Proverbs 3:1 - Meaning and Application

We are taught here to live in close fellowship with God. This is indeed a great part of godliness, and it brings great benefit to us. As this verse shows, it will be an unspeakable advantage if we live that way.

We must keep God’s commands in constant view, as Proverbs 3:1 and Proverbs 3:2 teach. We should set his law and commandments as our rule in everything. We must learn them, because we cannot be said to forget what we never knew. We must also remember them, so they are ready whenever we need them. Our will and our affections must also submit to them and match them in all things. Not only our minds, but our hearts, must keep God’s commandments. Like the ark of the covenant, which held the two tablets of the law, both our understanding and our love should hold fast to God’s word.

To encourage us to accept the restraints and commands of God’s law, we are told that this is the sure path to long life and prosperity. It leads to a long life, and it adds eternal life in heaven as well, a life that lasts forever (Psalm 21:4). God himself will be our life and the length of our days, and that is true long life with something more. Since long life can sometimes become a burden, the promise also means that it will be an easy and pleasant life. Even the days of old age will not be bad days, but days filled with delight. Peace will keep increasing. As grace grows, peace grows too. The rule and peace of Christ increase in the heart and in the world, and there is no end to them. Those who love God’s law have great peace, and it keeps growing.

We must also keep God’s promises always in mind, and hold them together with his commands (Proverbs 3:3). “Let not mercy and truth forsake you” may mean God’s mercy in promising and his truth in keeping his promises. Do not lose your hold on these. Live in a way that keeps you within their comfort and blessing. Do not forget them, but live on them and take comfort from them. Bind them around your neck like a beautiful ornament. It is a great honor in this world to have a share in the mercy and truth of God. Write them on the tablet of your heart, as something dear to you, your portion, and your delight. Enjoy thinking about them and applying them to your life.

The words may also mean the mercy and truth that are our duty, meaning piety and sincerity, along with kindness toward people and faithfulness toward God. Let these be fixed ruling principles within you. To encourage us, we are promised that this is the way to win favor with both God and people (Proverbs 3:4). A good person first seeks God’s favor. He wants the honor of being accepted by the Lord, and he will find that favor, along with good understanding. God will look on him kindly and give a favorable judgment on what he says and does. He will be recognized as one of Wisdom’s children, and he will have praise from God, because he has that good understanding that belongs to those who keep God’s commands.

He also wants favor with people, as Christ had favor with people (Luke 2:52), and as Mordecai, a Jewish leader in Persia, had favor with the many of his brothers (Esther 10:3). That favor he will also have. People will understand him rightly, and in dealing with them he will appear wise, acting with good sense and care. Some translate this as good success, which is often the result of good understanding.

We must also keep God’s providence always in view, and trust it in all our affairs, both by faith and by prayer. By faith, we must fully trust God’s wisdom, power, and goodness, being sure that his care reaches all creatures and all their actions. So we must trust in the Lord with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5). We must believe that he is able to do whatever he wills, wise enough to do what is best, and good, according to his promise, to do what is best for those who love and serve him.

With full surrender and contentment, we must depend on him to do all things for us. We must not lean on our own understanding, as though we could manage our lives and secure a good outcome without God. Those who know themselves will admit that their own understanding is like a broken reed. If they lean on it, it will fail them. In all our conduct, we should distrust our own judgment and trust God’s wisdom, power, and goodness. We should follow Providence, not try to force it. What turns out best is often what was least our own doing.

We must also trust God by prayer (Proverbs 3:6). In all our ways we should acknowledge God. We should not only believe in our minds that God overrules and directs us and all our affairs. We should openly own this and deal with him accordingly. We should ask his permission and plan nothing unless we are sure it is lawful. We should ask his advice and seek his direction, not only in hard cases, when we do not know what to do, but in every case, even when the path seems plain. We should also ask him for success, knowing that the race is not won by the swift.

We should commit ourselves to him, as one from whom our judgment comes, and wait patiently and with holy surrender for his decision. In all our ways that are straight, pleasant, and successful, we should acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that are difficult, painful, and blocked with thorns, we should acknowledge God with submission. Our eyes should always be toward God. In everything, we should make our requests known to him, as Jephthah, an Israelite leader and judge, spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah (Judges 11:11).

For encouragement, we are promised, “He will direct your paths,” so that our way will be safe, good, and bring a happy end. Those who place themselves under God’s guidance will always benefit from it. God will give them the wisdom that helps them choose well, so they will not turn aside into sinful byways. He will also order the outcome so wisely that it will be for their good, or, in the same sense, to their satisfaction. Those who faithfully follow the pillar of cloud and fire will find that, though it may lead them around, it leads them the right way and brings them to Canaan at last.