Proverbs 3:5-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:5-6

Divine guidance I. THE NEED OF DIVINE GUIDANCE . Several considerations force this upon us; e.g. : 1 . The complexity of life. The longer we live, the more do we feel the profound mystery that touches us on every side. Innumerable avenues open out to us. Innumerable claims are made upon us. Conflicting duties perplex us. We feel as autumn leaves before the driving winds. We are helpless to choose and follow the right. 2 . Our ignorance of the future. Like Columbus,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways. This expression covers the whole area of life's action—all its acts and undertakings, its spiritual and secular sides, no less than its public and private, It guards against our acknowledging God in great crises and solemn acts of worship only (Plumptre). Acknowledge ( daehu ); Vulgate, cogita ; LXX ; γνέριζε . The Hebrew verb yada signifies "to know, recognize." To acknowledge God is, therefore, to recognize, in all our dealings and undertakings, God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in thine own eyes. This admonition carries on the thought from the preceding verses (5, 6), approaching it from a different direction. It is a protest against self-sufficiency, self-conceit, and self-reliance. It says, in effect, "Trust in the Lord, do not trust in yourself." Wisdom, as Michaelis remarks, is to trust in God; to trust in yourself and in your own wisdom is unwisdom. God denounces this spirit: "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:7

(second part), 8.— A three-linked chain. We have— I. PIETY . "Fear the Lord." It is the faculty which distinguishes the meanest man from the noblest brute, which raises our race immeasurably above the next below it. Man can fear God. He can II. MORALITY . "Depart from evil." The outcome of piety is morality. 1 . The morality which rests not on the basis of piety (the fear of the Lord) is on an insecure foundation. Change of circumstance, of friends, of fashions, may blow it... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5-6 . Trust in the Lord with all thy heart Wholly and securely rely upon God’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and upon his providence and promises, for direction and help in all thine affairs and dangers. Lean not to thine own understanding Think not to accomplish thy designs by the strength of thine own understanding, without God’s blessing. Under this one kind of carnal confidence he understands all other kinds, such as confidence in bodily strength, wealth, or friends. In all... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 3:7-8

Proverbs 3:7-8. Be not wise in thine own eyes Be not puffed up with a vain conceit of thine own wisdom, as if that were sufficient for the conduct of all thine affairs, without direction and assistance from God, or without the advice of others. Fear the Lord, &c. This he adds, because reverence for, and a dread of, the Divine Majesty, will make a man, when he compares himself with God, little and vile in his own eyes. Reverence God’s wisdom, and despise thine own. It shall be health... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 3:1-35

The whole life for God (3:1-35)Obedience and loyalty to God, in addition to guaranteeing his favour, produce the kind of life that most people acknowledge as honourable (3:1-4). If, instead of trusting in their own wisdom and ability, people live in an attitude of reverential trust in God, they can be assured that God will direct them in all their affairs. God will remove obstacles and lead them to their desired goals (5-8).Personal income is one part of everyday life where people must honour... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 3:5

Trust = Confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . with all thine heart. Illustrations: Abraham (Genesis 24:1-8 ; compare Proverbs 19:14 ); Eleazar (Genesis 24:12-27 ); Jephthah (Judges 11:11 ); David (1 Samuel 30:6-8 ); Asa (2 Chronicles 14:9-15 ); Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4-7 ; 2 Kings 19:14-37 ); Nehemiah (Proverbs 1:4-11 ; Proverbs 2:4-8 ). understanding = discernment. Hebrew. binah. See note on "wisdom" (Proverbs 1:2 ), No. 2. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 3:6

acknowledge = recognize, or own. direct = rightly divide: i.e. dividing and thus showing what is right or pleasing to God. Hebrew. yashar. Numbers 23:27 . Compare Judges 14:3 , Judges 14:7 ; 1Sa 18:20 , 1 Samuel 18:26 . Rendered by Septuagint orthotomeo, the same word as in 2 Timothy 2:15 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise, &c. Illustrations: Ahab ( 1Ki 22:30 , 1 Kings 22:34 , 1 Kings 22:35 ); Jeroboam ( 1Ki 12:26-33 ; 1 Kings 13:33 , 1 Kings 13:34 ; Asa (1 Kings 15:19 ); Ben-hadad (1 Kings 20:10 , 1 Kings 20:11 ); quoted Romans 11:25 ; Romans 12:16 . Fear = revere. See note on Proverbs 1:7 . the LORD. Jehovah (with 'eth) = Jehovah Himself. App-4 . depart from = shun, or avoid. evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . read more

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