The Bible Study Podcast, episode 464. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of the

book of Proverbs, beginning with chapter three.

Chapter three of Proverbs goes like this, 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 peace and prosperity.

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. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your

ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Again, we're talking about paths. We're talking

about what road we're on. That may be a familiar

verse. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. If you had to pull out one verse alone from

Proverbs and remember it, I would say that's a good one to memorize. Trust in the Lord with all

your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to him, and he will

make your paths straight.

When we talk about straight paths in the Bible, we're talking about poetic language that is saying paths that head towards God, paths that head in the right direction.

So remember all these commandments, remember everything that Solomon is teaching, remember everything that God is trying to

teach us, and you'll win a good name in the sight of God and man. He also says that they will

prolong your life. We certainly know of people whose lives have been cut short senselessly,

cut short by bad decisions. We certainly hope not to be in that group, but we also hope that

wisdom will keep those that we love, our kids, our friends, our loved ones on good paths and

paths that head towards peace and prosperity, even in this broken and fallen world.

But then it goes on to say, do not be wise in your own eyes.

Fear the Lord and shun evil.

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