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FORMULA FOR SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LVING Proverbs 3:5-6 November 24, 2024 This passage speaks of our priority! What you value, you will make your priority! Here the key word is trust! It is like a "key" which opens the door to God's bountiful blessing. Verses five and six are the best known and most memorized verses of Proverbs. In fact, they are the life verses of many believers. These two cherished verses describe a life of total dependence and commitment to God. This is what our Heavenly Father wants of us, His dear children-all who truly follow Him. He longs for us to be completely dependent upon Him and to have utter confidence in Him. This is what it means to trust.
I – TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART– v.5a Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Trust means Rely, confident, secure. The word trust in Hebrew “batach” speaks of being confident or trusting and pertains to placing reliance or belief in a person or object. The word in verse 5 “trust” the Hebrew word batach "means to stretch out or to lie face down. It is a picture of a man totally stretched out on his face before God. The message of his posture is his total helplessness and dependence upon God. Psalm 112:7 “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” Isaish 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” ILLUSTATION: It is like a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.
Matthew reminds us of the Lord Jesus as He "fell on his face, and prayed ... not as I will, but as thou wilt" Matthew 26:39 “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”.
Our actions are thus largely based upon what we believe and what we trust. Therefore, the foundational facts upon which we place our trust is VITAL! (Examples: If you place your trust in an airplane that is unreliable, you could lose your life; If you place your trust in a bank that is about to fold, you could lose your finances hugely; If you trust your child in the hands of a babysitter who is not what she claims to be you could lose your child; If you place your confidence in the advice of someone who is dishonest, you could get trampled; If you trust a doctor to operate on you, he could make a mistake). All of the things we mentioned so far involve men. (car, plane, roof, chair, physician; advice; etc.) That could malfunction… their advice could be lacking wisdom…Sometimes things we trust in the world fail us… with or without malice. We still have to board airplanes, eat food, and lie under the surgeon’s knife… but our confidence is to be in the Lord. Sure—choose the best doctor you can; fly the airline you trust; eat only in restaurants you trust—but ultimately, we have to place our trust in God. Men can and do fail us. God never does. God is a SOLID ROCK. You can trust Him. That is just what Solomon is communicating to his son (Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord.”). Solomon tells his son WHERE his trust is to be placed… a solid foundation that will never let him down… never fail!
Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” This is a powerful and sobering warning from the prophet Jeremiah about the dangers of placing our trust in human beings rather than in God. The Book of Jeremiah is filled with warnings and prophecies of impending judgment and destruction due to the nation of Judah's unfaithfulness to God and their reliance on human strength and wisdom. In this verse, Jeremiah specifically addresses the folly of trusting in human beings and the inevitable curse that comes with it.
We have tried God and His Word… proved His will to be right, able, reliable… and found them to be true. Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Romans 12:2 “ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Notice the words in verse 5 of our passage in Proverbs 3, “in the Lord.” The object of the wise person’s trust is the Lord (Yahweh, Jehovah): the covenant-keeping God, the God who cannot lie (Titus1:2 “God, that cannot lie,”; Hebrew 6:18 “it was impossible for God to lie”). At this point-where this father emphasizes keeping the commandments of God-he instructs his son not to focus his trust in the law of God but in the God of the law. God is trustworthy because of who He is. Yahweh is His personal name. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses and to the children of Israel (Exodus 3:13-15 “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.”).
The better we KNOW God… the easier it is to trust Him in all things! The more we know men—the harder it is to trust them. Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent:” Psalm 118:8-9 “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” It is better to trust in God because He never lets us down! How do we know that? Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). The more we come to know the Lord, the easier it will be to TRUST Him in the time of storm! We have to KNOW God in order to trust in Him. Trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Do you repented from your sin and believe that His work of redemption can save you and would give free give of eternal life. Salvation is by grace alone by faith alone. You cannot do anything to save yourselves, just trust Jesus who died for your all sins, buried and risen from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4). You cannot trust someone you don’t know… someone about whom you know nothing! Before trusting God for anything, first repent and trust Jesus Christ to be the Savior of your soul! You must first have your spiritual relationship with God as His child, being born again, only by trusting Jesus Christ as Savior.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Notice the words in our passage in verse 5 “with all thine heart.” Solomon not only tells his son WHERE to place his trust but also HOW to place his trust: wholeheartedly. Partial trust is not trust at all. Either God is trustworthy, or He is not. If He cannot be trusted with all, He cannot be trusted at all. “ALL thine heart” means an UNDIVIDED heart. Lots of people trust in the Lord—but not with ALL their heart. It is the trust of the heart—of all the heart. It is a childlike confidence without wavering in our Father’s well-proved wisdom, faithfulness, and love. I Chronicles 12:33 “Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.” II Chronicles 14:11 “And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.” James 1:6-8 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” But our trust must not only be entire, it must be exclusive. No other confidence—no confidence in the flesh—can consist with it. (Philippians 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”). The Samaritans trusted in the Lord… but they also trusted in Baal and Chemosh! Jesus warns us about trusting in two masters! (Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”)
Trust not in riches but in God. He is the One with real power. Psalm 62:9-11 “Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” Notice the word “heart.” The “heart” mentioned here in Proverbs 3:5 refers to the whole inner being, which includes the mind as the center of thinking and reason (Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 6:21; Proverbs 7:3), the emotions (Proverbs 15:15, 30), the will (Proverbs 11:20; Proverbs 14:14).
With God it is all or nothing! He does not tolerate competition. God wants our heart… ALL of it. He wants us to trust Him with ALL our heart…He refuses to share allegiance with another. If the Lord be Lord, then serve Him… trust Him… and only Him! That is the challenge of Elijah to the people of Israel. I Kings 18:21 “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
Do we trust Him with half our heart? ¾%? ; ½%? Or with ALL our heart? When we face a financial crunch… when we face bad news from the doctor… when we face opposition… our confidence and trust must be in God 100%. The Bible tells us “with all thine heart.”
II – LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING – v.5b Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Notice the words “lean” or lean on, in Hebrew verb “sha’an, means to lean or to rely on something or someone. So, relying on one’s own understanding is compared to leaning on something that is unreliable for support. Example of this the Ancient Israelites in (Isaiah 10:20 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.” - The ancient Israelites, often turned to foreign nations for security and support instead of trusting in God. However, this verse prophesies a turning point in Israel's history, where they will no longer depend on their enemies but will put their faith in the Lord.) In Septuagint the word “lean not” is translated “epairo” which means lifting up or exalting oneself, to be presumptuous, putting on airs. That is what we are and what we do when we lean on our own understanding instead of humbling ourselves and leaning on God’s perfect understanding. Notice the pronoun “own” is supplied in the translation to clarify to us that is dangerous for a person to rely upon mere human wisdom. (Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”).
Reasons why man’s own understanding is not trustworthy:
Man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26; Colossians 3:10) but man fall into sin. So, man’s own understanding must be a false guide. Even a renewed man like a prophet of God proved to be a mistaken counselor, so don’t lean on man’s own understanding, (II Samuel 7:2-5 – God’s servants often mean well but lack the wisdom of God. In this case a human plan (vv. 1–3) must be corrected by a divine wisdom (vv. 4–17). We see that David's intention to build a temple for the Lord was genuine and stemmed from his desire to honor and glorify God. However, as we will see in the subsequent verses, God had different plans for David. Instead of allowing David to build the temple, God promised to establish a dynasty for David and to have one of his descendants build the temple. Again, don’t lean on man’s own understanding because we have a fallen sinful nature that was degraded nature and darkened by heart.
Common sense is good, but God’s ways do not always parallel the common sense of human beings.
There are scriptures that says Abraham believed God but have times in his life, he leans on his own understanding. Romans 4:3 “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Galatians 3:6 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” James.2:23 “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” But we have record of his bad example in leaning on his own understanding. When Abraham leaned on his own understanding, he failed miserably. According to his understanding, God could not provide for him in the famine (Genesis 12:10-20). God could not give him a son when he and Sarah were far past the natural age of childbearing (Genesis 16:1-4). Abraham’s lack of trust-the result of leaning on his own understanding-still has major implications in the world approximately 4,000 years later. Not only Abraham even the Apostle Peter. The Lord said that ALL of them would be offended in Him. But Peter who trusted in his own heart, on his own understanding and was NOT trusting Christ said “Not me Lord!” who was the first to forsake the Lord? It was Peter. Mark 14:27-31 “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.”
Many young people think they are so smart and knew everything already. It is the reason many young people fall. But Solomon warns his son about intellectual pride: “lean not unto you own understanding.” Pride of intellectual caused Lucifer to fall (Ezekiel 28:17 “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”) Pride was the “condemnation of the devil.” (I Timothy 3:6 “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”)
Trusting you own understanding will keep you from trusting in the Lord. You can only have One Master. Proverbs 28: 26 “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
God has graciously bestowed human beings with intelligence, ability of understanding and comprehension, but this was not infallible so we are to ask God for guidance at all times and desire to please God and to be yielded to His direction. God has given us His Word to lead and guide and direct in ALL of our decisions in life. In any decision we make whether big or small decisions we need to examine it in light of God’s Word… we need divine guidance. Unfortunately, many folks examine God’s Word in light of their own understanding… and their own understanding is given preference OVER God’s Word. Disaster! Psalm 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
And if God’s understanding is infinite, therefore the wise men should not trust in his human wisdom but let him trust or relies upon God’s infinite understanding. Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”
To whom understanding a man should lean on? Who would you trust to invest all your hard earn savings? To a man who is deceived by a subtle serpent or someone with infinite understanding. Who would you want to do task of operation on you? To a man with intellectual pride who study medical books or a Great physician made you with infinite understanding Jeremiah 10:23-24 “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.” Every day, we need to PRACTICE trusting God and NOT leaning on our own understanding. III – IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM – v.6a Proverbs 3:6a “In all thy ways acknowledge him,” Notice the words “In all” speaks of a believer’s total commitment. So, the Lord controls in the major decisions of life as well as in the principles which control day to day living. Notice the words “thy ways”, we should take one step at a time, and every step must be under divine direction. Never attempt to plan for ourselves, except in simple dependence on God. Like what James said, James 4:15 “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” The term “ways” (in Hebrew “derekh” or “derek” referring to a person’s course of life, actions, behavior and undertakings, or ways of people (Psalm 37:5 ”Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”.) So, the phrase “I all thy ways” refers to small and great, in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let God be the Supreme. In everything, or in all thy ways, is a call for total commitment to trust God for obedience in all things. God is to be acknowledged in ALL of our ways. “Ways” picture of a road, distance, journey, path, course of life. In other words, God is to be acknowledged all through our journey here on earth. God is to be acknowledged and considered in every way or direction our life takes. This would mean that we are to acknowledge God in every road we pursue… at every turn we take in that road…and each step along the way… in ALL thy ways… Jeremiah acknowledged that he needed God to direct his every move – Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” The Bible tells us that God’s ways are much higher than man’s ways, and the wicked are urged to forsake their sinful ways (Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”) The unbeliever does not acknowledge God because to him, there is no God. The unbeliever does not think about God. The unbeliever do not want to be responsible and accountable that is why they do not acknowledge God. (Psalm 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”). The wicked do not want to acknowledge God, because they do not want to retain God in their thoughts or in their knowledge (Romans 1:28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”) When we do not acknowledge God, we are guilty of self-idolatry, self-will, self-pleasing, self-wisdom. To know God is to obey God. The more we know (acknowledge) God, the clearer the will of God becomes. We are to walk in the light God has provided through His Word.
Example: Abraham acknowledged God:
Genesis 12:8 “And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.” This is a significant moment in the life of Abram, who is later known as Abraham. It describes his journey through the land that God promised to give him and his descendants. By setting up camp in the hill country between Bethel and Ai, Abram made a solemn decision to honor God amidst his travels. This shows us that worship and devotion to God were important to him, even while he was on the move. It is vital for us to recognize that worship can happen everywhere, not just in a dedicated building or at a specific time; it is a state of our heart. Abram’s actions also highlight the act of building an altar, which signifies his desire to establish a connection with God wherever he went. This act was a tradition during biblical times, as altars served as physical reminders of God’s presence and faithfulness. It underlines the significance of making space for God in our lives, whether we are at home, at work, or on the road. By calling upon the name of the Lord, Abram demonstrates a personal relationship with God, one that encourages us to engage in our own prayer life, seeking communication and connection with the divine.
of anything, but what concerned the name and honor of his God (Genesis 24) Abraham’s concern for his son Isaac’s marriage is deeply rooted in spiritual and cultural identity. He instructed his servant to find a wife from Abraham’s own people, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a spiritual connection with God and avoiding relationships with Canaanite women, who were idolatrous and pagan. This decision reflects Abraham’s learning from his previous mistakes and underscores the principle that a spouse must be spiritually compatible with one’s own beliefs. The narrative highlights the significance of choosing a wife who shares the same faith and values, ensuring the continuation of God’s promises to his lineage.
despite of uncertainty. (Genesis 12:1-9; Hebrews 11:8) Abraham's obedience to God's command, even when he did not know the destination, showcases his unwavering trust in God's plan. Abraham's story encourages believers to embrace uncertainty and rely on God's direction, reflecting the broader theme of faith in the face of challenges. By following Abraham's example, we can learn to trust God's guidance in our own lives, even when we do not fully understand the path ahead.
(Genesis 22:1-14) Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a profound testament to his faith and obedience to God's command. In the biblical narrative, God instructs Abraham to take his son to a mountain to sacrifice him as a burnt offering, testing his faith beyond measure (Genesis 22:2). Abraham's response is a display of unwavering trust in God's promises, as he prepared to obey without hesitation, even when the outcome was uncertain. Ultimately, God provided a ram as a substitute, demonstrating His provision and the ultimate truth of faith. This story serves as a powerful example of faith, obedience, and divine intervention, illustrating the depth of Abraham's commitment to God.
Christians should be conscious of God and of His presence in all of our choices and decisions in life. That is why Paul writes that whatever we do should be done with the consciousness of God with aim to give God the glory (I Corinthians 10:31 “whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”). Everything is to be done under the watchful eye of God, acknowledging God is looking at us. What happened when we recognize God?
We will walk humbly before God and seek the will of God. We will walk in the fear of God all day long. Acknowledging God.
Therefore, we will restrict our actions accordingly. Notice the phrase “acknowledge him.” Hebrew verb “yadah” means to know. We acknowledge God when we are conscious of His presence. The opposite of acknowledge God would be to ignore God, act as if God were not there. That is why to acknowledge God includes mental awareness of who God is and the consequential submission to His lordships. The words “acknowledge him” is a command to know Him, to be intimately acquainted with God, to be in fellowship with God. Acknowledging God is when we recognize who God is: God is everywhere, God is all knowing, and God is all powerful (Psalm 139:1-12). God is to be acknowledged at all times. We acknowledge God’s authority over us by saying NO to things that appeal to our flesh… yet we know they are not pleasing to God.
What happen when we leave God out? James 4:13-15 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
We may be led down the wrong road. These men according to James, thought they know what to do, so they do not need any more to consult God and know His will – v.13
They made a good plan but did not acknowledge God in their plans. James rebukes them not for making plans but for not acknowledging God in it all. Sometimes praying is the last thing we resort to do, long after the plans are already made. We simply pray and ask God to bless what we have determined we are going to do. That is not acknowledging God.
Don’t leave God out but acknowledge Him in all our steps, in all our plans. Sometimes, we know not what to do so we seek God (II Chronicles 20:12 “neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”). Even if sometimes we think we know what to do, our eyes should be on God at all times. Acknowledging His presence.
When do we acknowledge God at all times?
Nehemiah was God’s conscious all through his conversation with the king. – Nehemiah 2:4-5
We should see God’s hand in all events of our lives. Not a sparrow falls for God is in control – Matthew 10:29-31
We are to acknowledge Him as Lord and Sovereign over every detail of life—no matter how small and insignificant it might seem.
IV – AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS Proverbs 3:6b “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” What is mean by the word “Path.”? Paths in Hebrew is “orach” or orah which mean “way”, byway, “highway” or “lifestyle.”. Literally, sometimes a path that a person walks (Judges 5:6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.”; Psalm 139:3 “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways” Proverbs 2:8 “He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.”;. Before continuing with our message about the importance of God’s directing our paths, let us see and know more what the Bible says about Paths How do we describe the Paths of man as being good and evil.? Figuratively, describes the course of person’s life, their lifestyle. Paths figuratively describing a lifestyle as either good or evil.
Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 27:11 “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” Proverbs 12:28 “In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death”
Proverbs 2:13 “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;” Job 6:18 “The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.” Proverbs 4:14 “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.” Isaiah 30:11 “Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” What have we to do with the path of evil? We have to kick, avoid, get away (Psalm 119:101 “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.”) Why we have to spurn or kick, avoid the evil way? Because evil path is a false path. (Psalm 119:104 “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”; Psalm 119:128 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.”)
The young man was encouraged to walk in the path of purity and the righteous man to walk in path of righteousness.
Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” It is likened to the light of dawn, shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
Thought: Man makes his own choice but he cannot choose his own consequences. How important for us to walk in the right Path? The Bible teaches us there was the path of life Psalm 16:11 “the path of life:”; Proverbs 2:19 “the paths of life.”; Proverbs 5:6 “the path of life”; Proverbs 10:17 “the way of life”; Proverbs 15:24 “The way of life.” The path of life corresponds with some paths:
Psalm 27:11 “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.”
Proverbs 2:13 “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;”
Proverbs 2:8 “He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.”;. Proverbs 17:23 “A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.” Isaiah 26:8 “Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.” Isaiah 40:14 “With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”
Proverbs 8:20 “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:”
To follow the path of truth and the Path of life is to follow God’s own path. The path of God: Psalm 25:4 “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.” Psalm 25:10 “All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies”. Psalm 44:18 “Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;” Psalm 119:115 “Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.”
God’s path is where the Word the Lord is a synonym for God’s torah of the Jews. Isaiah 2:3 “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
What is mean by the phrase God will direct they paths? The verb “direct thy paths” in Hebrew “Yashar” means “to make the paths straight”. The phrase means “to make the way free from obstacles. God will clear obstructions and enable you to go forward by directing the paths of those who wholeheartedly trust in Him. It means God will make the way smooth for the believer. The symbolism in Proverbs 3:6 lies in the imagery of God as our guide and director. The language of "direct thy paths" conjures up the image of a shepherd leading His flock, guiding them through the right paths and away from harm. This imagery speaks to the role of God as our shepherd, guiding us through life's twists and turns, and leading us towards safety and protection. It is a powerful symbol of God's care and guidance in our lives, emphasizing the trust and reliance we should have in God’s leadership.
What God expect from us in order He can direct our paths? God expects us to acknowledge Him in everything, by then God promises to direct our steps. In other words, God will direct the overall path of our life, if we acknowledge Him every step of the way and not take a step without God. If we start leaving out God of even the smallest decisions, we have no assurance that we will be led in the right direction. If we know God and keep our mind and heart full of God, then God will direct our steps. The better we know God, the more assurance that we are headed in the right direction. Direct our paths speaks to the idea that as we surrender our plans and desires to God, God will lead us in the right direction, guiding us towards His will and purpose for our lives. It is a reassurance that we do not have to navigate through life's challenges and decisions alone, but rather, we can trust in God to lead us with His wisdom and insight
Old Testament example as God leads and guides our path In the Old Testament times, roads were rough and dangerous at worst. Travel was exhausting and perilous. When a king took a journey, some of his servants would go ahead of his caravan to smooth the rough places and remove the obstacles in the road. They would make king’s paths straight.
What have we to do to avoid getting lost in the way? The better you know the road map, the better your chances of not getting lost because the Word of God is our road map. We will not lose our way, when we acknowledge God and His will as recorded in the Bible. Matthew 6:22 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” If our eye is single means clear eye, undivided vision, looking and focusing only unto Jesus the whole body will be full of light means we will not be lacking for light and guidance and direction from God. But wholehearted, single minded acknowledgement of God is required. How can we walk with God’s wisdom? God wants our pathway to be clear and safe, that is why God said “Acknowledge me in everything”. God has plenty of wisdom and He wants us to come to Him and seek His wisdom wholeheartedly. James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” God will give us the wisdom we need to walk down the pathway of His choosing. By acknowledging God, we are demonstrating our trust in His wisdom and sovereignty, and in turn, allowing Him to direct and guide our paths. By acknowledging God, we are acknowledging His wisdom and understanding above our own human earthly wisdom, and submitting to His will. What God will do if we acknowledge His right? We have to acknowledge His right to set our course, to change our direction, to command us to stop, turn, march, as our commander in chief of our life, and He shall direct our paths. What will happen to us if we know God more?
Assurance of God’s promise that He will direct our paths:
“Living without trust in God is like driving in the fog”. - By David C. McCasland
How can the Parents guide their children in a right path? Parents must provide the right routes in life. We have heard and witnessed of the wrong highways that others have traveled or perhaps the foolish ways that we personally have taken, and we know that our foolish ways lead to delay or danger. It’s possible that our children may choose some wrong paths that would ruined their lives like the road of sexual immorality, the avenue of alcohol and the highway of drug abuse, the way of ungodly friends. But in Christ, there is the righteous path, a route that will lead our children away from the struggles we know they will face on any other road. That right route starts with Calvary, the way of the cross. It starts with salvation. It continues with a path that is straight (Proverbs 3:6) and is directed by the Word of God (Psalm 119:105). You will never alone traveling in that right path of life. The right route includes the Lord Jesus as a traveling companion (John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”). As parents let us be a model of that right path clearly so our children will see the right way. “To guide your children on the right way, you must go that way yourself” – by Dave Branon What are some helps that we need to guide us: Sometimes followers of Jesus need help to get back on right track spiritually. We may intentionally get off from the right path because we think confidently, we know best, or drift away slowly, failing to notice or not aware that we are moving further and further from the walk God wants us to walk. Thanks to God, God has not left us on our own, because God has given all believers the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” I Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” How can the God given dwelling Spirit guides us in the right path? What the Spirit will do us? Convicts us John 16:8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The Holy Spirit have the alarming sound that would trigger our conscience Galatians 5:16, 25 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” What would happen to us if we do not listen to the Holy Spirit? What will happen if we ignore the Spirit’s warning? Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”. This verse reflects the relationship between God and His people, particularly the Israelites. It highlights the consequences of rebellion against God, despite His past mercies. The verse describes how the Israelites' disobedience caused distress to the Holy Spirit, leading to a dramatic shift in the relationship between God and His people. This shift from protector to enemy signifies a covenantal relationship where blessings were contingent upon obedience. The verse serves as a reminder of the spiritual risks present when we choose to ignore God's guidance and follow our own ways. It emphasizes the importance of repentance and restoring our relationship with God. Galatians 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” This verse shows us the choice each of us has to make in life. It contrasts the consequences of sowing to the flesh, which leads to corruption and destruction, with sowing to the Spirit, which results in eternal life. The verse serves as a reminder of the law of sowing and reaping, urging believers to be intentional in their choices and actions. It invites reflection on the nature of one's sowing—whether to the flesh or to the Spirit—and the corresponding harvest that awaits. By choosing to sow into the Spirit, we invest in a legacy of eternal significance and joy. What a comfort to know that God is at work in our lives through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
With the help of God’s guidance through His Spirit and His Word, we can continue to walk on a path that is pleasing to Him. “We’re never without a helper, because we have the Spirit within” - By Randy Kilgore
Formula for successful Chrisian living The first three are man’s duties:
The fourth is God’s duty.
If we have done the three, God will do the fourth. God will not do the fourth if we are not yet doing the first three. |