Solomon’s Instructions to His Son

INTRODUCTION:  In this chapter, Solomon addresses “My son” three times (Proverbs 3:1, 11, 21). The chapter gives various instructions, but also spends much time declaring the benefits of obeying this instruction. Solomon is trying to convince his son of the value of wisdom. We all need the teaching of this chapter.

1. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERING THE LORD (Proverbs 3:1-12)
1. Forget Not the Law (Proverbs 3:1-4)
1. Keep the commandments with your heart (Proverbs 3:1)
2. Appreciate the benefits of obedience (Proverbs 3:2)
1. Length of days: days full of good and profit (Psalm 90:10)
2. Long life
3. Peace
3. Keep the commandments in your heart (Proverbs 3:3)
1. Let not mercy and truth forsake you
2. Bind them about your neck
3. Write them on the table of your heart: refers to memorizing the word of the Lord
4. Appreciate the benefits of memorizing and keeping the commandments (Proverbs 3:4)
1. Favor in the sight of God
2. Favor in the sight of men
3. Good understanding in the sight of God
4. Good understanding in the sight of men
2. Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6)
1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5)
2. Do not trust in your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5)
3. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways (Proverbs 3:6)
4. Trust in the Lord to direct your paths (Proverbs 3:6)
3. Fear the Lord (Proverbs 3:7-8)
1. The instruction (Proverbs 3:7)
1. Be not wise in your own eyes (Proverbs 14:12)
2. Fear the Lord
3. Depart from evil
2. The benefits (Proverbs 3:8)
4. Honor the Lord (Proverbs 3:9-10)
1. The instruction (Proverbs 3:9)
1. Honor the Lord with your substance
2. Give Him the firstfruits of your increase
2. The benefits (Proverbs 3:10)
5. Despise Not Chastening (Proverbs 3:11-12)
1. The instruction (Proverbs 3:11)
1. Despise not the chastening of the Lord
2. Do not be weary of His correction
2. The benefits (Proverbs 3:12)
1. Gods correction is proof of His love
2. Gods correction is proof of our sonship
2. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING WISDOM (Proverbs 3:13-26)
1. Seek Wisdom (Proverbs 3:13-18)
1. Wisdom brings happiness (Proverbs 3:13); the world tells us that we can find happiness by seeking it; God tells us that happiness can be found only by those who, instead of seeking it, seek and find wisdom.
2. Wisdom has great value (Proverbs 3:14-15)
1. More valuable than silver and gold (Proverbs 3:14)
2. More valuable than rubies (Proverbs 3:15)
3. More valuable than all the things you can desire (Proverbs 3:15)
3. Wisdom brings great blessings (Proverbs 3:16-18)
1. Length of days (Proverbs 3:16)
2. Riches (Proverbs 3:16)
3. Honor (Proverbs 3:16)
4. Pleasantness (Proverbs 3:17)
5. Peace (Proverbs 3:17)
6. A tree of life (Proverbs 3:18)
7. Happiness (Proverbs 3:18)
2. Respect Wisdom (Proverbs 3:19-20)
1. By it the Lord founded the earth (Proverbs 3:19)
2. By it the Lord established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19)
3. By it the Lord breaks up the depths (Proverbs 3:20)
4. By it the clouds drop down the dew (Proverbs 3:20)
3. Keep Wisdom (Proverbs 3:21-26)
1. Do not allow wisdom to depart from you (Proverbs 3:21)
2. Appreciate the benefits of keeping wisdom (Proverbs 3:22-24)
1. Life to your soul (Proverbs 3:22)
2. Grace to your neck (Proverbs 3:22)
3. Safety in your walk (Proverbs 3:23)
4. Sweet sleep in the night (Proverbs 3:24)
3. Wisdom removes the fear of tomorrow (Proverbs 3:25-26)
1. It removes the dread of sudden fear (Proverbs 3:25)
2. It builds its confidence in the Lord (Proverbs 3:26)
3. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING OTHERS (Proverbs 3:27-35)
1. Give Good to Whom It is Due (Proverbs 3:27-28)
1. Withhold not good to whom it is due (Proverbs 3:27)
2. Withhold not good that you have to give (Proverbs 3:28)
2. Withhold Evil From the Innocent (Proverbs 3:29-30)
1. Devise not evil against your neighbor (Proverbs 3:29)
2. Strive not with a man without cause (Proverbs 3:30)
3. Withhold Envy From the Wicked (Proverbs 3:31-32)
1. Do not envy the oppressor (Proverbs 3:31)
2. Do not choose his ways (Proverbs 3:31)
3. Understand the working of the Lord (Proverbs 3:32)
1. The forward (the willfully stubborn) are an abomination to Him
2. The righteous are given the secrets of the Lord
4. Trust God to Make Things Right (Proverbs 3:33-35)
1. God will reward the wicked and the just (Proverbs 3:33)
2. God will scorn the scorners and give grace to the lowly (Proverbs 3:34)
3. The wise will receive glory and fools will receive shame (Proverbs 3:35)