Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in Jehovah

Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -- Proverbs 3:5,6, Green's Literal.

Proverbs 3:1-6

The words provided in Proverbs 3:5,6 give us an instruction along with a promise. These words apply to Jehovah's people at all times, no matter what age or under what covenant they may be living. The words given will even apply in the Millenial age and on into eternity. This indeed should become our mindset in absolutely everything that we do. There is no other proper way for any servant of Jehovah to think at any time. Nevertheless, we often fail to keep these words in our hearts so to act upon them in all situations, and sometimes we trust in our own way instead of leaning upon Jehovah. Such may have resulted in bitter disappointments that could have been otherwise avoided. All of God's people have probably had such experiences, but God can even use these experiences to bring us closer to Him, if we are rightly exercised by the chastisement of our mistakes.

In Isaiah 26:3, we read "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (RLIV) Indeed, if we acknowledge Jehovah in all that we do, say and think, we have the full assurance of God's Word that He will direct our paths. What greater joy could we possibly have than knowing that our Heavenly Father is directing our steps? We do often have decisions to make, and many times it may be difficult to know what would Jehovah's will regarding such decisions. Still, the more aquainted we are with the Bible, the more we may we will be able to ascertain what His will is, based on the Scriptures.

We all will fall short, but we do have God's sure promise that IF we acknowledge Him and do not stubbornly seek to follow our own choosing, he will guide us. We today have even greater guidance than did the children of Israel in Solomon's day, since Jehovah has sent his Son. And Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth and life." (John 14:6) The Bible contains the words of Jesus which he received from his God and Father. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; John 8:28; 12:49; 14:10; 17:18) Thus, we cannot expect our Heavenly Father to lead us apart from His Messiah whom He sent. We should therefore always be mindful of what we read in Isaiah, "This the way, walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21) This voice is God's instructions to us as given in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. 

However, the words recorded in Proverbs 3:1-4 cannot be applied with the same universal application as verses 5 and 6. These earlier verses can only be applied to the children of Israel under the Law Covenant, and perhaps also to the world during the Millennial Age and ages to follow. Indeed, had any under the Law Covenant been 100% obedient to that Law Covenant, he could have been fully justified and would have gained eternal life through that obedience. No one, however, was ever been so justified by obedience to the Law, due to the weakness of the flesh. -- Deuteronomy 28:5; Leviticus 18:5; Romans 8:3; 10:5; Galatians 3:11. 

Those who belong to Jesus in this age, however, are not promised the blessings spoken of in the Law Covenant, but they are called upon to suffer persecution and even death in following Jesus. Thus, Proverbs 1:1-4 could only be applied to the regenerated child of God in this age in a spiritual sense and in the sense that they will gain eternal life in the resurrection in the last day.  -- John 6:39,40,44.

While none of the children of Israel could measure up to the perfect requirements of the Law, and live forever, their sincere efforts to obey that Law certainly brought to them temporal blessings, although in a limited manner. Furthermore, whatever efforts they have made to keep the Law surely helped to prepare them to accept the terms of the New Covenant, and thus be eternally blessed in the age to come. However, most of these have died, and thus will need to be raised in the last day to life before they can receive the blessings of the New Covenant. The Bible indicates that Jesus died for them so that they will all be raised in the day of judgment. 

In the present age, however, one can only be reckoned alive through faith in Jesus. (Romans 4:6,11,22-25) While reckoned or counted as alive in this age, they do not actually receive everlasting life until the age to come. (Mark 10:30; Luke 18:30) Such keep the commandment of Jesus to love one another as Jesus loved them. (Matthew 5:44-46; Luke 6:27,28; John 13:35,35; Romans 13:8; 1 John 3:23) It is especially faith, however, that needs to be perfected (1 Thessalonians 3:10; Hebrews 6:1) and made incorruptible in the new creature, and then love for God and others becomes incorruptible along with that faith. If one so overcomes in this age as Jesus overcame, they will reign with Jesus on his throne. (Revelation 3:21) Such become joint-heirs with Christ. -- Romans 8:17.

Those who belong to Christ in this age, but fail to attain the prize of joint-heirship, we understand do not lose their sonship with God, but will have lost their opportunity to reign with Christ on his throne. We believe such will eventually have to make their faith incorruptible, before they can actually obtain everlasting life, otherwise, they will prove themselves to be willful sinners and will be condemned again apart (Hebrews 10:26-29) from the condemnation in Adam. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21,22) If this happens they lose their regeneration as sons of God, and cannot be restored, since Jesus does not die another time. (Romans 6:9; Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:5,12,26) Such, therefore are condemned in the condemnation of the age to come, referred to the Revelation as the second death (a death apart from the condemnation in Adam). -- Revelation 2:11; 20:6,14.

Let all who belong to Christ, however, always strive their very best to allow the Heavenly Father to guide their ways and not trust in their own thinking. As long as we do so, we will eventually be made to stand, and not fall away from our faith. -- Romans 14:4.