Proverbs Chapter 3
The Perfect Formula
Today’s verses are from Proverbs 3:19-21
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thoushalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
There are lots of formulas we are faced with in our lifetime. We have everything from a simple food recipe to a complex Chemical formula; from Algebra to Trigonometry; from Physics to Chemistry. In business there are formulas on how to besuccessful, in marriage there are formulas on how to stay together and millions of self-help books with the formula on how to be happy. Coca Cola even has a secret formula for their soft drinks.
In today’s’ verses, God shows us his “not-so-secret” formula – wisdom, understanding and knowledge. It is the way he got things done. Now in my thinking this is backwards. I would think that knowledge would come first; understanding second and then wisdom. But God is telling us that His order has wisdom first. As we have learned, God makes things in three’s. He made us Body, Soul and Spirit; physical, mental and spiritual. For us to truly know wisdom, God must enlighten us from a spiritual standpoint.
Wisdom speaks to our spiritual nature and it only comes from God. We start with wisdom and all other components of our life will fall into place. Wisdom is the filter by which we judge all other information. Wisdom is the foundation.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth…
Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Understanding speaks to our mental nature; our Soul; our mind, will and emotions. It is the “middle man” in the composite of which God has made us. It is the force in our lives that takes the first component, wisdom (spiritual) and the final component, facts (physical) and provides true understanding. The Soul is where faith (spiritual) takes hold on the facts of the Word of God (physical) and produces understanding.
19 … by understanding hath he established the heavens.
Knowledge is at the physical level; the five senses – things that are tangible, things that can be seen and touched. It is facts, figures, scientific research and even Biblical research. Our post-modern society uses this as the basis for all conclusions and earthly wisdom. This is how very smart people, with lots of raw head knowledge, produce wrong conclusions, wrong results and wrong thinking (evolution is a prime example). Without wisdom, without the right starting place, all knowledge is futile. But when we start with wisdom to gain understanding, then knowledge can be a very powerful force.
20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew
God has given the formula – Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge. When get them in the right order in our lives, we walk in confidence, we are protected and we are fearless.
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thoushalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.