He Shall Direct Thy Paths
Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12
Come, Follow Me · September 7–13, 2026
The lesson this week
Proverbs says the wise life works out.
The lesson this week
Ecclesiastes says it often does not.
The lesson this week
Both are scripture. Both are true.
A hypothetical
Which of those two books describes your year?
Act one
Live wisely and it will go well with you.
Proverbs 1–4
Lessons on Wisdom
What a proverb is
- Short sayings, not legal contracts
- Patterns observed over generations
- Written to be memorised
- Aimed first at the young
Proverbs 4:7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
David O. McKay · Conference Report, April 1968Gaining knowledge is one thing, and applying it [is] quite another. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge.
What Proverbs claims
Wisdom is gettable. Go and get it.
Proverbs 1:7; 2:5; 3:7; 15:33
The fear of the Lord starts wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 3:7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 15:33The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Discuss
How did you learn what reverence for God looks like?
What Proverbs claims
Reverence comes first. Understanding follows it.
Evidence · Proverbs 22
The promise given to parents.
Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Discuss
Why don’t faithful parents always get faithful children?
Hold that one
Ecclesiastes is about to take this up.
Evidence · Proverbs 31
Proverbs closes on a life that works.
Proverbs 31:10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
What she is praised for
- She trades, buys land, plants
- She works before dawn
- She opens her hand to the poor
- She speaks with kindness and wisdom
Proverbs 31:30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Hebrew translation of “vain”
Hevel. Breath. Vapour. Gone while you watch.
The hinge
Proverbs ends on Ecclesiastes’ own word.
Discuss
Why end a book of promises on that?
Act two
Ecclesiastes has watched the promises fail.
Ecclesiastes 1:2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
What ‘vanity’ means
- Breath you see in winter air
- Gone before you can name it
- Not evil, just unholdable
- The book’s first and last word
What the Preacher tried
- Pleasure, wine and laughter
- Houses, vineyards, gardens and pools
- Silver, gold and singers
- Wisdom itself, more than any before
Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 3:1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Ecclesiastes 3:11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart.
Discuss
How can we help those around us who are in winter?
Discuss
What do you do when it doesn’t go well?
Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Where act two leaves us
Nothing under the sun will hold firm.
Act three
So what do you lean on instead?
Proverbs 3:5–6Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Notice what it does not promise
Not that you will see the path.
Richard G. Scott · Trust in the Lord, 1995To trust means to obey willingly without knowing the end from the beginning.
Richard G. Scott · Trust in the Lord, 1995This life is an experience in profound trust—trust in Jesus Christ, trust in His teachings,
Richard G. Scott · Trust in the Lord, 1995 (continued)trust in our capacity as led by the Holy Spirit to obey those teachings for happiness now and for a purposeful, supremely happy eternal existence.
Discuss
Why does the Lord put us in situations that require trust?
Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Where that lands
Obey before you understand. That is trust.
To take home
He promised direction, not the map.
He Shall Direct Thy Paths
Come, Follow Me — Old Testament 2026 · Part 37
9/13/2026
Come, Follow Me for September 7–13: Proverbs promises the wise life works out, Ecclesiastes reports that it often doesn’t, and Proverbs 3:5–6 is where the two of them meet.
Adapted from Brother Miller’s Notes
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