Proverbs 3: Wise Lessons From King Solomon

Proverbs 3 was written by King Solomon from Israel. Solomon was the son of David, who was a warrior poet king.

Because David was so blessed the kingdom of Israel was given a time of peace. David defeated and subjugated many of the nations around Israel, so the country had tremendous wealth coming into it.

In addition to this, God asked Solomon what he wanted, and said he’d give him anything. Solomon thought for a second and asked God for wisdom. He wanted to be able to lead his people properly and justly.

King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs, and through allegories, it gives us a lot of wisdom. Studying his life will also make us realize that wisdom and knowledge won’t keep us from falling away from God. Instead, we need to focus on him and let him be our focus in life.

Proverbs 3 contains many wise sayings from a parent to their child. It tells them to think clearly and do what is right in the eyes of God. Proverbs also teach us that what is right in the eyes of man isn’t necessarily what is right in God’s.

It’s a lesson every person needs to learn and have engraved on their hearts. Because God’s law is what we will be judged on, it doesn’t matter what our neighbor thinks.

Proverbs 3: Trusting in the Lord

3 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
    Store my commands in your heart.
² If you do this, you will live many years,
    and your life will be satisfying.
³ Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
    Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
    Write them deep within your heart.
⁴ Then you will find favor with both God and people,
    and you will earn a good reputation.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

⁷ Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
⁸ Then you will have healing for your body
    and strength for your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
¹⁰ Then he will fill your barns with grain,
    and your vats will overflow with good wine.

¹¹ My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
¹² For the Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

¹³ Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
    the one who gains understanding.
¹⁴ For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
    and her wages are better than gold.
¹⁵ Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ She offers you long life in her right hand,
    and riches and honor in her left.
¹⁷ She will guide you down delightful paths;
    all her ways are satisfying.
¹⁸ Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    happy are those who hold her tightly.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord founded the earth;
    by understanding, he created the heavens.
²⁰ By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth,
    and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

²¹ My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment.
    Hang on to them,
²² for they will refresh your soul.
    They are like jewels on a necklace.
²³ They keep you safe on your way,
    and your feet will not stumble.
²⁴ You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.
²⁵ You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it
    when it’s in your power to help them.
²⁸ If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say,
    “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

²⁹ Don’t plot harm against your neighbor,
    for those who live nearby trust you.
³⁰ Don’t pick a fight without reason,
    when no one has done you harm.

³¹ Don’t envy violent people
    or copy their ways.
³² Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,
    but he offers his friendship to the godly.

³³ The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the home of the upright.

³⁴ The Lord mocks the mockers
    but is gracious to the humble.

³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
    but fools are put to shame!

Proverbs 3:1-35

Proverbs 3: Wise Sayings From King Solomon

As I read Proverbs 3, I’m constantly reminded of 3 different topics.

1. Trust in God and his blessings will be poured out on you.
2. God will avenge his people
3. Those who do evil will be punished.

How Do We Trust in God?:

This is a hard question to answer for me right now. Because I’ve been going through a time that has been hard to trust him. I’ve been struggling a lot and every time I try to do something new it fails.

God is the one who has called me to this, but it isn’t working, and that’s frustrating. So I’ve started to doubt if he called me to it, or have I done something wrong and I’m being punished.

Both of those thought processes are wrong. Because I know this is what I’ve been called to do. I don’t know why, and I’m not guaranteed the results. Either way, I need to be obedient and do what he’s asked. There is a purpose, but at the moment it’s not revealed.

In a blog post about Psalms 5, I write about how King David is continuously crying out to God. The dream God gave him is in shambles, and his world has fallen apart.

I wonder if the thought crossed his mind and David thought it was all ruined. What God promised will not happen and he just needs to survive.

The beauty of that statement is that David trusted in God, and in Proverbs 3 we see the results of that trust.

If David didn’t trust in God, he’d never become King. And without ever becoming King his son would never take his place and Jesus the savior of the world wouldn’t be born.

Proverbs 3 is a beautiful chapter about trusting in God, being directed by him, and learning how to live right in an increasingly evil world.

The last few years have been bad, and something tells me the chaos is only going to get worse. However, we can follow Proverbs 3 as a guide in our daily life.

Live in peace with your neighbors, follow God, and live righteously. These are the things that God has called us to do. I love the book of Proverbs and Proverbs 3 is an amazing example of what we can do to follow God and live righteously.