Proverbs 2 - Seeking Wisdom In Your Heart Series

Pearls From Proverbs – Chapter Two

We continue our study on the Book of Proverbs. Let us now look at chapter two.

SEEKING WISDOM

1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 (NKJV)

As in the first chapter – God address us – as a father would his son.

In this first section we see several “ifs”:

1. If you receive my words

2. If you treasure my commands within you

3. If you treasure then to the point that you want to hear wisdom

4. If you apply your heart to understanding

5. If you cry out for discernment

6. If you lift up your voice for understanding

7. If you seek wisdom as you would silver

8. If you search for wisdom as you would a hidden treasure

Then:

1. You will understand the fear of the Lord

2. You will find the knowledge of God

Matthew Henry gives three steps to finding wisdom:

1. We must closely attend to the Word of God

2. We must be in much prayer

3. We must take pains to find it

If you think that wisdom will automatically come knocking at your door – you are much mistaken. Jesus told us:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)

To reap a harvest you must plant the seed, water the ground, fertilize the soil, pull the weeds – in other words – it takes effort. So too is the finding and applying of wisdom.

SEEK SOUND WIDSOM

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. Proverbs 2:6-9 (NKJV)

Wisdom is a gift of God – but it takes effort to find it.

God is the source of wisdom – He gives it out. It comes from His mouth and with it comes knowledge and understanding. There is no sense to just have knowledge if there is no understanding. The godly application of knowledge is wisdom. A person can have much knowledge but no common sense – what good is that? It is possible for a person to be an educated idiot. There are many educated people who speak foolishness. Therefore, be care who you listen to and follow. It is God who gives “sound wisdom”.

God has promised to be a shield – a guard – and to preserve your way – if you will walk in the paths of justice and righteousness. Follow God and He will preserve you – shield you and guard you. Then you will have understanding of righteousness, equity and justice. You will know the good path. Jesus said:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)

WISDOM IN THE HEART

10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, Proverbs 2:10-12 (NKJV)

Verse ten explains how deep wisdom needs to go – it needs to enter the heart. Head knowledge is profitable – but God desires that we have a love for wisdom. Matthew Henry has said:

“When wisdom has dominion over us, then it not only fills the head, but enters into the heart, and will preserve, both against corruptions within and temptations without. The ways of sin are ways of darkness, uncomfortable and unsafe: what fools are those who leave the plain, pleasant, lightsome paths of uprightness, to walk in such ways!”

God shows us in these verses:

When

1. Wisdom enters our heart

2. Knowledge is pleasant to our very being (soul)

Then

1. Common sense (Good judgment) will preserve you

2. Insight will become profitable to you