Joshua told the people of Israel,
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8)
Last week I studied what it means to be holy, set apart, and clean. This week, in my personal Bible reading, I did a lot of meditating on the verses of Leviticus 19, since they start with the words, “Be holy because I, YHVH your God, am holy.”
My goal was to think about each command, to see if it would be possible to obey these things in my life. I wanted to “be careful to do everything written in it.”
During one of my husband’s sermons, God led me to Proverbs 3. It seemed to me that the words echoed the commands of Leviticus 19, so I decided to look up some of the phrases to see where else they might appear in the Bible.
This is my blog post for this week. I hope you profit from it as much as I have! God’s Word is rich…
Proverbs 3
- Scroll down and read all of the blue, bold-print Proverbs 3 first, then go back and read the indented, italicized verses, to see how they elaborate on what Proverbs 3 was saying.
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity (Proverbs 3:1-2).
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many (Proverbs 4:10).Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am YHVH (Leviticus 18:5).
…So that you, your children and their children after them may fear YHVH your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life (Deuteronomy 6:2).
YHVH commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear YHVH our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today (Deuteronomy 6:24).
And now, O Israel, what does YHVH your God ask of you but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe YHVH’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3-4).
Love YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
Trust in YHVH with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
O my people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things,
things from of old—
what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of YHVH,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands (Psalm 78:1-7).
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear YHVH and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:7-8).
If you listen carefully to the voice of YHVH your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am YHVH, who heals you (Exodus 15:26).
Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of YHVH, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes (Numbers 15:38-39).
Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of YHVH your God (Deuteronomy 12:28).
My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:20-23).[There are] those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet are not cleansed of their filth (Proverbs 30:12).Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight (Isaiah 5:20-21).
Honor YHVH with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10).
“When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to YHVH. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am YHVH your God (Leviticus 19:23-25).
My son, do not despise YHVH’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
because YHVH disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in (Proverbs 3:11-12).
Blessed is the man whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty (Job 5:17).Blessed is the man you discipline, O YHVH,
the man you teach from your law [Torah] (Psalm 94:12).For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching [Torah] is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life (Proverbs 6:23).
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her (Proverbs 3:13-15).
The law of YHVH is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of YHVH are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of YHVH are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of YHVH are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of YHVH is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of YHVH are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11).
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed (Proverbs 3:16-18).
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30).
And you will be called priests of YHVH,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast (Isaiah 61:6).I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints [set-apart, holy ones] (Ephesians 1:18).
By wisdom YHVH laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew (Proverbs 3:19-20).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3).
By the word of YHVH were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth (Psalm 33:6).
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17).
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck (Proverbs 3:21-22).
Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am YHVH (Leviticus 18:5).
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8)
Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for YHVH will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared (Proverbs 3:23-26).
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn (Isaiah 8:20).
Praise YHVH.
Blessed is the man who fears YHVH,
who finds great delight in his commands…
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in YHVH.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes (Psalm 112:1, 4-8).
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,”Come back later;
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when you now have it with you (Proverbs 3:27-28).
Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight (Leviticus 19:13).
Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason—
when he has done you no harm (Proverbs 3:29-30).
Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am YHVH.
Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am YHVH (Leviticus 19:14-16).
Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,
for YHVH detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence (Proverbs 3:31-32).
Do not hate your brother in your heart.
Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people,
but love your neighbor as yourself. I am YHVH (Leviticus 19:17-18).The secret things belong to YHVH our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29).
YHVH’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous (Proverbs 3:33).
Praise YHVH.
Blessed is the man who fears YHVH,
who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112:1-3).Blessed are all who fear YHVH,
who walk in his ways.
You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
Thus is the man blessed
who fears YHVH.
May YHVH bless you from Zion
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
and may you live to see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel (Psalm 128:1-6).
He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.
The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame (Proverbs 3:34-35).
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children (Hosea 4:6).
Things to Do with These Scriptures:
- Ponder whether these verses apply to us today. If they only apply to Israel and not to the Church, then why are they quoted in the New Testament and by so many leaders today? If they don’t apply, how can we know which verses to read from the Old Testament and which ones to ignore? If you’d like to study this further, see this post of mine.
- Try memorizing these verses. You might wish to write them out on 3×5 cards and place them in your kitchen window. Another great idea is to listen to them over and over.
- Print out Leviticus 19, and make a list of the ways God says we can “Be holy because I, YHVH your God, am holy” (verse 2). Read my blog post from last week. Note how almost all of these commands are mentioned in Proverbs 3.
- Discuss each of these verses with your children. Have them memorize them, too. Ask them to hold you accountable to be obedient to God’s commands, holy, and set apart from sin.
- Come back and tell me what you learn!
Katie says
wow, this is awesome. I will be printing out and sharing it with my husband, and then my kids. I think we will look at it over and over for weeks to come. Thanks for doing the work of putting it together. It truly is an awesome work of scripture colaged together.
Rhoda says
Each year I pick a passage of Scripture to memorize as our “school” verses for the year. Proverbs 3:3-6 was our passage that we recited every morning to start our school day last year. This year we are using Psalm 1. But I love how you have interwoven these passages together and how Scripture ties together with Scripture. Thank you for sharing.
Bonnie says
Thanks! This was a really valuable study of Proverbs 3 as it ties in YeHoVaH’s heart (command) in each of the verses of Shlomo’s wisdom. I appreciate you! 🙂