Proverbs 3:22-26

Proverbs 3:22-26 "So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."
christian church buffalo ny
After urging his son to retain wisdom and her sibling virtues, Solomon painted the picture of a confident life.  He promised his son that these virtues would bring life to his soul, grace to his neck, safety to his step and sweetness to his sleep.  From morning to night, from start to finish, a life with wisdom is a life with confidence.

In verse twenty-two, we learn that wisdom puts LIFE INTO OUR SOUL.  She does this by putting purpose and direction in our life.  The sad souls in this world who have no direction in life are often accurately described by others as having no life at all.  Without wisdom, a person doesn’t know where to go or what to do.  For that person, life is overwhelming and too intimidating to tackle.  Such a soul chooses to avoid the challenges presented by life and instead, does that which is easy and without risk.  Pursuing a skill, trade or career seems to risky and difficult so he settles for video games.  Pursuing a relationship comes with risks and dangers so he settles for a life of television programs and movies.  Without the direction of wisdom, life passes us by.  Without her leadership, opportunities pass us by.  Without her guidance, relationships pass us by.  Wisdom highlights the brevity of life and moves us to make the most out of it.  She also highlights the vanities of life and directs us to pursue those things that will give our lives purpose and meaning.  Regardless of a beating heart and a functioning lung, the absence of wisdom will lead to an absence of life in our being.  Wisdom breathes life into our soul. 

In the same verse, we read that wisdom puts GRACE ON OUR NECK. She does this by putting us in favor with man.  Necklaces are worn primarily because they are attractive to the eye.  Women wear pearls around their neck to feel and be more attractive.  People wear rubies, diamonds and precious stones around their neck to shine and sparkle with beautiful colors.  Necklaces, especially expensive ones made of gold and silver, are given to people so our loved ones can feel and be more appealing.  Wisdom gives her loved ones a necklace of grace, which brings them the favor of their peers.  When we cherish wisdom, she adorns our neck with the grace that will get the attention and affection of others.  When we retain and regard her, our lives will be attractive and our names will be favored.  It is the fool who says those things that people don’t like.  It is the fool who does those things that people don’t find appealing.  Wisdom gives us favor with people by guiding our behavior with people.  Where foolishness puts a chain of bones around its lover’s neck, wisdom puts a string of grace around her lover’s neck.

In verse twenty-three, we’re told that wisdom brings SAFETY TO OUR STEP.  She does this by giving us discretion in our decision.  When we give wisdom our ear, we will hear valuable advice about the decisions we’re contemplating.  If we take the time to consult the wisdom of God, then we will get insight from God.  Wisdom is God’s flashlight on the dark paths of life.  She exposes the moral pitfalls, spiritual potholes, emotional ditches and financial cliffs that riddle life’s paths.  Wisdom is that virtue that posts signs along the path of life warning us to slow down or to be prepared to stop.  When we lean on wisdom’s light, we can be confident that our steps will be safe ones.  The difference between living life with wisdom versus living life without it is the difference between driving your car along California State Route 1 at night with lights and driving your car along that same dangerous stretch of road at night without lights.  Wisdom gives us confidence in where we’re going in life and how we’re getting there.

In verse twenty-four, we learn that wisdom offers SWEETNESS TO OUR SLEEP.  She does this by removing fear from our thoughts.  While insomnia can certainly be the unfortunate result of a medical condition, most people who suffer from sleeplessness do so as a result of anxiety and fear.  People who spend their days worrying spend their nights worrying.  Fear can’t be put on a schedule.  Anxiety can’t be placed on a timer.  What we do all day - how we think all day - what we feel all day does not stop at night.  While this may sound like an over-simplification, Solomon’s solution to sleeplessness is virtue.  His wise solution passes the test of sound reason.  A wise person will not allow the uncertainties of life to dominate life.  A wise person will not allow the fear of the future to steal the joy of the present.  A wise person will not make the unknown more important than the known.  A wise person will not waste time fretting over what they assume is a person’s evil motive since no one can truly know another person’s intent.  A wise person will sleep sweetly because wisdom is the spirit of a sound mind, which is the ultimate remedy for the spirit of fear according to 2 Timothy 1:7.  A wise person will sleep sweetly because wisdom has directed him to spend more time working than worrying.  Ecclesiastes 5:12a, “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet.”  A wise person will sleep sweetly because wisdom preaches contentment in order to avoid the stress that accompanies fortune.  Ecclesiastes 5:12b, “the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”  Wisdom gives us confidence in life by giving us rest in our souls.

From morning to night, from start to finish, a life with wisdom is a life with confidence.
Wisdom offers her friends confidence in life because she gives them direction in life.
She offers confidence in life because she gives favor in life.
She offers confidence in life because she gives insight in life.
She offers confidence in life because she gives rest in life.

That all being said, this passage reveals the true source of confidence in life as something more important than the counsel of wisdom.  Verses twenty-five and twenty-six reveal the true source of confidence and it’s not the voice of wisdom as much as it is the SOURCE of wisdom.  By listening to wisdom, we can avoid so much unnecessary pain and disappointment.  But because we live in a world where the choices of others can impact the lives of everyone else, there will be circumstances that shake our confidence.  For example, a foolish king will make poor decisions that will make the lives of everyone difficult.  An immoral society will provoke the wrath of God that will impact everyone in that society, including the moral.  Natural disasters aimed at punishing the unjust or wars intended to judge a wicked nation will threaten confident living.  While wisdom will still direct a wise soul in such an uncertain time, wisdom will point us to the true source of our confidence – “for the LORD shall be thy confidence.” 

Confident living is the benefit of wisdom, partly because it leads us to make good decisions but primarily because it points us to trust in the Lord and His goodness.  Wisdom can give us confidence in life by giving us sound financial advice but when the economy crumbles, it gives us confidence by reminding us of the goodness of God.  Wisdom can give us confidence in life by giving us sound relationship advice but when a drunk driver takes our loved one, it gives us confidence by pointing us to the faithfulness of God.  Wisdom can give us confidence in life by giving us sound health advice but when we get diagnosed with a genetic cancer, it gives us confidence life by pointing us to the grace of God.

In any circumstance at any time, we can live confidently when governed by the wisdom of God.  With the voice of wisdom in our ears and with the source of wisdom in our hearts, we can walk safely and confidently along the path of life.

Recent

Archive

Categories

Tags

Rehoboam Solomon fear of God health pride self-sufficiency wisdom 1 Corinthians 1 John 2020 5th Commandment Aaron Abel Abigail Abortion Abraham Absalom Accident Accomplishment Achan Acts 17 Acts Adam & Eve Adam Adolescence Adolf Hitler Adulterer Adulteress Aesop's Fable Aesop\'s Fable Aesop\\\'s Fable Affair Age Agreement Ahijah Ahithophel Albany Alcoholism Alive Ally Alone Amazon Ambition American America Amnon Andrew Finch Animal Abuse Animals Answered Prayer Antichrist Applause Apple of Eye Approval Arrogance Arthritis Asaph Ashamed Athletes Athletics Attorney Backbone Back Balaam Balance Bank Accounts Bathsheba Beauty Bedroom Beecher Beef Behavior Benefit Benjamin BestBuy Bethlehem Betting Bezaleel Bible reading Bible teacher Bible-reading Bible Biblical instruction Big Mouths Big Picture Bin Laden Birth Blog Boasting Bonar Bondage Books Boomerang Boyfriend Brutal Brutish Budget Buffalo Bills Builder Building Business CA Rt 1 Cable News Calamity Call of Duty Calming Calvin Canaan Cancer Candidates Careers Cares of Life Casey Viner Change Character Cheesecake Factory Christian upbringing Christ Churches Circumspect Clamor Cleaning Clinton Clothes Clothing Coaches Coach College Commands Commend Communication Companionship Companions Company Compliance Conceit Conception Condemnation of God Confession Confidentiality Conflict Conservation Consumer Consumption Contentions Contrast Conversation Conviction Cooking Cooperation Corinthians Corrupt Cosigner Cosigning Cosign Cotton Candy Counseling Countenance Courting Coworkers Creation Creator Creatures Crime Criminals Crooked Cruel Curiosity Currency Danger Daniel Data Dating Daughters David Days Death Deceit Deceptive Delilah Delivery Democracy Democratic Desires Desire Deuteronomy Devil Diet Diligent Diploma Discovery Diseases Disease Dishonesty Dishonor Dislikes Divorce Domestic Violence Doorhanger Dreams Dress Drink Drug lords Drunk Driver Drunk Early Adulthood Ears Eastern Culture Eating Ecclesiastes Economic Stability Eden Elderly Elihu Elijah Eliphaz Emai Emerson Emmies Employers Encouragement Engagement Enoch Ephesians Ephraimites Esau Estate Planning Esther Eternity Evening Eve Evolution Excellence Excel Exodus Expectations Expectation Experience FaceBook Face Faithful Fall of Man False Fame Families Famine Farmer Farming Farm Fashion Favor of God Fear of the Lord Fearing God Feast of Purim Financial Advisor Financial Planning Financial Security Fingers Food Foolish Football Free-will Freedom Friendships Friendship Friend Froward Fruit Fumble GPS Gadarenes Galatians 6:7 Galatians Gamble Gang Garden of Eden Garden of Gethsemane Garden Gender Differences Genesis Gideon Gileadites Girlfriend Girls Giving Glad Gluttony Goals God's Kingdom God\'s Kingdom Godhead Goliath Goodness Gossip Graciousness Grammies Grandchildren Gratitude Grave Grief Guess Guide Guilt Culture Gun Control Gun Violence Guns Gutters Hagar Haman Hamlet Hands Hannah Hard Work Hard-Working Harlot Hate Evil Hatred Head Healthcare Healthy Hearing Heaven Heaviness Heavy Heart Hebrews Helicopters Hell Herod Highway History Hollywood Holy Spirit Home Depot Homeowner Homes Homicide Homosexuality Honesty House Human Nature Humble Humility Hungry Hunting Hypocrisy Hypocrites IRS Ian Brady Illness Immorality Inconsiderate Independence Industrious Inheritance Inherit Insecurity Insight Instagram Instructing Integrity Internet Interview Intoxication Inventions Isaac Israel Jacob Jairus James Jealousy Jeffrey Dahmer Jello Jenga Jeremiah Jeroboam Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jesus Jewish Law Jewish Jimmy Soul Jobs Job John the Apostle John Jonah Joseph Joshua Josiah Joy Judah Judaism Judas Iscariot Judges Judging Judgmental Jury Justice System Kindness King David King Hezekiah King of kings Kings King Know-it-all Language Last Testament Law Enforcement Laws Law Leaders Learn Legislation Liars Liar Liberty Library Lies Life Lesson Life-Insurance Likes Lion Loan Longevity Look Looting Lori Loughlin Loss of Health Loss of LIfe Loss Lottery Love Triangle Lowliness Luke 7 Luke Luther Luxury Lying MLB Magazines Majority Maker Makeup Maniac Manna Mansion Maple Trees Mark Martyrs Martyr Marvel Mary Matthew Media Memories Mentors Men Merciful Merriness Messages Mike Tyson Mindset Ministers Mob Mocker Mocking Monarchy Monarch Monopoly Month Moody Morality Mordecai Morning Moses Motherhood Mouths Murder Musician NBA NFL NHL Natural Disaster Naughtiness Nebuchadnezzar Negative Nehemiah New Tricks News Anchors Noah Nobles Nose Numbers Nutrition O.J. Simpson Obama Observation Obtain Old Dogs Olive Garden Order Others Paint Parenting Passion Pastors Pastor Paul the Apostle Paul Perspective Perverse Perversion Peter Pharisees Pharoah Philippians Phone Call Physical Appearance Plant Player Pleasure Policies Political Parties Politicians Politics Polygamy Poor Popularity Portrait Positive Possessions Potiphar's Wife Potiphar\'s Wife Potiphar\\\'s Wife Potiphar\\\\\\\'s Wife Praise Prate Prating Preacher Pregnancy Pregnant Preparation Princes Prince Principal Thing Principal Procrastinate Procrastinator Profit Proof Prophecy Prophet Prosperity Gospel Prostitute Protests Proud Proverbs Proverb Psalm 21 Psalm 23 Psalm 35 Psalm 37 Psalms 37 Psalms Psalm Punishment Pure Purity Purpose QVC Questions Rachel Rage Ransom Rebate Rebekkah Rebel Red Lobster Reels Regulations Regulation Rehoboam Rehoboma Relationship Difficulties Relationship Religion Remember Repentance Reporter Reprove Republican Reputation Research Resistance Responsibilities Resume Resurrection Retirement Revealing Revelation Reward Rich & Famous Rich Man Rich Ridicule Righteouness Right Riot Road Romania Romans 8:28 Romans Rulers Ruler Rules Rule Sabbath Sadness Samson Samuel Sarah Satan Satisfaction Satisfy Saul Saving Scale Scam School Science Scientist Scoffer Scripture Sea of Galilee Seasons Seatbelts Secrets Seduce Seed Seek Self-Confidence Selfies Selfishness Senses Sermons Servitude Sexual Chaos Sexual Confusion Shakespeare Shame Culture Shame Shane Gaskill Shenandoah Valley Shepherd Shoe Laces Siblings Sickness Sight Silence Simon Peter Simon Sinning Slothful Smelling Social Media Social Society Solomon Song of Solomon Sons Sorrow Source Speaking Speak Speculation Speech Speeding Spies Spiritual Security Sporting Sports Sport Spouses Stanley Cup Steal Stephen Stimulus Stock Market Strange Woman Strangers Stratego Strength Stress Struggles Student Super Bowl Rings Surely Surety Swatting Sweat Talebearer Talkative Talking Tamar Tasting Taylor Teachers Teaching Teenagers Teenager Teens Tendency Tension Texas Roadhouse Text Theft Theocracy Tik Tok Till Timothy Tithes To be or not to be Toddlers Toddler Tolerance Tomb Tongue Touching Tour Guide Traffic Light Traffic Signal Trainer Transgressor Travel Treasure Treatment Tribute Trickery Trinity Trips Trouble True Love True Wisdom True Turner Tyler Barriss Uber Eats Understanding Unemployment Unforgiveness Unhealthy Universities Unjust Unrighteous Uprightness Upright Vain Value Vanity Vehicle Vengeance Videos Virtuous Vision Votes Voting Walk Walmart Washington Watsom Way of Life Way Wealthy Weight Western Culture Winking Wink Wise Men Witnessing Womb Women Work Ethic Worth Wrong X Yankees YouTube Zechariah addiction adultery advertisements advertiser advertising advice advisor affection affirmation aggression alcohol amos angels anointing ant anxiety appetite argument assumption as attractions authority background backyard bankrupt battle beginning birds bitterness blessed brain bright broken nose buckler campfire cardinal sins career carelessness car cause certainty charity chastening childhood childrearing children child choices church attendance church command confidence confident consequences considerate contention contentment conversaion correction counselor counsel courage covetousness criticism cruelty cynicism dads dad darkness dark daughter debt deception decisions defend defense demands destruction determination diamonds diligence direction disappointment discernment discipleship disciples disciple discipline discontentment discord discretion distractions distress doctrine dogs drinking drugs dying ear education effort emotions employee employer employment enemies enticement enticing envy equity evil communications evil men evil women evil example eyelids eyes ezekiel facts failure fairness faith family fathers father favor fear of God fear of man fear feelings feminine fighting fight filthy finances fire flattery focus following foolishness foolishnes fools fool forgiveness fornication friends future gambling gangs gender gold good men good government grace greed guard guilt happiness happy harm hate headlights health heart hear hold your peace holiness home honor hope hunger husbands husband ignorance illustration income inequality infidelity influence iniquity insomnia instincts instruction intimacy investigation investing isaiah issued issue jabs jewelry judgment justice just kidnapper kidney kids knowledge labor law of sowing and reaping laziness lazy leadership learning legacy length of days lessons let life light lips listening listen little liver living loans loneliness long life longterm love lucifer lust man marketing marriage math memorization memory mercy messenger millions mind ministry mischief misery loves company misery mistakes mom money mothers mother motive mouth movies nature necklace neck neighbor obscenity observant oil oppression oppressor organs ornaments parable paranoia parenthood parents parent pastoring path peace peculiarity peer pressure peers peer permission personification pleasant politician ponder pornography pottymouth poverty power prayer preservation pride priests private procrastination prodigal profanity prosperity prostitution protection protect prudence public restroom purchases reading reaping reason rebellion rebuke regret rejection relate relationships relevant remedy remembrance remorse repetition replacement reproof respect responsibility responsible retain retention riches righteousness righteous risk robber romance rubies safety sailor salvation schools scorner secret security seduction seeing see self-sufficiency self-sufficient serpent seven deadly sins seven sexist sexual sin sex short-term silver simple simplicity sinners sin skepticism slander sleeplessness sleep slothfulness sluggard smoke to the eyes smoke son soul sowing spleen spouse stability stranger strange strife striving successful success suicide surgeon sword talents talk taxes teacher television temptation tendencies thief thieves thinking think thoughtfulness thoughts thought threats time tithe trains tree of life trust truth tv vehicles vice video games vinegar to the teeth vinegar violence violent virtue virtuous woman visual voice of God voice vulgar walking war wealth well wickedness wicked wife will wine wisdom wise sayings wise wives woman word of God words workplace work worry young man young people young youth