Proverbs 3:13-26

TEXT Proverbs 3:13-26

13.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,

And the man that getteth understanding.

14.

For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,

And the profit thereof than fine gold.

15.

She is more precious than rubies:

And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

16.

Length of days is in her right hand;

In her left hand are riches and honor.

17.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

And all her paths are peace.

18.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:

And happy is every one that retaineth her.

19.

Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth;

By understanding he established the heavens.

20.

By his knowledge the depths were broken up,

and the skies drop down the dew.

21.

My son, let them not depart from thine eyes;

Keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22.

So shall they be life unto thy soul,

And grace to thy neck.

23.

Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely,

And thy foot shall not stumble.

24.

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:

Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25.

Be not afraid of sudden fear,

Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:

26.

For Jehovah will be thy confidence,

And will keep thy foot from being taken.

STUDY QUESTIONS OVER 3:13-26

1.

Why is the man who gets wisdom happy (Proverbs 3:13)?

2.

Why is the getting of wisdom better than the getting of treasures (Proverbs 3:14)?

3.

Give a synonym for precious as used in Proverbs 3:15.

4.

Compare the blessings mentioned in Proverbs 3:16 with those mentioned in Proverbs 3:2.

5.

What two additional blessings of wisdom are promised in Proverbs 3:17?

6.

What is meant by tree of life in Proverbs 3:18?

7.

How is God's wisdom reflected in His creation (Proverbs 3:19)?

8.

What breaking up of depths is referred to in Proverbs 3:20?

9.

What does keep mean in Proverbs 3:21?

10.

Comment upon grace as used in Proverbs 3:22.

11.

What Hebrew parallelism do we have in Proverbs 3:23?

12.

What is there to fear about the night (Proverbs 3:24)?

13.

Why can a godly person be safe and secure from all alarms as the song, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms says (Proverbs 3:25)?

14.

Where is a godly person's confidence placed (Proverbs 3:26)?

PARAPHRASE OF 3:13-26

13-18.

The man who knows right from wrong and has good judgment and common sense is happier than the man who is immensely rich! For such wisdom is far more valuable than precious jewels. Nothing else compares with it. Wisdom gives a long, good life; riches; honor; pleasure; and peace. Wisdom is a tree of life to those who eat her fruit; happy is the man who keeps on eating it.

19.

The Lord's wisdom founded the earth; his understanding established all the universe and space.

20.

The deep foundations of the earth were broken open by His knowledge, and the skies poured down rain.

21-26.

Have two goalswisdomthat is, knowing and doing right-and common sense. Don-'t let them slip away, for they fill you with living energy and are a feather in your cap. They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and stumbling off the trail. With them on guard you can sleep without fear; and you need not be afraid of disaster or the plots of wicked men; for the Lord is with you; He protects you.

COMMENTS ON 3:13-26

Proverbs 3:13. Proverbs 3:13-20 go together, bidding the son to get wisdom and understanding for the rich blessings they bestow and reminding him that the Highest Himself employed wisdom in laying out the universe. He who finds wisdom gets understanding, and the finding is not so likely by accident as by searching. The whoso findeth wisdom of Proverbs 8:35 is the one who has heard instruction (Proverbs 8:33). Yes, a wise, an informed, an understanding person is a happy person, for he is blessed with the light of knowledge.

Proverbs 3:14. God would have men seek wisdom as they seek earthly treasures: If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasurers: Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:4-5); My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver (Proverbs 8:19). Especially is the knowledge of God's Word so valuable: I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil (Psalms 119:162); The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold (Psalms 19:9-10).

Proverbs 3:15. A similar passage comparing rubies and the value of wisdom: Wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it (Proverbs 8:11). Pulpit Commentary: There is nothingneither silver, gold, precious stones, nor anything preciouswhich is an equivalent to wisdom in value...When everything is put before us to choose from...like Solomon at Gibeon, we should prefer wisdom (1 Kings 3:11-13)!

Proverbs 3:16. Both hands are full of great things and are stretched out to the person of true understanding. The two hands, the right and the left, signify the abundance of Wisdom's gifts (Pulpit Commentary). Wisdom claims, in Proverbs 8:18, to have riches and honor to bestow. Long life, then, can be a result of wisdom. Riches, then, can be a product of wisdom. Honor, then, can come to those with wisdom.

Proverbs 3:17. Here are two more great blessings of wisdom: pleasantness and peace. Add these to riches and honor and long life, and who could ask for more as far as earthly life is concerned? Contrast such a life with one's life that is void of wisdom and is characterized by foolish ways.

Proverbs 3:18. Like Fountain of Youth in our language, so Tree of Life in Bible days stood for something very desirable. The name was first used for one of the trees in the midst of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). God did not allow Adam and Eve to eat of this tree after they sinned (Genesis 3:22-24). In Revelation 2:7 it is said to be in the Paradise of God. The blessings of having wisdom are compared to eating from the tree of life! Our verse points out the importance both of laying hold upon (obtaining) wisdom and then of retaining it. Unfortunately, many never obtain it, and sadly some who have had it have not retained it later. So, we should work to possess it, and we should be careful not to let it get away from us. Even a small amount of folly can undo one's wisdom: Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

Proverbs 3:19. Always is man urged to be like God. The same is true concerning wisdom. After all these instructions on wisdom, Solomon now points out that God Himself is guided by wisdom. Other passages showing that God employed wisdom in creating the universe and life upon it: O Jehovah, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all (Psalms 104:24); Wisdom says, When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, When he made the firm skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; Then I was by him, as a master workman (Proverbs 8:27-30); He hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretch out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12). The marvels of creation continue to mystify the greatest minds in their depth and accuracy.

Proverbs 3:20. The watering of the earth, so necessary to its vegetation and its support of both human and animal life, is here under consideration. Only God would know how to lay out and operate such a vast, continual system. There may be an illusion to the breaking up of the deep at the time of the Flood (Genesis 7:11); if so, it would still be saying that only God would know how to do such.

Proverbs 3:21. Both statements mean the same: them is identified as sound wisdom and discretion, and let them not depart from thine eyes is boiled down to the word keep. It was the father's strong desire that his son would always keep his eyes upon the way of true wisdom both as a young man growing up and as a grown man. This good verse introduces material that runs through Proverbs 3:26.

Proverbs 3:22. The rewards of living by wisdom dominate this 6-verse section. This verse mentions two: life and grace. Life is used here in an all-inclusive sense of embracing more than lengthy existence a blessed and a spiritual life here. Other passages on an ornamented neck: They shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck (Proverbs 1:9); Bind them about thy neck (Proverbs 3:3); Tie them about thy neck (Proverbs 6:21). Prominent men wore golden chains around their necks: Belshazzar said, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom (Daniel 5:7); Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck (Genesis 41:42).

Proverbs 3:23. The promised rewards continue in this verse, this being a promise of safety and security. As he who is accompanied by an escort proceeds on his way in safety, so you protected by God will pass your life in security; or, as Trapp, -Thou shalt ever go under a double guard, -the peace of God within thee (Philippians 4:7) and the -power of God-' without thee (1 Peter 1:5)-' (Pulpit Commentary). Proverbs 10:9 speaks similarly: He that walketh uprightly walketh surely. Psalms 37:31 says, The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. But contrast the ways of the wicked: Their way shall be unto them as slippery places in the darkness (Jeremiah 23:12).

Proverbs 3:24. One's safety and the resulting peace of mind are again stressed. Other passages on this peaceful condition: I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid (Leviticus 26:6); In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; For thou, Jehovah, alone makest me dwell in safety (Psalms 4:8. Such lying down in peace and safety is employing the figure of sheep (Psalms 23:2). Words of a song: Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go to sleep When the dark-'ning shadows round about me creep.

Proverbs 3:25. Again the blessing of safety, peace, and lack of fear is emphasized. Sudden fear would be that which strikes instantly, immediately, without advanced warning. Their world, even more than ours, was one of uncertainty: anything could happen at any time. Psalms 91:5-6 tunes us in on some of their uncertainties: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. As Christians we can sing, What have I to dread? What have I to fear? Leaning on the everlasting arms. I have blessed peace with my Lord so near; Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Proverbs 3:26. Jehovah will be the One in whom the believer places his confidencehe commits his way unto Him (Psalms 37:5). All the great heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 had this one thing in common: their faith, their confidence, was in God. One with true wisdom, such as is urged in the previous verse of this chapter, will include God in everything (Proverbs 3:5-6). If one is wise at all, wisdom will teach him not to trust in his own wisdom, strength, or perfection but in the guidance, help, and mercy of God. Can we not say that confidence in God is never misplaced, but confidence apart from Him is always a false confidence that in time will let us down? The promise of our verse: He will keep thy foot from being taken shows there are many traps and snares along the way that God will keep us from getting into. After saying, My help cometh from Jehovah (Psalms 121:2), the Psalmist goes onto emphasize the Keeping work of God: Jehovah is thy keeper - Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul. Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth and for evermore (Psalms 121:5-8). God's promise again: A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh to thee (Psalms 91:7).

TEST QUESTIONS OVER 3:12-16

1.

Who is said in Proverbs 3:13 to be the happy person?

2.

Comment upon Proverbs 3:14.

3.

When did Solomon himself show that he placed the value of wisdom above everything else that he might have desired (Proverbs 3:15)?

4.

What does the mentioning of both hands in Proverbs 3:16 signify?

5.

Contrast the blessings of wisdom mentioned in Proverbs 3:17 with the life of one who lacks wisdom.

6.

What two thoughts are set forth by the two verbs in Proverbs 3:18?

7.

What is the purpose of switching from talking about the wisdom that human beings need to the wisdom that God employed in creating the universe (Proverbs 3:19)?

8.

What great work is mentioned in Proverbs 3:20 that only God could do?

9.

Proverbs 3:21 introduces material that runs through what verse?

10.

What all does the word life in Proverbs 3:22 embrace?

11.

What great promise is contained in Proverbs 3:23?

12.

What is again stressed in Proverbs 3:24?

13.

What would cause sudden fear (Proverbs 3:25)?

14.

What passage in Psa. emphasizes God's keeping work (Proverbs 3:26)?