Proverbs: 2:1-11
The worst thing a little boy can get for Christmas is a pair of jeans, a chapter book, or a non-mechanical toothbrush—I’ve gotten all three. So for Christmas one year, my mom bought me a small green book. I remember being very frustrated because it was another present that wasn’t a Playstation. This small book was the book of Proverbs. As great parents do, they give gifts that outlast any rugged toy.
1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
The Bible is full of this kind of conditional language: If you do_______, then God will do______. It’s beautiful language. Solomon here is first, pleading with us to make wisdom the absolute compass of our lives. Second, he’s describing the infinite value of this wisdom. The wisdom he’s describing here, is more than good, moral teaching. This wisdom is not any sort of yin-yang, “live simply” philosophy. If there’s was anyone that knew the teachings of the world, it was Solomon. The wisdom he’s describing here is grounded in the wondrous truth of fearing the Lord. Earnestly seek, posture yourself to fear the Lord, then you will receive his knowledge, which will make you wise.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
The Lord is the source of wisdom. Nobody gains wisdom except through God. Again, we must not mistake good precepts with wisdom.
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
True wisdom belongs to those who are honorable and honest. This wisdom cannot be bought. This wisdom is not cheap.
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
This doesn’t mean nothing bad will ever happen to the saints, but the protection He’s talking about is a protection, which is bigger; one that covers our paths. I was reminded of Job 1 in this instance:
8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
NLT says:
12 “All right, you may test him,” the lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.”
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
Solomon is still on the “then______” part of the condition. If you seek wisdom that is rooted in the fear of the Lord, then you will understand righteousness and justice, which results to wisdom. The unmeasurable wisdom of God has a two fold purpose: One, it’s meant to glorify God, also it meant to bring our lives a sweet, uncomprehending, pleasantness. God’s wisdom is meant to bring us a peace, a calmness. Like a pleasing smelling candle, our lives should have an inevitable, pleasant scent that is attractive to others.
My Prayer for us today is that we would ask God to reveal this wisdom. Seek this wisdom. Pray for God to make this wisdom real to us—a wisdom that is rooted in the fear of the Lord.
Written by: Maison Tiradoegas
Photo by: Chelsea Francis