Proverbs 3:3-4
“Let mercy and truth never leave you...
From the beginning of King David’s reign in Israel, God gave David a promise that he would never let a generation go by without giving him a son to sit upon the throne. Because of this promise, Solomon knew that not only his son, but grandsons of many generations to come, would govern in Israel.
As a result, he gives his posterity two pillars of justice with which to serve the kingdom of Israel. In other words, let these two pillars be your guide in every decision that you make. Don’t forget to have mercy. Don’t be a harsh person. Be a shepherd. Be a loving parent to these people. Care for them. Feed them, and be merciful to them. Heal the brokenhearted, and open the eyes of the blind. Lift up those that cannot walk. Don’t take bribes. Don’t let the wicked persist in his immoral lifestyle without punishment. Don’t let the land become corrupt. Don't look at your place as a place of privilege...but one of responsibility!
One issue that I have always had to deal with in my own heart is this deep sense of justice. I have learned that there are certain injustices in life that only God can change. It is imperative that we learn to give those things to God, so as to prevent bitter feelings from rising up in our lives, and taking over the whole focus of our purpose. I have learned that I can have a tremendous impact on the injustices of this life through my own actions. I might not have control on what others do, but I certainly have control over what I do.
...Bind them around your neck...
There are a few things that we can do to insure that these pillars do not lose their rightful place in our hearts, in the church, in government, and society in general. We must bind them to ourselves. Binding has a co-notation of being connected or being joined. The greatest thing that you can do to become connected or bound to someone or something is through fellowship and constant relationship. For this express purpose God often warns us of corrupt friendships, just as we as parents do of our own children. Strong bonds are created through fellowship. It is not as easy as you might think to rid yourself of certain associations.
Relationships in themselves are not necessarily clean or corrupt. But rather, the foundations upon which they are built. You can fellowship a drug addict as long as that fellowship is founded upon a sincere desire to rescue that person from their bondage...not to participate in it. One thing we must realize is that whether they be good or evil, ties in any relationship are not easily broken. Therefore, if we desire a relationship with truth...then we must allow it to permeate our lives, begin building a strong relationship with it, spend time searching for it, and when we find it...aggressively apply it to our lives.
…Write them on the tablet of your heart...
He also says write them. This speaks to us concerning priority. Many times people will remind me of something that I forgot to do for them. I usually always respond the same way by saying, “My life is overwhelmed with things to do. If you want this to be a priority, you have to write it down on paper and give it to me. If it gets written, it gets done.” Why is this? It is because the most important things in life always get written. It is those important things that we make sure to continually hang in our mind, so that they are not left undone. We often leave notes for ourselves around the house saying, “Don’t forget to blow out the candles; or, don’t forget to turn out the lights.” I have literally written notes on my children’s hands reminding them to turn in their homework.
The Apostle Paul writes to his disciples at Corinth proclaiming his undying love for them by referring to them as written letters in his own heart. He could have been saying, I have written you down in my heart, so that I will never forget you, and remember always to pray for you. Again, Jesus says in Luke 10:20, “…rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.” The things that are most precious to God are the written names of all his children. How wonderful it is to know that if we are children of God, the hand of God has written down our names, so that we are not forgotten by Him!
...Then you will win favor and understanding in the sight of God and man.
When we walk according to mercy and truth, we procure great favor and understanding with those we work with, and with those whom we live. Favor means everything is going our way. Nothing stands in your path. Good understanding means a good relationship. Solomon lived his whole life and never fought one battle. Not because he was not willing, but because of the great favor upon him he never had to cross that bridge. His enemies became his allies. People loved him. Israel did not treat Solomon as their king. They treated him as their son.
Don’t ever let the callings, ideas, and truths that God has put into your heart, slip through your fingers. Let them get down deep inside your heart and become an anchor to your soul. Let them become the greatest priority in your life. Let God’s truth be bound about your neck, and written in your heart.