Posted by Jeff Short on June 16, 2016 · 1 Comment
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
– Proverbs 2:7
God is both the source and the guarantor of wisdom. He lays it up, stores it up so there is always wisdom in abundance. He is a shield. Wisdom is a shield to the upright. Verses 7-9 make it plain there is no acquiring of wisdom apart from walking uprightly. Divine wisdom is no intellectual trinket to be played with and looked at. Wisdom is sound instruction in the way of life.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 15, 2016 · 1 Comment
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
– Proverbs 2:6
The strenuous effort described in the opening verses of chapter 2 does not do away with the divine source of wisdom. Solomon never teaches us that we can obtain wisdom by human effort, quite the reverse. God gives wisdom. Wisdom belongs to God and can only be given by him (1 Corinthians 2:14). But God does give wisdom to those who ask of him in faith (James 1:5-6). Those who seek, find (Luke 11:9-10). We all lack wisdom naturally but if we go on lacking wisdom it is probably because we have not asked (James 4:2).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 14, 2016 · 1 Comment
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
– Proverbs 2:5
Verse 5 is the first consequence of the conditions in the previous four verses. So if we receive, hide, incline, apply, cry after, lift up the voice for, seek, and search, then we will understand or perceive or grasp the fear of the Lord and obtain the knowledge of God. The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom; it is also the end of it. This verse specifically separates Proverbs from the realm of advice because it reveals the obtaining of wisdom is to know God. The Proverbs is a deadly serious book. It is a matter of life and death.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 13, 2016 · 1 Comment
If thou sleekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
– Proverbs 2:4
Solomon likens the search for wisdom to a search for hidden treasures. If a man was convinced a valuable treasure was hidden on his property, he would wear himself out in searching for it. He would be consumed with the task. Our search for wisdom should be characterized by this sort of urgency and intensity, for wisdom is far more valuable than any hoard of gold.
Consideration of these verses in this context reveals that the search for wisdom has an objective end. Solomon is not calling us to mere speculation or some sort nebulous journey of self-realization. He does not promote a finding of one’s own truth. He is urging us to the “words” and “commandments” of wisdom.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 12, 2016 · 1 Comment
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
– Proverbs 2:3
The picture here reverses the picture of wisdom crying out in the previous chapter. The increasing intensity of these verses show that we ought not to rest satisfied if we lack wisdom. If the ear is not hearing wisdom so that the mind can reflect on it, then we must cry out after it. We must seek it with all we have. So Solomon says that not only should we welcome wisdom when we encounter it, but we must go looking for it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 11, 2016 · 1 Comment
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
-Proverbs 2:2
Patience and sustained effort are required in the acquiring of wisdom. To incline the ear is to listen with attention. To apply the heart is to consider well. He describes the whole process of learning and understanding. The ear must take in and the heart, or mind, must think over what is heard. These verses teach us something about the way the spirit gives us wisdom, while we labor to understand (2 Timothy 2:7). It’s kind of like giving a friend a book. Once you give them the book they own it, but they must read the book to gain the knowledge from it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 10, 2016 · 1 Comment
Chapter 2 provides a contrast between the virtue of wisdom and the wickedness of evil men and strange women. The chapter opens with a different perspective from chapter 1. In the first chapter, wisdom cries out to give instruction, but in this chapter we are exhorted to seek out wisdom as though we were searching for treasure. The first chapter depicts the accessibility of wisdom and the second shows we must seek for it diligently.
The first half of chapter 2 is an important passage of Christian discipleship. It deals with the need to seek wisdom as the foundation for life. That search must begin with the fear of the Lord. Regardless of where we are in maturity or sanctification, this is always a freshly relevant passage for us.
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
– Proverbs 2:1
At first glance, we notice apparent repetition. This verse is similar to verses already read and some that follow after. This isn’t rote for memorization like it’s some limerick, but rather this seeming repetition emphasizes the need for continual seeking and attendance to wisdom. Wisdom can be both gained and lost.
Receive means to accept or to take in. Contrary to popular thought, wisdom is not latent inside of us but is rather outside of us. Most of the wisdom we learn will come in the form of teaching that we must pay heed to. Hide means to hoard up or to treasure up. We must take in and store up the teaching of wisdom. These dual commands have two important implications for us.
- We take in and store up in order to meditate on wisdom. The teaching of wisdom is not always immediately practical and applicable. As well, the understanding of wisdom is beyond the face value. We must meditate on them to come to fuller understanding.
- True wisdom must be stored up also because it’s not always immediately useful to us. If we have them treasured up, then we can bring them out as it were in the time of need.
Both of those implications reveal the necessity of patience. They also reveal the folly of those who constantly clamor to “just give us something we can use.” We are an impatient generation that doesn’t want to hear what we must meditate on in order to understand.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 9, 2016 · 1 Comment
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
– Proverbs 1:33
Contrast finally comes from the fools who refuse wisdom. Those who will hear with understanding (Proverbs 1:5, 8), shall find wisdom and the fruits of it. Evil is calamity and reinforces dwelling safely. It’s not that the wise will have no problems, but wisdom will keep them from many pitfalls the fools fall into. Having wisdom is having discernment, choosing the good way, and refusing the bad. It is to consider the end and not only the immediate payout.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 6, 2016 · 1 Comment
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
– Proverbs 1:30
Wisdom reiterates the reproof from verse 25 and provides explanation for the judgment to come in the next verse. It highlights the active refusal of wisdom by the fools who go their own way. This is a display of man’s depravity that he will only of himself choose sin and folly.
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Proverbs 2:7
Posted by Jeff Short on June 16, 2016 · 1 Comment
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
God is both the source and the guarantor of wisdom. He lays it up, stores it up so there is always wisdom in abundance. He is a shield. Wisdom is a shield to the upright. Verses 7-9 make it plain there is no acquiring of wisdom apart from walking uprightly. Divine wisdom is no intellectual trinket to be played with and looked at. Wisdom is sound instruction in the way of life.– Proverbs 2:7
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
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