Studying: 2 Thessalonians 1-3Memorizing: Romans 1:1-20
Thoughts: Good
"Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. - Proverbs 3:7-8, NASB
What does it mean to be "wise in your own eyes"? Earlier in chapters 1 and 2 we noticed that the foolish reject counsel and reproof (1:24,25), that they listen only to themselves and not to others. Solomon gives here this warning and immediately the statement is followed by the phrase "Fear the LORD and turn away from evil." There's a reason these two phrases are connected. The one who thinks himself wise is self-sufficient, proud perhaps, not open to reproof and correction. Therefore, he has no fear of the Lord, he does what is right in his own eyes. Therefore being wise in one's own eyes is defined as having no fear of the Lord and living in evil.
The benefits of living this way, of fearing the Lord and turning from evil, are then stated. The one who does not rely upon his own wisdom will find "healing" and "refreshment." What kind of healing? I don't think the emphasis here is simply upon the physical. I've known plenty of people who are not wise in their own eyes who have been sick and suffered with various diseases. It would appear there is a metaphor at work here. The benefits living according to God's wisdom and not one's own is that things are healed and made right. For example, when a husband and wife live according to their own wisdom strife will enter the marriage. Egos will get in the way. The husband will think he's always right and the wife will think she's always right. They will fight, bicker, argue, etc, and if they keep trusting in their own wisdom their marriage will fail. Yet the one who trusts in God's wisdom will realize when he or she is wrong, when apologies will have to be made, and even, no matter how hard it might seem, admit error.
Living according to God's wisdom also brings "refreshment." The word used here is the same used elsewhere for taking a drink. Growing upon the deep south I know well the value of a refreshing drink on a summer's day. When the heat index in Mississippi climbs to 110 with 100% humidity just walking to from the front door to the car can work up a good sweat. But on such days when the grass needs to be mowed, or other projects must be done, or working outside all day takes place, there is great pleasure in a cool drink of water. While going down, it's as if it's seeping into every pour of the body. Your scalp tingles, and your heart races as your entire body is refreshed.
God's wisdom brings cool refreshment to the parched soul. Living according to God's wisdom can take what is wounded and heal it, and it can take what is dry and parched and fill it with life.
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