, and not our own ideas. So we should pray to God about our lives. We should ask him to help us and to guide us.
‘Wherever you go, think about God.’ These words remind us that life is like a journey. We shall have many experiences. Some experiences will be good. Other experiences will be bad. Wherever we are, we should think about God. We should remember God’s place in our lives. If life is like a journey, then we must follow God. He knows the right path. His way is the right way.
‘He will clear the path for you to follow.’ Another translation is: ‘He will show the right path to you.’ We can trust God to guide us.
Verses 7-8
v7 Do not be proud about your own wisdom.
Respect God and refuse to do evil actions.
v8 This will bring health to your body.
This will bring strength to your bones.
Commentary
There is a wrong type of wisdom. Verse 7 mentions ‘your own wisdom.’ There is also a wrong type of intelligence. Verse 5 mentions ‘your own intelligence’.
There is a difference between our own wisdom and God’s wisdom. Also, there is a difference between our own intelligence and God’s intelligence. God is wiser than we are. And God is more intelligent than any person is. See Isaiah 55:8-9.
We must not be proud. All true wisdom comes from God. Our own ideas may be good. But they are never better than God’s wisdom.
God teaches his wisdom to us. It is God’s gift to us. Do not confuse your own ideas with God’s wisdom!
Sometimes our wrong ideas cause illnesses. For example, excess alcohol will make us ill. But God’s wisdom does not hurt us. God is kind to us and he helps us. He cares about our bodies. He also cares about our spirits. Nobody will be ill in heaven (Revelation 21:4).
The wisdom that we need is God’s wisdom.
Verses 9-10
v9 Use your wealth to give honor to God.
Give him the first part of your harvest.
v10 Then your harvest will be vast.
Your new wine will be plentiful.
Commentary
In Malachi 3:6-12, Malachi accuses the people. He says that they have stolen from God. This is because they have not given their gifts for God’s work.
The truth is that all our possessions belong to God. He made the world. So he made everything that we have. Our own lives belong to him. As Christians, we should be generous. We should give for God’s work. We should also give to help poor people.
People may say, ‘If I give, then I shall not have enough for myself.’ We should be sensible, but we must also trust God. God says, ‘I do not need your animals. Every animal in the forest is mine. I own the cows on 1000 hills.’ (Psalm 50:9-10)
If we give our money for God’s work, then God will provide for us. Jesus said, ‘If you give to God, then he will give to you. He will provide plenty of food for you. If you are generous, then God will be generous with you.’ (Luke 6:38).
God does not need our wealth. However, he chooses to work with us. We should be glad to give to God. ‘God loves a joyful giver.’ (2 Corinthians 9:7)
As we give to other people, God gives good things to us. ‘… I will open heaven. I will give good things to you. You will receive so many good things, that you cannot find space for them.’ (Malachi 3:10)
Verses 11-12
v11 My son, do not be angry when God teaches you.
Do not dislike it when he speaks strictly to you.
v12 God speaks strictly to people whom he loves.
He is like a father. He speaks strictly to his favorite son.
Commentary
Many people do not want to learn how to behave well. They want to choose how they will live their lives.
God is our father. A father teaches his son. Sometimes, the father must correct or punish his son. In the same way, God corrects us.
God does not correct us because he is angry. God corrects us because he loves us. A human father should not punish his child because the father is angry. Rather, the father corrects the child because the father loves his child. If God corrects us, then we should be glad. His correction teaches us to do the right things. His correction will save us from troubles.
Jesus spoke about this in John 15:1-8. He compares God to a gardener. We are like a vine (fruit tree). ‘If a branch has no fruit, God cuts it shorter. He does this so that the branch will have more fruit.’ (John 15:2)
God does not forget about us. He watches us. He sees our errors. In love, he corrects us.
He might correct us by some word that we read in the Bible. He might use the advice of other people, for example, a minister or friend. He might even use someone who is not a Christian. ‘If you hear God’s voice today, do not refuse him!’ (Hebrews 3:15)
There is a different, ancient translation of verse 12. Hebrews 12:6 copies this translation. It says, ‘God punishes everyone whom he receives as a son.’ Hebrews 12:7-11 explains these words. God corrects us, because we are his children. If he did not correct us, we should not be his children. We respect our natural fathers who correct us. In the same way, we must respect God.
Sometimes correction includes punishment. ‘Punishment is not pleasant at the time. Punishment seems painful. Later, however, it produces something good. We learn peace, and we learn right actions.’ (Hebrews 12:11)
Verses 13-18
v13 Wisdom is like a woman.
She makes the person who finds her happy.
She makes the person who learns her lessons happy.
v14 She is worth more than silver.
She is even more valuable than gold.
v15 She is more valuable than precious stones.
No valuable things compare with Wisdom.
v16 Her right hand gives long life.
Her left hand gives wealth and honor.
v17 Her ways are pleasant.
Her paths are beautiful.
v18 If you grasp her, she will give a good life to you.
She brings happiness to those who hug her.
Commentary
In Proverbs 1:20-33, Solomon describes wisdom as a woman. This happens again in Proverbs 3:13-18. There is a difference. In Proverbs 1, Wisdom is angry with evil people. They have refused her advice. In Proverbs 3, we read about the people who love Wisdom. Wisdom brings good things to them; long life, wealth and honor (verse 16). When we walk with Wisdom, our life is pleasant and beautiful (verse 17).
These verses compare Wisdom to valuable objects. She is worth more than precious stones. Her value is more than silver or gold.
You can put your money in a bank. The bank will pay you an income. However, the bank is not as good as Wisdom. If you give your life to Wisdom, she will pay more than any bank. No bank can make your life longer. But Wisdom can give a long life. No bank can promise you a place in heaven. But wisdom can promise this. No bank can make you right with God. Wisdom can do this.
The happiness that wisdom brings is not just an emotion. This is the same happiness that Jesus describes in Matthew 5:3-12. When God forgives our evil actions, we receive his joy in our spirits.
Sometimes our lives will still be difficult. Sometimes, we shall be very sad. Even then, God will comfort us. He will look after us. Although we are sad, God’s joy will still be in our hearts. And we will have good lives, because God will help us.
David wrote, ‘Even when death is near, you (God) are with me. So, I am not afraid. You guide and comfort me’ (Psalm 23:4). David was not happy when he was in danger. But he knew that God’s joy was in his spirit. So he was not afraid of the dangers that surrounded him.
Verses 19-20
v19 God created the world by his wisdom.
He created the heavens by his skill.
v20 His knowledge caused the rivers to flow.
And the clouds dropped gentle rain.
Commentary
We all need wisdom. Even God used his wisdom to make the world. This paragraph is similar to John 1:1-3. ‘In the beginning was the word. The word was with God. The Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. God made everything by his word. He made nothing without the word.’
John explains that ‘the word’ means Jesus. Jesus was always with God because Jesus is God.
Verses 21-26
v21 My son, hold firmly to wisdom and right decisions.
Do not let them escape from you!
v22 These things will bring you a long and beautiful life.
They are like a precious stone on a chain about your neck.
v23 If you are wise, then your journey will be safe.
And your foot will not trip.
v24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
You will sleep in peace.
v25 Do not fear sudden dangers!
An evil man will lose everything.
v26 But God will protect you.
He will save you from dangers.
Commentary
Verse 22 reminds us of verse 3. Verse 3 tells us to wear love about our necks. In many countries, women display their beautiful objects. They wear gold, silver, and precious stones on chains about their necks.
Verse 22 encourages us. There are plenty of beautiful things for us. Right decisions, love, and wisdom are all beautiful things. They are better than any precious stone. Gold and silver may be beautiful. Wisdom is more beautiful than any valuable objects.
This is another passage that compares life with a journey. This passage teaches us that God will protect us. We have nothing to fear. Many Psalms teach a similar lesson. See Psalm 121, Psalm 46:1, and Psalm 62:2.
Verse 24 gives us special comfort. We cannot protect ourselves at night. In the dark, there are many dangers. Many people struggle to sleep. We should trust in God. He can keep us safe. He can protect us. ‘You do not benefit if you wake early. You do not need to work at night for your food. God gives sleep to the people whom he loves.’ (Psalm 127:2)
Verses 27-35
v27 Be kind to those who deserve good things.
Do not refuse if you can help them.
v28 If you can help your neighbor today, then help him!
Do not wait until tomorrow!
v29 Your neighbor trusts you.
Do not plot against him! Do not hurt him!
v30 Do not accuse an innocent man.
He is not guilty, and he has not hurt you.
v31 Do not be jealous of cruel men!
Do not behave like them!
v32 God hates evil men.
Honest men are friends of God.
v33 God curses the evil man’s house.
He is kind to the good man’s home.
v34 God insults those who insult other people.
But God is kind to humble people.
35 Wise people will receive honor.
Fools will receive shame.
Commentary
Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself!’ (Mark 12:31) In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). A Samaritan was a person from a nation that the people from Jerusalem disliked (John 4:9). Jesus told his story to explain the word ‘neighbor.’ In the story, a Samaritan rescued a man from Jerusalem. The Samaritan cared because this man needed help. So, Jesus argued, this other man was the Samaritan’s neighbor. We should do the same. We should care about everyone whom God sends to us.
Jesus discussed this subject again in Matthew 5:43-48. ‘You have heard the words: “Love your neighbor. Hate your enemy.” I am telling you to love your enemies. Pray for anyone who attacks you.’ (Matthew 5:43-44) The people in Jesus’ time thought that they should hate their enemies. But the Bible does not tell us to hate our enemies. In fact, Jesus said that we should love our enemies.
Jesus even prayed for the people who killed him. ‘Father, forgive them! They do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34)
Commentary
People like to follow a leader. They might copy a film star. They might act as their teacher. They could behave like their ruler.
We must be careful if we choose a model. If we copy an evil person, then we shall become evil. Even a holy person makes mistakes and could lead us in the wrong way.
God has both friends and enemies. If we are evil, God hates us as enemies. This is because he hates our evil actions. However, God wants evil people to change their lives. God has great love, even for his enemies. This is why he sent Jesus. ‘Remember this! “Jesus came into the world to save evil people.” I was the worst!’ (1 Timothy 1:15. Paul wrote this passage.)
Honest people are God’s friends. We can all become honest. First, we must trust in Jesus. Jesus’ death takes away the punishment for our evil actions. Then God forgives us. He makes us his friends. Now we must learn more. God will teach us. He will use the Bible to teach us. He will also use other people. We should live God’s way. We should try to be honest. God will help us.
Formerly, we opposed God. We were his enemies. But when we trusted God, God forgave us. We became God’s friends. We are now God’s own people. See Ephesians 3:11-22.
God deals with different people differently. God will do good things for us if we obey him. He is kind to us, and he is kind to our homes too. The word ‘home’ shows that God will help our families also.
Contrast this with the evil man. God curses both the evil man, and those who live in the evil man’s house. The evil man’s family suffer, because of his evil actions.
Since Jesus died, this has changed. Each person must trust God for himself or herself. ‘Then these words will become untrue: “The fathers ate sour fruit, and the children have a sour taste in their mouths!” Instead, everyone will die because of his own wrong actions. Whoever eats sour fruit will taste it for himself.’ (Jeremiah 31:29-30)
The time for judgment is coming. God will be our judge. We should serve God, and we should be humble. We must not be proud. When God is our judge, he will show us kindness and love.
Some people are proud. They insult other people. They must turn from their evil behavior. Then God will forgive them. If they refuse God’s love, God will punish them.
God loves us, although we do not deserve his love. He offers his kindness to everyone. We must be humble to receive it. If we trust in ourselves, we cannot receive his love. Nobody will go to heaven because they deserve it. We have all done wrong things. We all deserve God’s punishment. This is why God sent Jesus. Jesus did not deserve God’s punishment. Jesus suffered the punishment that we deserve. If we turn to God, he will forgive us. He saves us because he is kind.
Proverbs 3:34 is an important Bible verse. Both James and Peter used this verse in their own books. (See James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:6).
|
|
