Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Root Of All Evil?
The Questions
1) What does it mean to write this teaching on the “tablet of your heart”? (v. 3)
2) Why was it important that the people bring their first produce of the harvest? (v. 9)
3) Verses 5 and 6 are often quoted and memorized. What does trusting the Lord with all your heart have to do with money?
Proverbs 3:1-10
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;
2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life, and well-being.
3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will be healing for your body
and strengthening for your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions
and with the first produce of your entire harvest;
10 then your barns will be completely filled,
and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Original Intent
1) What does it mean to write this teaching on the “tablet of your heart”? (v. 3)
The phrase “tablet of your heart” resonated with, and held an important meaning to, the people during the time that this proverb was penned. The foundation of the law, the Ten Commandments, were written on tablets. Moses brought two stone tablets to the people after meeting with God on Mount Sinai. Like God wrote the commandments on the tablets, He calls the people to write loyalty and faithfulness on their hearts. He desired more from His people than good actions – He was jealous for their hearts.
2) Why was it important that the people bring their first produce of the harvest? (v. 9)
God required the people of the Old Testament to bring Him sacrifices to atone for their sins. He didn’t demand just any sacrifice – He wanted their best. In Genesis, Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to God. Cain brought some of the land’s produce and Abel brought the firstborn of his flock. Genesis 4:4b-5a says that “The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering.” Cain’s unwillingness to let go of his most valued possessions revealed the sin in his heart. God desired His people to value Him above anything else. Bringing God their best was a way that made them stand out from the rest of the world. It showed they trusted God to provide for them, even if they gave their very best to Him.
3) Verses 5 and 6 are often quoted and memorized. What does trusting the Lord with all your heart have to do with money?
In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain did not trust God with all of his heart. He refused to listen to God and flee from sin. Verse 6 says, “In all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight.” God pursued Cain and tried to set him on the right path: “ If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7) The passage does not record any response to God’s warning, but Cain murders his brother in the next verse. Cain’s first sin, loving possessions and money more than God, opened the door to more sin in his life. Instead of trusting God’s provision and wisdom, he gave into the desires of his flesh: greed, pride, and hate.
Everyday Application
1) What does it mean to write this teaching on the “tablet of your heart”? (v. 3)
On this side of the Cross and Jesus’ sacrifice, we are no longer slaves to the law and we have freedom from condemnation through Jesus’ forgiveness, even when we break the Ten Commandments and other commandments throughout the Bible. However, like the people of the Old Testament, God still desires for us to write loyalty and faithfulness on our hearts. When we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are given a new heart. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” Is the truth of the Gospel written on your heart? Do you treasure and hide the word of God in your heart (Psalm 119:11)?
2) Why was it important that the people bring their first produce of the harvest? (v. 9)
Do we trust God with our very best? Or does God get the leftovers of our life? Look at Genesis 4:3 again. It doesn’t say that Abel brought an offering and Cain did not. Cain still presented an offering to God, but he went halfway when it came to being completely obedient to God. He brought an offering, but he held the best back for himself. Have you ever checked a box without your heart truly being in it? Have you begrudgingly donated money when you could have offered more? Have you served at church, but only to fulfill an obligation? God desires for us to bring our best to Him with a cheerful heart. When we give ourselves fully to God, we are recognizing that God did the same for us. When we were still sinners, God sent His very best for us – Jesus (Romans 5:8)! How much more should we offer our best to God, who wholly deserves our devotion and offerings?
3) Verses 5 and 6 are often quoted and memorized. What does trusting the Lord with all your heart have to do with money?
How and where we spend our money is a reflection of our heart. Jesus warned us not to store up treasures on earth during the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) If we trust God with all our heart, then He will be our treasure, not money and possessions. When we give our money, time, possessions and talents in obedience to God, we show the world that we trust God to be faithful in every area of our lives. What are you putting your trust in? Do you trust that your worldly wisdom and treasures will provide you security? Or do you trust God’s sovereignty and control above your own?
What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with The Root Of All Evil?
Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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