DIVINE DIRECTION THE WISDOM OF TRUST
TEXT: Proverbs 3:1-8
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. (nkjv)
INTRODUCTION
Trust is the foundation of every relationship. Whether it's our relationship with God, family, or friends, trust determines how far we can go.
How can we find Divine Direction which leads to wisdom?
Let Us Look At:
The Principles of Trust
The Pathway of Trust
The Promise of Trust
DDCOG POINT # 1
The Principles of Trust
Prov. 3:1-2
1) The Importance of Remembering
Do not forget my law: Solomon’s advice as a father to his son in this section begins with a warning to never forget God’s word (my law).
Definition of Forgetting
Forgetting, in this context, isn't mere mental lapse but a willful disregard of God's instructions.
Gen. 2:15-17
Psalms 103:2
2) The Heart as a Keeper
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments" (3:1b)
Keep - Keep God’s Commandments
Keep - Keep God’s commandments: To keep means to guard or preserve.
Proverbs 4:23
3) Trusting God Daily
Why Mercy and Truth Matter
These two words are covenant terms in Israel.
Hesed {Mercy} is essentially fidelity to obligations arising from a relationship (loyal love).
Emet {Truth} is essentially that which can be relied on, that which is stable (reliability).
“Bind Them Around Your Neck”
“The neck houses the throat, which in Hebrew [thought] is the very life of the person.”
Writing on the Wall of the Heart
Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, (Prov. 3:3; nkjv)
The Reward of Bound Mercy and Truth
Proverbs 3:4 promises that clinging to these virtues brings “favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”
DDCOG POINT # 2
The Pathway of Trust
Proverbs 3:5-6
1) Leaning On The Lord
Trusting God is not a passive act; it is an intentional choice to surrender our plans and understanding to His divine wisdom.
Trust Requires Total Surrender
Trust is an all or nothing proposal: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart.”
Rejecting Self-Reliance
The phrase "lean not on your own understanding" challenges us to reject the natural tendency to depend solely on logic or experience.
2) Acknowledging God in All Your Ways
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3:6)
Psalms 46:10
He Shall Direct Your Paths
The promise that follows is powerful: "And He shall direct your paths." When
Straight Paths
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:6; NIV)
DDCOG POINT # 3
The Promise of Trust
Proverbs 3:7-8
1) The Danger of Self-Wisdom
"Do not be wise in your own eyes" - Proverbs 3:7a
The Trap of Pride
Pride is a clever enemy. It whispers that we don't need God's guidance, that we can figure things out on our own.
2) The Call to Holy Fear
"Fear the LORD and depart from evil" - Proverbs 3:7b
Understanding Godly Fear
Fearing the Lord isn't about being terrified of God.
Proverbs 9:10
Departing from Evil
Real fear of the Lord naturally leads to a departure from evil.
3) The Promise of Healing
"It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones." - Proverbs 3:8
Holistic Health
The word Health (riph’uth) is derived from the word for heal (rapha) and is used only here in the Old Testament.
Inner Strength
The promise extends to our "bones" - symbolizing our inner strength and stability.
CONCLUSION
Remember, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
churchtrac