How does seeking God's will in Judges 18:5 connect to Proverbs 3:5-6? Scripture Focus Judges 18:5 – “So they said to him, ‘Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.’” Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Setting the Scene in Judges 18 • The tribe of Dan has not fully possessed its allotted inheritance (Judges 18:1) • Five scouts enter the hill country of Ephraim and stop at Micah’s house, where a Levite serves as priest • Before continuing, the scouts ask the priest to “inquire of God” about the success of their journey (18:5) • Their request shows an outward desire for divine guidance, even though their larger plan involves seizing land already occupied by others (18:27-29) The Principle Stated in Proverbs 3 • Trust in the LORD with undivided heart devotion • Reject self-reliance and human reasoning as final authority • Acknowledge Him in every path, decision, and pursuit • Promise: God Himself will “make your paths straight,” clearing obstacles and directing steps Connecting Threads • Both passages place the success of a journey under God’s oversight • The Danites illustrate a practical step: pause and seek the Lord before acting • Proverbs provides the heart posture that must undergird such requests: wholehearted trust, continual acknowledgement, and refusal to lean on personal understanding • Seeking God’s will is not a one-time ritual but a lifestyle of dependence, exactly what Proverbs commands Cautions from the Danite Example • Their inquiry sounded spiritual, yet their motives mixed faith with self-interest • Subsequent events reveal partial obedience at best, showing that acknowledging God outwardly without heart-level trust falls short • Proverbs’ promise applies when trust is exclusive and submission is genuine Practical Takeaways • Begin every venture—large or small—by deliberately bringing it before the Lord (Philippians 4:6) • Measure motives against Scripture to guard against self-seeking (Psalm 139:23-24) • Lean on revealed truth even when circumstances suggest easier, human solutions (Isaiah 55:8-9) • Expect God to straighten paths in His timing, not merely to rubber-stamp personal plans (Psalm 37:5) • Ongoing obedience keeps the channel of guidance clear (James 1:22-25) Related Scriptures for Deeper Study • Psalm 25:4-5 – Guidance sought with humble trust • Isaiah 30:21 – Hearing a word behind you, “This is the way” • James 1:5 – Asking God for wisdom without doubting • John 10:27 – Sheep recognizing the Shepherd’s voice |
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