Simply Put, Trust in The Lord!

Devotion • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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In the book of Proverbs, Solomon along with some other writers, wrote to their hearers or to those that would be reading their words as if a Father was addressing His son; with compassion, urgency and love. In essence Proverbs would be a letter from God to Israel His chosen people. The overarching source to the main theme which is regarding moral is found in: Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

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This week I watched the the impeachment discussion regarding the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Impeachment - means to be charge with a crime and it is against a public official.

The President along with his advisors and other departments help him oversee things like budgets, law enforcement/military issues, import and exporting, taxes, welfare, education, healthcare and maintaining the constitution.

All of these responsibilities have to be carried out with moral, and Americans must trust to a degree those that are in these imorotant positions.

Moral - concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character.

During this impeachment a lot of what was said had to do with unity, and in the same breathe representatives bad mouthed the president for is unethical actions. The democrats and republicans both want to see a unified United States instead of a divided united states. Unified in policy, laws and moral etc.. However we have never really been unified.

One representative quoted Abraham Lincoln - who quoted:

Matthew 3:25 - “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

I don’t think anyone in that room understood or had the knowledge of what that verse means. This got me thinking how many people actually understand especially in politics that wisdom comes from God.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

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The whole impeachment got me to think about the question - Where does the world get their wisdom and knowledge from?

Then those questions led into me thinking about who I put my trust in. Who do you think that would be? Who do you put your trust in?

All of this thinking on wisdom, moral and trust reminded me of tonight's devotional verse.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

Trust

The Hebrew word for trust - Batakh - means to confide in any one; to set one’s hope and confide upon anyone. To throw one down on his back - conveying to commit

1. What other word resembles this definition? Faith

Solomon commanded that Israel as well as us trust in God.

He didn’t want trust in God to be once in awhile.

He didn’t want our trust to be just head knowledge either.

Solomon wanted our trust to go beyond intellect and effect our heart. Our heart is the center of our physical and spiritual life.

The Moody Bible Dictionary defines heart as:

The soul or mind as the fountain of thoughts, passions, desires, affections, appetites, purposes, and endeavors.

The New Testament implies the whole moral nature of fallen humanity - “The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure” Jer. 17:9

Because of our fallen heart or sinful heart we need guidance. In all honesty we need wisdom in all situations which is only found in God, through faith.

“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Psalm 37:5

People respond most of the time by how they feel, and we feel a certain way because of our outside circumstances. This needs to stop. We also should not rely the world for wisdom and moral - movies, man’s limitations, social media or Zach Herron, Jack Avery, Daniel Seavey, Corbyn Besson, and Jonah Marais, or our selves.

Do Not Lean

Solomon says not to lean on our own understanding .

Lean or Sha-an - to support one's self:—lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay.

Our president along with other officials lean completely on others wisdom and their own moral to help them. Although some may have a moral compass they are still imperfect - The bible clearly teaches that all wisdom comes from God, and we must be dependent on it.

Understand or Bi-na - intelligence, insight to be or become intelligent.

I like this definition because it implies to a degree that we are born intelligent, but it reveals the potential to become prideful in our intelligence.

If we think we can do everything or that we know everything we are being prideful.

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. Jer. 9:23-24”

2. Who’s understanding can we trust?

Now I am not saying that we are not smart or that we are not capable to answer questions, learn a skill, or navigate life ethically. We are and were created by God to be able to do some pretty important things, and reflect His righteous character. However, we are sinful and thus limited. We do not know everything, especially when it comes to good responses to difficult situations- sometimes we like to think we do, but we don’t. And the quicker we realize that the better. God’s wisdom and ways are far better than ours.

The Bible portrays God’s knowledge as unlimited, comprehensive, and perfect in every way; God is omniscient (the Latin term scientia means “knowledge,” and the prefix omni- means “all”; hence omniscient means “all-knowing”). In contrast to our knowledge, which arises from the passive conformity of our minds to given truths or objects, God’s perfect knowledge follows from his active willing as the Creator of all. Consequently, God not only knows that which he wills but also that which he does not will. In other words, God knows all states of affairs, both actual and possible (what the Christian tradition often calls “middle knowledge”).

Acknowledge

Acknowledge - Yadah - means to see, and hence, perceive, acquire knowledge, to know, to be acquainted.

Solomon wants Israel and us to know and be acquainted with God.

This happens by speading time with God - it starts by accepting Jesus into our hearts. Then:

3. Who can we ask for Wisdom?

“ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6

4. How do we ask for Wisdom?

To Personally know Him implies we have faith in Him.

And means sacrificing our will for His righteous way of thinking.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

God’s Kindness to us through the death of Christ - convicts us to want to live moral and righteous lives pleasing to God. And when we do He protects us by making our paths straight - He makes life enjoyable.

“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3

“ I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.” Jer. 10:23

A crooked path would be an unethical or immoral path - a sinful path.

We should all be so wise and follow the command to trust in God for all wisdom. God’s promises always come to pass for those who put their trust in Him. If not why would He say this? If not then Christ died for nothing and we are hopeless.

So it is more than important especially now in our declining world to put your faith and trust in Jesus. If you haven't done so I encourage you to do so. Understand that we are sinners and have offended God by our sin. Confess, and repent asking Jesus to forgive and make us like Him, and to give us wisdom.

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