Pro 3:3 | KingComments | STEP | Not forgetting teaching and keeping the commandments in is not a static thing. Teaching and commandments work something out, for they form the character of the believer. To this, connects. Through teaching and commandments the characteristics of the new life are formed. Two of them are “kindness and truth”. They are two of God’s many impressive attributes ( ). They are seen perfectly in the life of the Lord Jesus. It was a joy for God to notice those attributes in His Son. It is also a joy to His heart when He can notice them in us. God has proven and continues to prove kindness and truth to the believer. Of this the believer should remain impressed, he should never forget it, the thought of it should never leave him. However, God has not only proved kindness and truth, but He has also given them to the believer, for they belong to the new life he has received. What could not happen to the Lord Jesus can happen to us, and that is that we forget God’s kindness and truth that He has shown us, that they leave us. As a result, these attributes do not become visible in our life and they also leave us in that sense. This is why the father tells his son – and every believer – to make sure that “kindness and truth” do not leave him”. The father tells him how to do it. He should bind them around his neck like an ornament. The neck indicates self-will. A word like “stiff-necked” indicates that. If “kindness and truth” are bound around the neck like an ornament, it means that one’s own will is not followed, but that these characteristics govern life. He must also write both these characteristics on the tablet of his heart (cf. ; ; ). As a result, they will be the motives from which he acts. He thereby submits himself to the will of God. “Kindness” is goodness shown to another and excludes all forms of selfishness and hatred. “Truth” is being trustworthy, being reliable; it excludes all hypocrisy. We can therefore say that kindness and truth are parallel to grace and truth. This pair, grace and truth, is united in perfect harmony in Christ: “Grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ” ( ). We see this above all on the cross. On the basis of this pair, God was able to accept us. The eternal life that is our portion shows this pair in our life. Both aspects must be in harmony. There may not be love at the expense of truth, and there may not be truth without love (cf. ; ). This is elaborated in the following verses: in live in the love of God and in live in the truth, which means separation from evil. The first blessing of listening to wisdom, as we saw in , concerns the God-fearing person’s own life. The second blessing has to do with relationships ( ). If the advice of is followed, the son will find “favor and good repute in the sight of God and man”. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus. He lived in kindness and truth, and found what is written here ( ). We also see it in the life of Samuel ( ; cf. ). “Favor” is free goodness; it is something that cannot be claimed. When we find favor with people, it is not a merit of our own; we cannot claim it as a right, but will receive it if we show kindness and truth. Although Joseph was a prisoner, he found favor or grace in the eyes of Potiphar ( ). Those who show kindness and truth conspicuous in a favorable sense. It is heeded, looked upon and appreciated, both by God and people. If we listen to the advice of this father, we will experience the same.

‏ Proverbs 3:3

Kindness and Truth

Not forgetting teaching and keeping the commandments in Pro 3:1 is not a static thing. Teaching and commandments work something out, for they form the character of the believer. To this, Pro 3:3 connects. Through teaching and commandments the characteristics of the new life are formed. Two of them are “kindness and truth”.

They are two of God’s many impressive attributes (Psa 117:2). They are seen perfectly in the life of the Lord Jesus. It was a joy for God to notice those attributes in His Son. It is also a joy to His heart when He can notice them in us. God has proven and continues to prove kindness and truth to the believer. Of this the believer should remain impressed, he should never forget it, the thought of it should never leave him. However, God has not only proved kindness and truth, but He has also given them to the believer, for they belong to the new life he has received.

What could not happen to the Lord Jesus can happen to us, and that is that we forget God’s kindness and truth that He has shown us, that they leave us. As a result, these attributes do not become visible in our life and they also leave us in that sense. This is why the father tells his son – and every believer – to make sure that “kindness and truth” do not leave him”.

The father tells him how to do it. He should bind them around his neck like an ornament. The neck indicates self-will. A word like “stiff-necked” indicates that. If “kindness and truth” are bound around the neck like an ornament, it means that one’s own will is not followed, but that these characteristics govern life. He must also write both these characteristics on the tablet of his heart (cf. Jer 31:33; 2Cor 3:3; Deu 6:8-9). As a result, they will be the motives from which he acts. He thereby submits himself to the will of God.

“Kindness” is goodness shown to another and excludes all forms of selfishness and hatred. “Truth” is being trustworthy, being reliable; it excludes all hypocrisy. We can therefore say that kindness and truth are parallel to grace and truth.

This pair, grace and truth, is united in perfect harmony in Christ: “Grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ” ( Jn 1:17). We see this above all on the cross. On the basis of this pair, God was able to accept us. The eternal life that is our portion shows this pair in our life. Both aspects must be in harmony. There may not be love at the expense of truth, and there may not be truth without love (cf. 2Jn 1:1-13; 3Jn 1:1-15). This is elaborated in the following verses: in Pro 3:5-6 live in the love of God and in Pro 3:7-8 live in the truth, which means separation from evil.

The first blessing of listening to wisdom, as we saw in Pro 3:2, concerns the God-fearing person’s own life. The second blessing has to do with relationships (Pro 3:4). If the advice of Pro 3:3 is followed, the son will find “favor and good repute in the sight of God and man”. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus. He lived in kindness and truth, and found what is written here (Lk 2:52). We also see it in the life of Samuel (1Sam 2:26; cf. 2Cor 8:21).

“Favor” is free goodness; it is something that cannot be claimed. When we find favor with people, it is not a merit of our own; we cannot claim it as a right, but will receive it if we show kindness and truth. Although Joseph was a prisoner, he found favor or grace in the eyes of Potiphar (Gen 39:4). Those who show kindness and truth conspicuous in a favorable sense. It is heeded, looked upon and appreciated, both by God and people. If we listen to the advice of this father, we will experience the same.