PROVERBS 3:1-35

Guidance for the young
Proverbs 3:1,2
1 My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my
command;
2 For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.

Bible commentary:
Length of days. Loving obedience to the teaching of God will result in an extension of the life span. Though this promise will be fulfilled for many in the attainment of a peaceful old age in this life, it will be true of all the righteous in the ever-rolling years of eternity.


Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your
heart,
And lean not on your own
understanding;

Bible commentary:
Trust in the Lord. Entire trust in God is the only logical position for Christians to take. God has all knowledge and all power, and foresees and prepares against all the troubles that come upon man as sudden emergencies. For anyone to rely on his own understanding under such circumstances is foolish indeed. It is also folly to alternate between trust in self and trust in God.
To place little confidence in one's own understanding does not mean that a man must lay aside intelligence and give up the power of choice. Intelligence is needed to determine from the Word of God and from God's guiding providences what is the divine will. A will strengthened and cleansed by God is needed if one is to follow a true course through to the end.

Proverbs 3:35
The wise shall inherit glory,
But the shame shall be the legacy of
fools.

Bible commentary:
Shall inherit glory. The parallelism suggests that the lowly of v. 34 are the wise, and the scorners are the fools. This is in harmony with Solomon's whole argument concerning the value of true wisdom. The humble servant of God has been reborn into the family of heaven and inherits glory by the right of sonship. The appearance of exaltation that the proud, willful sinner sometimes gains is but a prelude to the shame that he will feel when the plan of salvation and the history of each sinner are opened before the assemble universe for inspection (Prov. 16:18 2Cor. 5:10)