Proverbs 2:1-4 “The Admonition to Receive 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…

In these four verses, comprising the second of the 10 appeals from the father, the wise father presents the progression of gaining wisdom. In the rest of the chapter, he notes 5 benefits of gaining wisdom. Here is the progression of gaining wisdom presented in verses 1-4

1.   Reception of Wisdom

2.   Meditation on Wisdom

3.   Request for more Wisdom

4.   Pursuit of Wisdom

In verse 1, the son is exhorted to receive the lessons from his father and treasure them. Wisdom is hidden in the soul and valued it greatly because it may not be immediately used. However, by treasuring it, by hiding it one’s heart, it will be ready when the time comes that it is needed. Think of it as storing up for a rainy day. Indeed, these are the proper riches to store up.

This will have its effects in the wise son who treasures these words. Once they are in his heart, they will affect his attitudes, which will affect his decisions, which will affect his future actions.

Verse 2 presents the next step after receiving the words of wisdom: meditating on them. Inclining the ear means to pay close attention. “Apply your heart to understanding” means ‘to turn’ to understanding. The son is to listen carefully and to apply, i.e. to turn, his heart toward the teaching in order to fully understand. This is meditation. This patient ruminating on lessons the father has taught ingrains wisdom and leads to success. The ear hears & the mind (heart) applies.

In verse 2, the ear and mind were involved. Now the mouth is involved in crying out and lifting up for wisdom. It is appropriate both to ask those who are older and wiser to help you understand and also to pray to God for understanding of what you are meditating on. This verse is actually more intense than asking, you are to “cry out” for discernment.” If it does not come immediately, do not quit. This verse tells you to intensify your request by lifting up your voice. Wisdom is not easily acquired. Effort and patience are required, which brings us to verse 4.

The father now gives the last step in the progression of gaining wisdom – pursuing wisdom. There are two concepts shown here. First of all is the value of that which is being sought. Wisdom has intrinsic value like silver. The second concept in this simile is the diligence in the search. Wisdom is like ‘hidden’ treasure. It is not available unless you search for it. You must expend the effort to reap the reward.

I have one last thought regarding this progression of wisdom. Gaining wisdom also develops good character. For example, verse 1 requires attentiveness to what is being taught. Verse 2 requires diligence to meditate on the words of the father in order to gain understanding. Verse 3 requires persistence not to give up if understanding doesn’t come right away. Finally, verse 4 demands patience to keep seeking and searching. Of course, there are many other character traits that can be applied. The point is that as you acquire wisdom, you will also be developing good character.

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Related Scriptures: Psalm 119:9-11; Matthew 6:19-21; 13:9; James 1:5

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“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.” – Francis Bacon

Proverbs 1:32-33 “Lady Wisdom’s First Appeal, Part 3: The Reason”

(32) “For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; (33) but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Lady Wisdom has given her plea to repent of neglecting the Word of God. She has given her warning that you will reap what you sow if you ignore her plea. She now gives the reason for listening to her plea.

Lady Wisdom first gives two results of rejecting her plea.

1.   Wisdom called the simple to turn to her (v. 23) but instead they turn away and it “will slay them.” The fool thinks he can reject God (Psalm 14:1) without consequences. This rejection will lead to their eternal destruction.

2.   These fools remain complacent, secure in their worldliness. The presume upon the kindness of God. This will also lead to their eternal destruction.

By way of stark contrast, Lady Wisdom now gives the results of listening to her:

1.   Dwell safely – The Believer has the protection of heaven (Psalm 121; 91:3-7; Joshua 1:5)

2.   Be secure without fear of evil – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

As Proverbs 1 concludes, we are present once again with the two paths: the path of the fool and the path of wisdom. The path of the fool seems appealing at first and the path of wisdom seems arduous. In the end however, the path of wisdom is the only path that provides safety, security, and happiness.

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Related Scriptures: Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 1:24 & 30

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“Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3;

Proverbs 1:24-30 “Lady Wisdom’s First Appeal, Part 2: The Warning”

(24) “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, (25) because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, (27) when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (28) Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, 29 because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.” (31) Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.

In this second part of Lady Wisdom’s appeal, the warning for not heeding her appeal is given. When Lady Wisdom first appealed to the simple, they rejected her completely. She called, but they refused her. She stretched out her hands to rescue them, but they had no regard for this merciful act. She offered them wise counsel so they would change the direction they were heading, but they disdained her words. They would have none of her rebuke. Instead of choosing the path of wisdom, they have chosen the path of the fool (1:7).

What happens now is a direct result of the path they have chosen. The accumulation of unwise decisions now brings calamity, terror, destruction, distress, and anguish. Do not miss the great principle of this passage: they are reaping what they have sown. The disaster is a direct result of their rejection of wisdom as shown by verse 31: “Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.”

When the disaster hits, the fool realizes he has no idea what to do to solve his problems. But it is too late. Now he wants wisdom, but he will not get it. Wisdom must be gained day by day, built upon over time. Wisdom now laughs at the fool. He calls out to gain wisdom, but wisdom does not answer.

Why doesn’t wisdom answer? Verse 7 states “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The fool did not choose the fear of the Lord then, nor does he choose it now. He wants a wise answer to his problems, but he wants it without the Lord. It can’t happen. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Rejecting the Lord means rejecting wisdom, for there is no wisdom apart from the Lord. By not choosing to fear the Lord, the fool is despising Lady Wisdom’s rebuke, which was to repent from neglecting the Word of God. There is no hope for gaining wisdom if God and His word are rejected. The rejecter must then “eat the fruit of their own way” without help from God, whom he has rejected, or from wisdom, whom he has also rejected by rejecting God.

(The painting is “The Sower” by Jean Francois Millet – 1850)

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Related Scriptures: Isaiah 3:10-11; Jeremiah 2:19; Galatians 6:7-8

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“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” – Galatians 6:7-8

Proverbs 1:20-23 “Lady Wisdom’s First Appeal, Part 1: The Plea”

(20) Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. (21) She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words: (22) “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. (23) Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.”

In verses 20-33, we have the first of two appeals from Lady Wisdom. (Four times in Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a noble lady that should be pursued 1:20-33; 3:13-20; 8:1-36; 9:1-18.) Similar to the Father’s appeal in verses 8-19, this appeal has three parts:

1. The Plea (v. 20-23)

2. The Warning (v. 24-29)

3. The Reason (v. 30-33)

The first principle to note is that Wisdom is not hidden. Observe the following:

1.   She wants to be found so she “calls aloud”, “raises her voice”, “cries out”, and “speaks her words”.

2.   She wants to be found so her pleas are in public places where people are. She is “outside”, “in the open squares”, “in the chief concourses”, and “at the openings of the gates of the city”.

Who is Lady Wisdom’s plea for? The plea is for the “simple ones.” She rebukes them, asking how long they will love being simple? Lady Wisdom points out that the simple cannot remain in that state for ever. They will turn into scorners and fools. The simple stand at two paths that diverge (1:7) and must choose which path to follow. Lady Wisdom beckons the simple to follow her, to turn at her rebuke. If so, Lady Wisdom will pour out her spirit, making her words known to the simple one and thereby converting him into a wise man.

It is important to note at this early stage in Proverbs that Wisdom represents the entire counsel of God’s Word, not just these Proverbs. The truth that the Word of God will convert the soul and make one wise is attested throughout Scripture.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7)

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

Therefore, the plea of Lady Wisdom is to repent [“turn at my rebuke”] of neglecting the Word of God.

(Since there is much to learn here, each part will stand as its own post. The next post will discuss the warning for rejecting Lady Wisdom’s plea.)

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 10:17; Revelation 3:19

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 “Very few men are wise by their own counsel, or learned by their own teaching; for he that was only taught by himself had a fool as his master.” – Ben Jonson

Proverbs 1:8-19 “A Wise Father Instructs a Son to be Wise”

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit; we shall find all kinds of precious possessions, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse” – my son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

The first nine chapters of Proverbs include ten appeals from a father to his son. This first appeal is the typical format: the wise and loving father exhorts his son to pay close attention to the following instructions. The son is to esteem these lessons as a highly valued possession that is designed for his benefit.

This first appeal comes from both the father and mother as they exhort their son not join those greedy for gain. There are three sections to the wise father’s instruction.

First, the parents give the situation. The son is approached by a group of his peers who try to convince the son to join the group. This is peer pressure to join the ‘in crowd.’ These would-be friends promise companionship and all kinds of precious possessions. They entice with their words “Sure, we’ll have to break a few laws, but think of all the money we’ll have. You don’t have to do it alone, we’ll do it together.” The father wisely does this to point out the temptations so the son won’t be caught off guard.

The second part of the appeal is the warning to unequivocally reject any and all pleas from this ungodly crowd. The father’s words: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path.”

The third section of the instructions is the reasons for doing so. In this case, the sinners run to evil for their gain and trap themselves, running their own lives. The son can now recognize that even though he might gain some so-called friends and quick cash, he will embark on the path of the fool, the path of destruction. He will ultimately destroy his own life and losing both his friends and treasures.

While children should heed the instructions of their parents, the wise parents realize the importance of explaining the reasoning behind such instruction. The explanation will give the complete picture and thereby help keep the truth in the soul. This connects knowledge with understanding, both of which are aspects of wisdom.

(The lower painting is “The Rich Fool” by Rembrandt, 1627. See Luke 12:20)

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 13:20; Psalm 1:1; Romans 16:18; Ephesians 5:11

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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

Proverbs 1:7 “Two Paths”

Thee fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Two paths are described in this verse. The two paths are the path of the wise and the path of the fool. These paths are described and developed from this verse through chapter 9.

For the first path of wisdom, Solomon starts at the beginning. The first step to true wisdom and knowledge is the fear of the Lord. Knowledge without a reverence toward God is not useful and leads only to false conclusions and pride. (Compare Ecclesiastes 1:18 with Ecclesiastes 2:26 & 7:12.)

Knowledge is to knowing with certainty, to understand clearly. Often, we gain our knowledge through teaching from another person. It is not unusual for us to say we know things, meaning we have been taught them. We are relying on the veracity of the teacher or the informer. This is why the fear of the Lord is so important in knowledge. What we learn from God, from His Word – the Bible – can be trusted with absolute certainty. The veracity of the Bible is never in question for it is the very words of God. Study it, and you will gain real knowledge.

Of course, the second path is the path of the fool. “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 & 53:1) “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4) Because the wicked man, the fool, is proud and refuses to acknowledge God, he must gain his knowledge from that which is around him. Romans 1:20-22 explains how this happens: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

If you have trouble receiving instruction (correction & discipline) or prefer entertainment to gaining wisdom, please heed the warnings given in these verses. It is never too late to change direction in life. The choice is yours. You have the Word of God, read it, learn the fear of the Lord, for that is the beginning of wisdom, and the first step to becoming wise.

(The painting is “King Lear and the Fool in a Storm” by William Dyce, circa 1851)

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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 9:10; 10:14; 17:27; 24:3-4

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“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot