Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shall thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
‘Keep’ [Hebrew: natsar] to watch or guard. Proverbs 4:23 warns us to guard our hearts above all, from going astray, for out of it are the issues of life. The reference is not only to the arteries which carry the blood to all parts of the body but also to the evil and good deeds that come from the heart (centre) of man (Mark 7:19-21).
‘For length of days, and long life, and peace.’ Threefold blessing to those who remember and keep the commandments (3:1-2): Length of days (3:2, 16; 4:10; 9:11). Long life (1Pet. 3:10-11). Peace (Isa. 26:3).
‘They add to thee.’ The law and commandments add these.
‘Mercy’ – lovingkindness or grace.
‘Bind them about thy neck.’ Like the phylacteries (6:21; 7:3).
‘Write them upon the table of thine heart.’ This is done by the Spirit of the living God (2Cor. 3:3).
‘So shall thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.’ The three acts of Proverbs 3:3 are the secrets of favour with God and man.
Living the Word 