Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
‘Trust’ [Hebrew: batach] to confide in, to be secure and without fear. Translated as “trust” 103 times.
‘With all thine heart.’ Seven examples of heart trust: Abraham (Gen. 24:1-8); Eleazar (Gen. 24:12-27); Jephthah (Jdg. 11:11); David (1Sam. 30:6-8); Asa (2Chr. 14:9-15); Hezekiah (2Kin. 18:4-7; 19:14-37); Nehemiah (Neh. 1:4-11; 2:4-8).
‘Understanding’ [Hebrew: biynah] discernment and discrimination. Translated as understanding (1:2; 3:5; 4:1-7; 7:4; 8:14; 9:6, 10; 16:16; 23:23; 30:2); wisdom (23:4); and knowledge (2:3).
‘In all thy ways acknowledge him.’ Begin, continue, and end every work, purpose, and plan with God. Self-sufficiency and self-confidence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall. Man’s sin has been to live independently of God. True religion consists of full acknowledgement of God in all human affairs and all our day-to-day plans and activities (3:5).
‘Direct’ [Hebrew: Yashar] rightly divides. It is the same idea as rightly dividing the word of truth (2Tim. 2:15).
‘Be not wise in thine own eyes.’ Quoted in Romans 11:25 and 12:16. To reject God’s Wisdom and understanding and listen to your own ideas and opinions lead to your own destruction and downfall. Four men who were wise in their own eyes: Ahab (1Kin. 22:30-35); Jeroboam (1Kin. 12:26-33; 13:33); Asa (1Kin. 15:19); Benhadad (1Kin. 20:10-11).
‘Fear’ [Hebrew: yare’] to revere (24:21; Eccl. 3:14; 5:7; 12:13).
‘Depart from evil.’ Shun, avoid, abstain from. 1Thessalonians 5:22 warns us to abstain from all appearance of evil, not only from all evil.
‘Health to thy navel’ – Just like the umbilical cord (referred to here as the “navel”) is how the child receives life and nourishment from the mother while it is in the womb, so fearing God and departing from evil gives life to a child of God (3:7-8).
‘Marrow to thy bones’ – Bone marrow produces vital red blood cells which help sustain life. Fearing God and departing from evil is just as vital to one’s spiritual life as bone marrow is to the physical life.
Living the Word 