t5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and do not rely upon your understanding.

6. Know Him in all your ways,

and He will direct your paths.

7. Do not be wise in your own sight;

fear the Lord and turn away from evil

8. it shall be healing for your navel and marrow for your bones.

9. Honor the Lord from your substance

and from the first of all your grain,

10. and your barns shall be filled with plenty,

and your vats will overflow with new wine (Proverbs 3, Tanakh).

This is one of those passages that everyone claims--at least in times of trial! I know a number of years ago, when the rug had been pulled out from underneath me, I turned to this passage for comfort! It was the sustaining power that led me through the situatuion.

What troubles me with this passage--well not the passage, but my attitude toward it--is the comprehensiveness of the text!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart/and do not rely upon your understanding./Know Him in all your ways,/and He will direct your paths (vvs. 5,6).

To what extreme does on take this text? And do I apply to everything in my life? Upon what (or whom) do I rely? On God, on myself, on my financial advisor? On Whom?

What is the promise here? What are the conditions? Who is in charge?--that's the ultimate question (to be continued!)