Welcome back to an extended odyssey along our shared path here at “Becoming Today”.
We are now three Wednesdays into our weekly search and rescue mission for wisdom.
Understanding that enlightenment is within our reach we shall seek and find the knowledge and inspiration necessary to uplift, support and enhance our collective journeys as well as our own personal paths, along this shared journey we call “Becoming Today”.
Last Wednesday in our discussion entitled, “Renewing Our Search“, we explored the encouragement that finding wisdom is possible, however you must first treasure it. If you do not value the gift then it will do you no good.
Plus how the search empowers us to be treated fairly and justly as we walk towards our own “Becoming”. That’s wonderful to me and it touches back upon some of the treasured traits we discussed during our conversation on the 8 Points of Light.
These are all tools that aid in your enlightenment as well as assisting us in radiating more light, and love, to all those we encounter. That then allows us further freedom.
Today we’ll continue forward with Chapter 3 in the Book of Proverbs. A reminder for some or in case you’re just joining us at this point in our conversations, I am being called to focus this teaching around the The Passion Translation® book of Isaiah and New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs translated from Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts.
Done so by Dr. Brian Simmons who believes the” message of God’s story is timeless; the Word of God doesn’t change. But the methods by which that story is communicated should be timely; the vessels that steward God’s Word can and should change.
And as we progress along our paths our needs for wisdom and understanding of the lessons of life should change as well. Today’s discussion will take a closer examination of the ideas of trusting and reasoning.
I’ll share the verse in its entirety and remind that the footnotes references are available by scrolling to the end of this post. In case you are interested in purchasing your own copy of The Passion Translation Bible, look for the link coming up. If you purchase it there, Becoming Today receives a small affiliate commission from Amazon to help support our online efforts.
So let’s begin by reading Proverbs 3 together, then we’ll discuss portions. This chapter begins by outlining,
The Rewards of Wisdom
(verses) 1–2 My child, if you truly want a long and satisfying life,
never forget the things that I’ve taught you.
Follow closely every truth that I’ve given you.
Then you will have a full, rewarding life.
3
Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go,
and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught.
Let your life be shaped by integrity,[a]
with truth written upon your heart.
4
That’s how you will find favor and understanding
with both God and men—
you will gain the reputation of living life well.
Wisdom’s Guidance
5
Trust in the Lord completely,
and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on him to guide you,
and he will lead you in every decision you make.
6
Become intimate with him in whatever you do,
and he will lead you wherever you go.[b]
7
Don’t think for a moment that you know it all,[c]
for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion
and avoid everything that’s wrong.
8
Then you will find the healing refreshment
your body and spirit long for.[d]
9
Glorify God with all your wealth,
honoring him with your firstfruits,
with every increase that comes to you.
10
Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings
from an uncontainable source of inner joy!
Wisdom’s Correction
11
My child, when the Lord God speaks to you,
never take his words lightly,
and never be upset when he corrects you.
12
For the Father’s discipline comes only
from his passionate love and pleasure for you.
Even when it seems like his correction is harsh,
it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child.
13
Blessings pour over the ones who find wisdom,
for they have obtained living-understanding.[e]
14
As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted,
greater than many bars of refined gold.
15
It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones,[f]
for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her.
16
Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand
and wealth and promotion[g] in the other.
Out of her mouth flows righteousness,
and her words release both law and mercy.[h]
17
The ways of wisdom are sweet,
always drawing you into the place of wholeness.[i]
18
Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings,
for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits.[j]
Wisdom’s Blueprints
19
The Lord laid the earth’s foundations with wisdom’s blueprints.
By his living-understanding all the universe came into being.[k]
20
By his divine revelation he broke open
the hidden fountains of the deep,
bringing secret springs to the surface
as the mist of the night dripped down from heaven.[l]
Wisdom, Our Hiding Place
21
My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life:
to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose.[m]
Don’t ever forget how they empower you.
22
For they strengthen you inside and out
and inspire you to do what’s right;[n]
you will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring.
23
They give you living hope to guide you,
and not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble.
24
You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound—
your rest will be sweet and secure.
25
You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you.
Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside,[o]
26
because God is your confidence in times of crisis,
keeping your heart at rest in every situation.[p]
Wisdom in Relationships
27
Why would you withhold payment on your debt[q]
when you have the ability to pay? Just do it![r]
28
When your friend comes to ask you for a favor,
why would you say, “Perhaps tomorrow,”
when you have the money right there in your pocket?
Help him today!
29
Why would you hold a grudge[s] in your heart
toward your neighbor who lives right next door?
30
And why would you quarrel with those
who have done nothing wrong to you?
Is that a chip on your shoulder?[t]
31
Don’t act like those bullies or learn their ways.
32
Every violent thug is despised by the Lord,
but every tender lover finds friendship with God
and will hear his intimate secrets.[u]
33
The wicked walk under God’s constant curse,
but the righteous walk under a stream of his blessing,
for they seek to do what is right.
34
If you walk with the mockers you will learn to mock,
but God’s grace and favor flow to the meek.[v]
35
Stubborn fools fill their lives with disgrace,
but glory and honor rest upon the wise.
Take a moment to reflect and then I’ll start to raise a few interesting concepts that are easily related to our shared journey here at “Becoming Today”.
In examining the “Rewards of Wisdom“ we are urged to remain focused on the search and remember that integrity is integral. As it is written in verses 3 and 4,
Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go,
and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught.
Let your life be shaped by integrity,[a]
with truth written upon your heart.
4
That’s how you will find favor and understanding
with both God and men—
you will gain the reputation of living life well.
Being faithful, steadfast and forbearant is how you improve your journey with integrity. It also allows others to see the truth you live and aids in you being accepted for the person you truly are.
With that in mind, then we can look at the next several lines, where there are some tips as to how to seek wisdom. Beginning with verse five, we read:
Wisdom’s Guidance
Trust in the Lord completely,
and do not rely on your own opinions.
With all your heart rely on him to guide you,
and he will lead you in every decision you make.
6
Become intimate with him in whatever you do,
and he will lead you wherever you go.[b]
7
Don’t think for a moment that you know it all,[c]
for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion
and avoid everything that’s wrong.
8
Then you will find the healing refreshment
your body and spirit long for.[d]
So to seek wisdom we must first trust in the process. In this case that is putting your trust in God.Do it with all your heart, not your mind. Don’t overanalyze or attempt to outreason the statement. Your mind will p[lay tricks on you, but when you tune into your heart you can clearly hear the truth.
This thought echoes in the prayers in Isaiah 12:2 (ESV), as it is written, “Behold, God is my salvation;I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
That level of trust as verse six suggests leads to a fr deeper relationship with God, “Become intimate with him in whatever you do,…” Intimacy in this case is deepening of bonds, the forming of a far deeper and more familiar relationship and understanding. IN doing so, you should begin to realize we are just beginning to fathom the depth of God’s love for us. In surrendering to trust, we accept that we do not know it all, we do not have all the answers, nor do we need to.
When we reach that level of comprehension it becomes easier to see the Truth, accept it, live it and reap the rewards of doing so.
Part of those rewards are then outlined in verse
13
Blessings pour over the ones who find wisdom,
for they have obtained living-understanding.[e]
14
As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted,
greater than many bars of refined gold.
15
It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones,[f]
for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her.
16
Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand
and wealth and promotion[g] in the other.
Out of her mouth flows righteousness,
and her words release both law and mercy.[h]
17
The ways of wisdom are sweet,
always drawing you into the place of wholeness.[i]
Blessings we receive aid in our acceptance of true wisdom, making this new found knowledge more valuable than silver, gold, cash or gems. Being open to and recognizing the blessings we each receive, and doing so with a pure, loving heart allows for living righteously.
Yes wisdom is sweet and very “Becoming”.
Seeking solace in righteous living nd the search for wisdom allows for shelter from the storms of life. It gives us solace, peace as as beginning with verse 21 points out it is also a fortress, as we read again,
Wisdom, Our Hiding Place
My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life:
to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose.[m]
Don’t ever forget how they empower you.
22
For they strengthen you inside and out
and inspire you to do what’s right;[n]
you will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring.
23
They give you living hope to guide you,
and not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble.
24
You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound—
your rest will be sweet and secure.
25
You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you.
Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside,[o]
26
because God is your confidence in times of crisis,
keeping your heart at rest in every situation.[p]
The search for wisdom will help uncover your purpose in life. For some this may be a new discovery, for others a refinement or clarity of vision. For each of us it is different, yet what we each exactly need at the moment “it” is received.
Don’t try to compare yourself with others. Whatever revelation you may find is unique, it is expressly meant for you. How to or if you should share that knowledge is a matter for your discussions with God.
Allow wisdom and purpose to empower you. Build you up. Strengthen and encourage you. This inspiration is both refreshing and energizing. It can if you allow it , cause you to rest and advance at the same time. Embracing the living hope will take away your fears and allow you to sleep soundly, once you accept that you can Trust God in all things at all times.
Remember with God, all things always end in all is well.
Truth, understanding, enlightenment and wisdom are all very “Becoming” traits. They empower us to grow and learn to be who we truly were intended to be. Which in turn enables us to continue moving on, with our momentum fully powered forward and upward.
I hope you are enjoying this odyssey. There is much more to come.
As always I encourage you to actively participate. Please post your comments, questions, suggestions or concerns below. This is a safe space to share and there are protections in place to keep spammers out. I will respond to all who choose to participate.
If you do not feel comfortable sharing below, remember you can always reach out privately through the easy to use form on our Contact page.
I pray each and every one of you enjoys a safe and blessed day. Then join us tomorrow as we’ll focus the light on another essential aspect along this shared journey we call “Becoming Today”.
Footnotes
3:3 Or “Tie my commands around your neck.” The neck is a symbol of our will and conscience.
3:6 Or “he will cut a straight path before you.”
3:7 We should always be willing to listen to correction and instruction.
3:8 Literally “healing to your navel and moistening to your bones.” The blood supply for a baby in the womb comes through the navel. New cells are made in the marrow of our bones. As the navel and bones picture the life flow of our bodies, so the navel and bones are a picture of our inner being. See John 7:37–39.
3:13 The Hebrew text here implies that wisdom gives the ability to take raw facts and draw right conclusions and meaning from them.
3:15 The Hebrew word translated here as “gemstones” can also refer to rubies, coral, or pearls.
3:16 Or “honor.”
3:16 The Septuagint adds this last sentence, which is not found in the Hebrew.
3:17 The Hebrew word translated here as “wholeness” can also mean “peace” or “prosperity.”
3:18 Verses 17 and 18 are recited in contemporary Torah services as the Torah scroll is returned to the ark, where it is kept.
3:19 When compared with Col. 1:16, we can see that Wisdom is used as a title in Proverbs for the Living Wisdom, Jesus Christ. See 1 Cor. 1:30.
3:20 The dew is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, who comes from the heavens and drenches us with God’s presence. See Gen. 27:28; Deut. 32:2; Judg. 6:37–40; Ps. 133:3.
3:21 Like many Hebrew words, there are various possible translations. The word translated here as “purpose” can also mean “discretion,” “counsel,” “meditation,” or “discernment.”
3:22 Or “adorn your neck.” The neck is a picture of our will and conscience.
3:25 As translated from the Septuagint.
3:26 Or “keeping your foot from being caught.”
3:27 The Septuagint is “Why would you withhold from the poor [those who need it]?”
3:27 The Hebrew text here literally means “Do not withhold wealth from its owners.” See Rom. 13:7.
3:29 Or “plot evil.”
3:30 See Rom. 12:18.
3:34 See James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5.
The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Becoming Today with Rochelle Jeanette 
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