Command, Promise, Or Proverb?

Command, Promise, or Proverb?

[Command]: Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

John 14:1

[Promise]: I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.

John 11:25-26

[Proverb]: You will always harvest what you plant.

Galatians 6:7

Your mom says, “You need to finish your dinner.” Or she might say, “I will give you dessert after dinner.” Or maybe she says, “I give dessert to children who finish their dinners.” What’s the difference? The first one is a command—an instruction to be followed. The second one is a promise—a commitment made no matter what. And the third one is a proverb—something that is generally true but has exceptions. In the Bible God speaks in all these ways, and we have to examine what we read to figure out which way God is speaking. This will help us understand what he wants us to do, what he wants to do for us, and how we can gain the wisdom he offers us.

For example, in Deuteronomy 6:5 God says, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” That’s a command. It’s something we are to do all the time, no matter what. In Deuteronomy 31:6, God says, “He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” That’s a promise. It’s not dependent on our doing anything. It’s God’s promise to us, and there are no exceptions. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” That might sound like a promise, but it isn’t. Some parents claim it as a promise concerning their children—a promise that their children will eventually follow Christ if they are raised in a Christian home. But it is a proverb—something that is generally true about the way a child’s upbringing affects who he or she becomes. And while it is not a promise we can claim, it is wisdom we can embrace.

God is good to speak to us in all these ways—giving us commands to obey, promises to claim, and proverbs to show us how to live.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

How does a child know the difference between a parent’s instruction and a parent’s suggestion?

Read Proverbs 1:1-6. What does it say about the value of proverbs?

What commands, promises, and proverbs are in Proverbs 1:7-9; 3:5-7; 10:19; 15:1-5?