The Secret to a Prosperous and long Life

Prov 3:1-4  My son, forget not my law (Torah); but let your heart keep my commandments;  (2)  for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace to you.  (3)  Let not mercy and truth forsake you; tie them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart;  (4)  and you shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of Elohim and man.


The "requirements" for having peace, a prosperous long life and favor with YHVH and man is having the Torah (Law of YHVH), YHVH's Commandments and Truth in your life. What you should do with the "requirements"? You should "tie them around your neck" and "write them on your heart". 


Lets look at what these phrases mean in a practical way so that we can implement it in our lives and gain peace, favor and a prosperous long life. We will look at the "Requirement" first and what to do with them and then we will look at the result or outcome of applying these requirements. The requirements are:

• Torah
• Commandments
• Truth

What we should do with these requirements? We should:

• tie them around your neck
• write them on your heart.

We have a fair understanding of what the Torah is, but I will elaborate a bit for the benefit of those who think it means Law. What is the real meaning of Torah?


Torah – Law, custom, manner, mode, direction, instruction, to throw, shoot, cast, pour, circlet, plait, turn, to seek, search out, spy out, explore, dove, turtledove, bull, young bull, ox, to see,  behold,  observe,  regard, to regard, to watch, to travel,  circlet, circle,  plait,  turn (of hair or gold), custom,  manner,  mode.


Torah is translated as Law in the English Bible but it actually means Instructions. In Scripture it is also referred to as the “writings of Moses” and consists of the first five books of the Bible. We see that some of the meanings underline the fact that we need to search, seek and explore the Torah so that we can find direction for our lives. 


Another interesting meaning is "to throw" and "to shoot" as in shooting at a target, trying to hit the bull's eye.  Torah comes from the root word “Yarah” which means; “to learn how to shoot”. This is interesting because sin in Hebrew is defined as “missing the mark”. Torah means to learn to hit the mark every time and not sin against YHVH. Paul refers to the Torah as the “knowledge of sin” and this is why. The Torah helps you to find direction and "learn to shoot", so that you can "hit the mark" and sin no more. 


Torah means circle as well and this is where the "Torah Cycle" comes from, searching the Torah over and over again, year in and year out, learning it’s wisdom and truths, applying it to your life. The root word for Torah is "yarah" that also means "flowing like water". The concept of water is also found in the “New Testament” where the Word is referred to as water that is used for cleansing purposes.

Eph 5:26-27  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

To wash yourself with the water of the Word (Torah) is to cleanse yourself from sin which is defined in the Torah (first five books of the Bible). This helps us not to miss the mark or to sin, but to live a holy righteous life unto Him and to be without spot or blemish before Him.

2Tim 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of YHVH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of YHVH may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

So we see that the Torah gives us direction, helps us to see things in the way we should see them, it helps us to know what sin is and lastly, it is like water we drink to sustain our spiritual lives and it is a cleansing agent with which we wash our lives clean in order to become a Holy and set apart Bride awaiting our Messiah.


Is the Torah your salvation? No, only through faith and grace are we saved. The reason for this is that we will never keep the standard of the Torah because of our sinful nature but YHVH expects us to try to be "Holy" and sinless and to live a life of repentance. Whenever you fall, repent and seek His forgiveness and guidance through the help of His Spirit so that you will overcome that particular sin. This process will continue till the day you lay down your head one day and YHVH will know that you have tried your best to follow Him but His Grace is what will actually save you because of your shortfalls. 


Adam and Eve did only one little sin and were expelled from the presence of YHVH. It is only through His grace that they had a chance to be "saved" form their fallen state. Have you done a "little sin" in your life before? If you did, even if you asked for forgiveness, then you need Grace to be saved. The Torah and the water of the Word is there to help you to become Holy and set apart for Him but you still need His Grace to be saved from eternal death. Salvation is actually the “Restoration” process for reversing the effects of sin in your live and you have a part to play applying His Torah to your life to be restored as holy, and He has a part to play giving Grace to those who lived lives of humility and repentance before Him.