Lean Not unto Your Own Understanding

Lean Not unto Your Own Understanding

Proverbs3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

            The word batach (982), which has been translated here as “trust”, means to go quickly to the self-existent independent eternal God who is.  Furthermore, this passage of scripture teaches that this trust must be complete and from the center of one’s intellect.  Musicians are often quite opinionated self-starters who rely on their own strength and act as a result of personal opinion which may be faulty.

            Verse six states very emphatically, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  The English word acknowledge ( yada 3045) is used in a host of applications in the Bible and connotes having regard and respect The self-existent independent eternal God who is.  Because YHVH is rather than merely was He has the power and wisdom to direct the Christian musician’s paths.  Because he is eternal and self-existent he understands every path that a musician takes in his or her journey of obedience to Him.  Solomon who was great and very wise admonishes us to “lean not unto thine own understanding.” 

            Solomon went on to say in verses seven and eight, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  I am not going to pretend to know just what those verses mean in their completeness, but I do know that Jesus said in Luke  10:21, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes…”  Spiritual knowledge and direction comes from God rather than from human wisdom.  So, Solomon gave us good advice when he said that we should lean on the wisdom of the LORD rather than trusting our own understanding.

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You LORD that you have promised to provide us with understanding.  You have also promised to direct out paths.  So, please give me the good sense to do the leaning and let you do the guiding.  Your word has promised that if I will trust your wisdom that “It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  I am asking you to help me to lean on you and trust your wisdom with my whole heart.  This I am asking in your all Wise and wonderful name.  Amen.