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 straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.1
Throughout the OT God would admonish his people to be subject to him and obey his rules, statutes, and commandments for he had great plans for them. He sent leaders, judges, kings, and prophets to speak and teach; but they would not listen. God’s term for his chosen people, a stiff-necked people,2 a stubborn people.3 Through his emissaries God would continuously warn them and call them to repentance. He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.4 Yet they would not heed.
And so God kept silent and left them on their own. This era was known as the “400 years of silence.” His last words, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”5
Confusion arose. In their desperation to make sense of life, the people embraced anything that seemed logical—there arose false teachings, false beliefs, philosophies, wantonness. It was like a father allowing his children to learn for themselves the hard way. For his words were like seeds falling on hard soil.6 But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.7
God is sovereign; he is LORD. Every word of his comes to pass.8 The LORD watches over his word to perform it.9 Like rain that waters the earth for plants to thrive, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.10
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.11 Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!12
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.13 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.14
Notes:
1. Proverbs 3:5-8
2. Exodus 32:9, 33:3, 34:9;
3. Deuteronomy 9:13, 31:27
4. Proverbs 29:1
5. Malachi 4:5-6
6. Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:2-9; Luke 8:4-8
7. Deuteronomy 29:4
8. Joshua 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56
9. Jeremiah 1:12
10. Isaiah 55:10-11
11. Psalm 1:1-3
12. Psalm 3:8
13. John 14:6
14. Psalm 2:12
