Sunday, January 17, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 3:5-8, we learned about the importance of trusting and obeying the Lord. While people cannot always be trusted to do what is in our best interest, Solomon wrote that we can always trust God to do those things which will most benefit us. Because of the Lord's faithfulness, those of us who call upon Him should always approach Him in a regular attitude of trust and obedience. I Samuel 15:22 says, "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." The byword for Christians in this life is to trust the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. Psalms 4:5 says, "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." Psalms 56:3-4 says, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me."
Trust comes from the Hebrew word which means to have confidence in or to be secure with, to feel safe and without care. Trusting in the wrong things of this life will not bring satisfaction, but trusting in the Lord will always lead us in the paths that we will want to go. Solomon wrote that we are not to live by sight, that we are not to rely solely on our own understanding, and that we must not trust the important issues of this life to our own faculties. When we trust in Christ and lean upon Him, He will direct our paths. He will always give us the wisdom we need and keep us from life's troubled highways. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Solomon wrote in verse seven that we are not to be wise in our own eyes. Many people see themselves as high and lifted up, but the Lord can quickly bring anyone to their knees. To keep us from falling into that trap, Solomon gave two very clear commandments. He said that we should fear the Lord and that we should depart from evil. Fear comes from the Hebrew word which means to reverence, honor, or respect. Depart comes from the Hebrew word which means to turn aside, depart from, or avoid. As Christians, we are not to live our life in constant fear of doing wrong things. Rather, we are to live our life in humble obedience to our Lord. The humble servant respects his master, and the humble, obedient servant seeks to satisfy the wishes of his master. Our master is the Lord. So, we should always do our best to trust, honor and obey Him.
When we are faithful to Him, He is also faithful to us. Fearing the Lord and departing from evil will provide health to our navel and marrow to our bones. The Hebrew word used for health means healing, and the Hebrew word used for marrow means drink or refreshment. Solomon was telling us in verse eight that, when we seek to do the right things, we will be restored, refreshed, and made alive, like a cool breeze on a sweltering day. Therefore, as you go through the coming week, try to be faithful to the Lord and obedient to His wishes for you.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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