Creator, Father, King #136

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

TAKE A LOOK AT today’s Scripture passage. Do you know who wrote it?

King Solomon, Scripture’s Mr. Wasted Potential.

Solomon had it all, but he fell so far. His father was Israel’s beloved King David, the courageous shepherd boy who slayed a giant, ascended to the throne, and unified a nation. God made an everlasting covenant that David’s “kingdom [would] continue before me for all time” (2 Samuel 7:16)—ultimately an incredible Messianic promise that Christ would come through David’s lineage (Matthew 1:1-17). Talk about being set up for success!

Before he died, David solemnly charged Solomon to honor the Lord. For a time, it seemed like Solomon got the message. Early on, his wisdom and riches were unmatched in the ancient world.

Yet as we discussed in the April 23 devotion, marrying hundreds of idol-worshiping wives and making other bad choices turned his heart from the Lord. Solomon wrote today’s verses, but sadly, he ultimately didn’t practice what he preached, and it led to his downfall.

What’s It Mean?

Leaning on human understanding has caused much strife in the course of history. Human understanding has produced all the false religions, as sinners have vainly tried to claw their way to heaven apart from the one true God’s perfect rescue plan. It has caused neglect, abuse, oppression, vice, greed, violence, homicide, genocide, and worldwide war.

Go all the way back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Our original forebears, Adam and Eve, leaned on their human understanding, and it caused the Fall itself.

Trusting in ourselves has only brought us pain and misery. God made us to trust in him for everything—from our routine needs (Matthew 6:25-34) to help in our greatest trials (Psalm 69).

When your decision-making acknowledges God—his authority, wisdom, and love—your life will change. You’ll still have to make tough decisions. You’ll still encounter trials. But God will make straight paths for you—ones that bring you to his appointed will for your life.

But you must trust him with all your heart.

Now What?

Check out these additional passages of Scripture that exhort believers to trust in the Lord: Psalm 20:7; 37:5; 71:5; 84:12; 91:2; and Isaiah 12:2; 26:4.

Did You Know?

Solomon “composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs” (1 Kings 4:32).