Proverbs 3:16-20

 

Prov 3:16 (KJB)

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

 

Solomon is reiterating the fact that those who live a life imbued with wisdom will have the discernment to avoid the things which could cause a life to be shortened. Length of days may also refer to the fact that those whom God has saved will live eternally. The great riches and honour which are in her right hand are not tied to the riches and honors of this world but they refer to the spiritual riches which we have in Christ. (Eph 3:8 KJV) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; Those who seem wise in this world and have great riches will lose them someday either to economic conditions or death but those who have the true riches in Christ, will never lose them, even throughout eternity. (Rev 21:24 KJV) And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. Revelation 21:24 teaches us that all the saved will bring their honour into the New Heavens and New Earth. The honour that we possess is not something from the world but it is the imputed honour which Christ gives us in salvation along with imputed righteousness, etc.

 

Prov 3:17 (KJB)

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

 

Wisdom deals with its ways in a pleasant manner and not in a repulsive manner. Wisdom treats its recipients with kindness making their life much easier. Since wisdom causes a person to understand, it causes a path of peace because it allows them to avoid all the pitfalls associated with those who live a life lacking wisdom. Peace in this world is available to the believers because those who are tied to the world must continue to run and change as fast as the world does. Peace is not something which comes from the outside to the inside but it comes from the inside through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and emanates outward. (Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 

Prov 3:18 (KJB)

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

 

(Rev 2:7 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Here true Godly wisdom is associated with the Lord Jesus Christ who is spoken of in Revelation 2:7 as “the” tree of life. The tree of life is also spoken of as a healer. (Rev 22:2 KJV) In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Those who obtain Godly wisdom through salvation will experience the tree of eternal life and that experience will cause not just elation, but a blessing which will never cease. When a person becomes saved, they are normally carrying with them the scars of the world and Christ takes those scars and heals them and makes that person whole. (1 Pet 2:24 KJV) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Then as the person continues to grow in Christ, they then have the wisdom which continues to grow accordingly.

 

Prov 3:19 (KJB)

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

 

Here we are taught the ultimate usage of wisdom and understanding. When God created the universe and the earth, He used both wisdom and understanding in the creation. This verse shows that God is the complete source of wisdom and understanding. If God had used these to form the creation, then it shows us that they are sufficient enough to run our lives. To reject wisdom and understanding would be like rejecting the reality of the creation. Wisdom and understanding are as real as the creation itself. Although we can see the creation, we cannot see wisdom and understanding but we can see the fruits of them. However, we cannot see the principles of wisdom and understanding which God used but we can see their fruits as the earth and universe maintain an orderly existence.

 

Prov 3:20 (KJB)

By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

 

The depths could be referring to the great waters at creation where God took all the waters and put them in one place. (Gen 1:9 KJV) And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. Then when God created man and animals, He brought forth water for them by means of rivers and creeks and such. God brought the mist which watered the world. (Gen 2:6 KJV) But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. After the fall of man then came the rains which came down from the clouds. The word “dew” can also be translated as “light rain.” This rain nourishes the earth and causes all kinds of plant growth plus it replenishes the lakes and reservoirs which is needed by man for sustaining of life.

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