Trusting What You Cannot Trace

Introduction and Argument

Proverbs 3:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding In the sight of God and man.

I Develop God’s Character

Mercy and truth or some bible translation render the words “Steadfast Love and Faithfulness” appear together in the OT at least 20 times

They describe the attributes of God

Solomon here is suggesting that we imitate God’s character of covenant love and unwavering faithfulness.

Love/Mercy come from God. 1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

To understand how to develop God’s Character, you have to know what is the make up.

Psalm 85:10 KJV 1900

Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

The Father's Promise

A little boy asked his father, "Dad, will you be at my baseball game tomorrow?" His father smiled and said, "I'll be there."

The next afternoon, dark clouds rolled in, rain began to fall, and many parents stayed home. But as the boy walked onto the field, he looked into the stands and saw his father sitting there in a raincoat, soaking wet.

After the game, the boy asked, "Dad, why did you come out in this weather?"

His father replied, "Because I gave you my word."

That's what covenant love and faithfulness look like. Love doesn't disappear when conditions change, and faithfulness doesn't break when circumstances become difficult.

Transition: "Solomon says that the same steadfast love and unwavering faithfulness God has shown us should now be seen in us."

In addition to the two attributes mercy and truth, we have two imperatives namely bind and write. To actions that Solomon says you must do to develop God’s Character.

Bind or Tie; wear them around your neck. This would be visible and would be considered external actions

Write them on your heart. This would be internal thoughts

They are to be worn like you would wear a necklace (Bind). They should be held close to you

"Stiff-necked" The image comes from farming. An ox that is stiff-necked refuses to bow its neck to the yoke or respond to the farmer's guidance. Spiritually, it describes people who resist God's authority.

Examples include: Ex. 32:9 – "This is a stiff-necked people."

Hardness of Heart The Bible also describes Israel as having hearts that became hardened, uncircumcised, or resistant to God.

Examples include: Deut 10:16 – "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn."

Notice how the prophets often connect a stiff neck with a hard heart. Outward stubbornness reflects an inward spiritual condition.

Points: It highlights God's desire not merely to correct behavior but to transform the whole person—from outward conduct to inward character.

How does this passage connect with 2026, Look at 2 Corinthians 3:3

2 Corinthians 3:3 ESV

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

After this process we will find favor and understanding. Understanding that comes from God, not a book or a training class. Only from God can give this understanding. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Application:

Some people cannot seem to find the balance between Mercy and Truth. Some people are excellent in the truth - but they have little mercy. Others excel at mercy - but they stay away from the truth.

Example, The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, noting that Moses commanded stoning for such women. (John 8:1–11) They possessed absolute legal truth—the woman had violated the law, and the penalty was clear. Yet Jesus challenged them: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:1–11) Their truth was technically correct but devoid of compassion and mercy. Jesus showed mercy, saying “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more,” (John 8:1–11) balancing accountability with grace. The Pharisees exemplified how truth divorced from mercy becomes weaponized judgment.

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

II Depend on God’s Wisdom

Trust - confident; to rely on; feel secure. This is an imperative command and not a suggestion

Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

Psalm 25:2 “O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.”

How does the bible teach us to trust? Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

We must trust in God with all of our thinking, reasoning, decision, desire, will and never lean on our own understanding

Our understanding is limited. Trust God, but don’t trust yourself.

To Trust God means that you made a conscience decision to lean on Him and not your understanding

In all thy ways acknowledge him

People who have refused to acknowledge God end up with minds that are “disqualified” from being able to understand and acknowledge the will of God.

Douglas J. Moo

When people reject God long enough, they don't just lose their desire for God—they lose their ability to think rightly about God. In all that you get, please get understanding

Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind or reprobate mind to do what ought not to be done.”

Application:

We are only wise when we depend on God for wisdom

Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Proverbs 3:7 KJV 1900

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

III Demonstrate Godly Humility

If you want to demonstrate Godly humility, we have to live in harmony.

Fear means to reverence. We reverence the presence and power of God.

Depart from evil - Turn aside those things that are wrong for your life.

When we fear the Lord and depart from evil, we are demonstrating Godly Humility

Look at Romans 12:16 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”

We often hear people say they're trying to find balance in life. But when it comes to our relationship with God, balance isn't the goal—complete trust is.

Balance suggests that one side must offset the other, that we divide our confidence between God and ourselves. Solomon rejects that idea. He doesn't say, "Trust God some and trust yourself some." He says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

When it comes to faith, there is no middle ground or sweet spot between trusting God and trusting ourselves. The more we lean on our own understanding, the less we depend on God. God's call is not to a balanced life of divided trust but to a surrendered life of wholehearted trust.

Point: The scripture did not ask us to balance our trust in Him but lean or put our full weight on Him.