Lesson 3: Man’s Relationship with God

"And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he." –Pro. 16:20b

No relationship of life is more important than man’s relationship with the Father in Heaven. Proverbs speaks only occasionally about God, and yet it speaks very effectively about His role among men and how needed His wisdom is.

God's Sovereignty:

For man to properly understand and respect God, it is vital for him to understand that God is God -- He has sovereignty over all things. Proverbs explains that God can exercise control over:

• Evil People. "The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil" (16:4).
• The Lot. "The lot is cast into the lap; but its every decision is from the LORD" (16:33).
• Kings. "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will" (21:1).
• War. "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but victory is of the LORD" (21:31).
• All Regardless of Status. "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all" (22:2).    

Our Judge:

The Lord is aware of man’s conduct. "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings" (5:21). "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (15:3). "Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" (15:11).

God, not man, decides man’s condition. "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits" (16:2). "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts" (21:2). "If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" (24:12).

The Fear of the Lord:

At least 15 times Proverbs mentions "the fear of the Lord." A healthy respect for God will accomplish important things in our lives…

• Respect for God’s Word. "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar" (30:5-6).
• Growth in Knowledge and Wisdom. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (1:7; also 9:10; 15:33).
• A Trust in God’s Wisdom over our Own. "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. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil" (3:5-7). "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (14:12). "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established" (16:2,3; also 21:2).
• Provoked to Love What God Loves and Hate What God Hates. Godly fear recognizes that some things are an abomination to God. Abomination means something which is "worthy of or causing loathing or hatred; something which is detestable". Understanding that there are some things that God hates with a loathing disgust, Christians should certainly avoid them.

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate" (8:13; 16:5).

"For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD: but He is intimate with the upright" (3:32).

"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (6:16-19).

"A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight" (11:1).

"Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight" (12:22).

"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words" (15:26).

"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness" (16:12).

"He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD" (17:15; also 24:24,25; 29:27).

A Desire to Worship God Acceptably . "Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine" (3:9,10). "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (15:8). "The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous" (15:29). "To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (21:3). "The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?" (21:27). "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination" (28:9).

God's Response to Those Who Fear Him:

• A Delight. "They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight" (11:20).

• A Stronghold . "He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints" (2:7,8). "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" (3:25,26). "The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity" (10:29). "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge" (14:26). "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (18:10).

• Life is Prolonged . "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened" (10:27). "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (14:27). "The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil" (19:23). This is largely done by keeping us away from evil – "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil" (16:6). "The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil" (19:23). People often shorten their lives due to wickedness... "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" (3:7).

• Riches and Honor "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life" (22:4).

Conclusion

If we have the fear of the Lord in our hearts so as to do those things that please Him, we will avoid those things which the Lord hates. We learn the value of the "fear of the Lord" in our relationship with God (something which Christ and His apostles continued to recognize (Matt. 10:28; Acts 10:34-35; Phil. 2:12).

Questions:

1. Give a definition of "sovereignty".
2. Under the section God as Our Judge, what kind of things does God ponder about man?
3. In the following passages what does God hate and what does God love: ( 11:1; 12:22 ; 15::26; 24:24,25 )
4. What do the following passages teach us about prayer (15:8; 28:9).
5. When Proverbs 22:4 states that "riches, honor and life" are the rewards of fearing the Lord, is it speaking of earthly rewards or heavenly rewards?

[Introduction to Proverbs]  [Lesson 1-The Value of Wisdom]   [Lesson 2-What it Means to be a Fool]
[Lesson 4- Relationship with  Fellowman]  [Lesson 5- Marriage Relationship]  [Lesson 6-Problem of Adultery] 
[Lesson 7- Parent/Child Relationship]   [Lesson 8-Government ]   [Lesson 9 - Money_Labor.html]
[Lesson 10-Self-Control]   [Lesson 11-Rewards/Consequences]

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Page last updated: March 03, 2003