“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Here we have a very important principle. He was in no way to trust in himself, for man was but a creature whose breath was in his nostrils. The tempter with his whispers always suggests that which will bring ruin, sorrow and shame.
“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” We must not look upon this as a promise that once we have acknowledged Him what is called success will always accompany our undertakings. But there must be constant dependence on the Lord for each step of the way. He is the One who decides whether we have wholeheartedly acknowledged Him in all our ways. Thus His honor and glory should be sought in every undertaking. If our own thoughts and purposes are not mixed up with it, we can be assured He will direct or make plain the journey that lies ahead.
Prosperity and chastening are next spoken of by the wise king for his people. “Honor the LORD with thy substance,... So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” This last admonition is quoted in Hebrews 12:5, 6, where it is given a Christian application. If chastening is received from the loving hand of the Father, it will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised by it. The Father would make us to hate our own inconsistencies. It is always Satan’s effort to try to make the Lord’s people to despise or make light of the chastening, to treat it as a matter of course, or to sink under His reproof. We learn that sickness and death come upon saints who walk carelessly (1 Cor. 11:27-32), that we should not be condemned with the world, of which condemnation all unbelievers will have to partake. However, discipline is not always for wrong doing; sometimes it may be to prevent us from taking a wrong course (2 Cor. 12:17), in which case it really is preventative. Then again as in John 15:2, it may be the pruning of the vine, to make it produce more fruit. It is the Father’s care over His children, and He is really manifesting His love for them. His purpose is “that He may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man.” Job 33:17.
The wisdom and understanding of which Proverbs treats, is not that of this world which passeth away as the years roll on, but it is that which abides forever. It is to guide man in the fear of the Lord, to direct his steps amidst all the evil that has been brought about by man’s departure from the Lord. Here is a book written almost 3000 years ago, yet it is not outmoded at the present time, and its teachings will still be in force when the Lord comes to reign over His earthly people.
In the New Testament we have instructions from the Lord for His people as heavenly citizens, a people separated from the world, but we can truly say of wisdom that “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is every one that retaineth her.” vv. 17,18.
ML 08/13/1961