Proverbs 2

ScriptureProverbs 2:1-6My son, if you accept my words    and store up my commands within you,² turning your ear to wisdom    and applying your heart to understanding—³ indeed, if you call out for insight    and cry aloud for understanding,⁴ and if you look for it as for silver    and search for it as for hidden treasure,⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord    and find the knowledge of God.⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.ObservationI’ve forever loved the practicality of Proverbs.  I feel like nearly every verse unpacks…well, wisdom and this Chapter speaks to reasons that wisdom is so important.UnderstandingThe key truths I understood from these texts are…It all starts with wisdom…but wisdom requires action.Receiving wisdom is not a one-time thing…it requires a continued action and renewal. God is the provider of wisdom.The actions required including: accepting God’s words (v1), actively turning our ears to wisdom (v2) and applying our heart to understanding (v2).  We can’t receive God’s wisdom if we don’t first believe in Him and what He says.  We cannot receive wisdom if we are choosing to listen to ways and wisdom of the world, instead of those of the Creator.  And, we can’t receive wisdom by just going through the motions, we must seek to understand and apply.Verses 3 and 5 indicate to me that wisdom, once received, doesn’t stay.  It requires continued action – calling out for insight (v3), crying aloud for understanding (v3), looking/searching for it as for silver or hidden treasure (v4).  We must continue to seek and grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.And, finally, wisdom comes from God (v6).  He is the one that provides the knowledge and understanding and he does so through His word and through relationship with Him and other believers.  We simply must ask and seek.   If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5The rest of the chapter shares the benefits of walking in wisdom – success and God’s protection along the way.  Can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t want those benefits, can you?Life ApplicationI love the picture in verse four…looking for wisdom as for silver, searching for it as for hidden treasure.  I’m currently in Vegas for work (an ironic place to be writing about wisdom from, lol) and saw part of the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean movie last night.  So, I’m thinking of the great extent that the pirates go to to find hidden treasure – often not even knowing for sure what exactly that treasure is.  May we be just as bold, just as adventurous, just as willing to seek and ultimately find the treasure of wisdom that God wants to give. God, I thank you that you are faithful and generous to provide wisdom.  May we be equally faithful to seek and to find it…then apply it.   

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- Rei