Bible Verse Breakdown
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust int he Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all they ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for another opportunity to learn your word. Please work in my study today. Help me hear what it is you have to say to me in this verse of your Holy scripture.
Context of Passage
King Solomon, the son of the greatest King Israel has every had (to date), wrote the book of Proverbs. King Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom and God granted this to him. Proverbs is written from a place of wisdom and there is much we can learn about how to live a life pleasing to God in these words. In chapter 3 of Proverbs, wisdom is the topic of the chapter. Proverbs 3:5-7 is a proverb related to trusting in God and if we do, what will come from that effort.
Translation Comparison
Trust in the Lord, is written as Trust in Jehovah in the original text. Jehovah is the first name of God the Father. It's his personal name. This is a very personal invitation to trust in Jehovah. The rest of the English translation aligns well to the original text. However, the definitions of the keywords will illuminate the true meaning.
Key Words Study
There is a lot to glean from this passage. In an effort to understand the depth, key words being pulled out for study are below... "TRUST in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN not to your own UNDERSTANDING. In all they ways, ACKNOWLDEGE Him and He will DIRECT your path.
Trust (982) (Hebrew - batach) Lean (8172) (Hebrew - sha'an) Understanding (998) (Hebrew - biynah) Ways (1870) (Hebrew - derek) Acknowledge (3045) (Hebrew - yada).
Trust (982) (Hebrew - batach) - trust, rely upon with absolute confidence. Lean (8172) (Hebrew - sha'an) - support oneself Understanding (998) (Hebrew - biynah) - knowledge, interpretation, wisdom - what you know undirected. Ways (1870) (Hebrew - derek) - ways / journey / manner Acknowledge (3045) (Hebrew - yada) - this means "to know".
Verse ReWrite
"Rely on, with absolute confidence that He's got you, in the one true and personal King of Kings, with your mind and your will. Don't attempt to support yourself with what your understanding of things is. Throughout and in every step of your journey...all things, DRIVE to know him deeper. If you do...It's HIS job to (He will) make straight and smooth and clear the way you are going.
Conclusions
As a child, I was taught to include God in my journey and this verse was used as the baseline for that teaching. However, this verse is so much deeper than just allowing him a say. This verse speaks of faith. It's not about letting him have a say, but relying on him in a way that you know that you know that He's got you. It eliminates any of the self and puts all of it on HIM. This verse is an action we MUST take in order to receive something. We must rely on HIM and KNOW. Then, if we do that, He will step in and make the way we should take clear for us. This verse changes everything. It calls us to Know that Jehovah is so so personal and he wants to handle our journey of life. Accepting his help and knowing / trusting that He has what's best for us regardless of what we are seeing in the moment, is a step of faith in him that some have never known before. We must practice taking the action of relying on him in ALL things. Not some, not most...ALL. All means all. And he is worthy of it ALL.