Proverbs 2 – NIV
Proverbs 2 – ESV
Proverbs 2:4-6 …
4 if you seek it [wisdom] 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.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding
Commentary:
If thou seekest her [wisdom] as silver - How do men seek money? What will they not do to get rich? Reader, seek the salvation of thy soul as earnestly as the covetous man seeks wealth; and be ashamed of thyself, if thou be less in earnest after the true riches than he is after perishing wealth.
Hid treasures - The original word signifies property of any kind concealed in the earth, in caves or such like; and may also mean treasures, such as the precious metals or precious stones, which are presumptively known to exist in such and such mines. And how are these sought? Learn from the following circumstance: In the Brazils slaves are employed to scrape up the soil from the bed of the Rio Janeiro, and wash it carefully, in order to find particles of gold and diamonds; and it is a law of the state, that he who finds a diamond of so many carats shall have his freedom. This causes the greatest ardor and diligence in searching, washing out the soil, picking, etc., in order to find such diamonds, and the greatest anxiety for success; so precious is liberty to the human heart. This method of searching for gold and precious stones is alluded to in Proverbs 3:13-15. In this way Solomon wishes men to seek for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding; and he who succeeds finds the liberty of the children of God, and is saved from the slavery of sin and the empire of death.
From: The Adam Clark Commentary, accessed through Bible Tools
Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
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WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.
And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).
Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the day.
23 comments:
This chapter we really get the picture of the paths to chose from but the promise in vs.9-11 stand out to me. If we follow the correct path of righteousness we will have "understanding of what is right and just and fair, wisdom will enter our heart, knowledge pleasant to our soul, discretion's protection, and understanding will guard us" these promises are ours if we seek diligently for wisdom and insight.
Wow, what assurance and encouragement we find in the first few verses of chapter two! It says if we apply our hearts to understanding and call out for insight and search for wisdom as hidden treasure we will KNOW the fear of the Lord and FIND the knowledge of God. God will reveal himself to us through his Spirit. This was encouraging to me as it shows that God will not leave us stranded or hanging by loose ends.
The chapter starts out with a bunch of if...then statements. IF you receive my words(2:1)...call of out for insight(2:3)...seek it like silver (2:4)...THEN "you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (2:5). He will give us wisdom if we ask, but we must pursue it as well. If we effectively fulfill these activities in our pursuit of wisdom, we will surely achieve it.
Proverbs 2:6
"For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;"
- This knowledge is possible only because the Lord gives it to the upright. While wisdom is to be sought diligently and cultivated in practice, it is not something that I can earn by my actions. The Lord is the one who gives it when I ask of Him. The only way to know what He is saying to me is to remain daily in His amazing love letter to me, His Holy Word.
I think that story of the Brazilians is such a cool parallel. If we truly seek after wisdom like this passage talks about, we will find it and we will be able to apply it to our lives. When we don't, just as this passage describes, there are consequences.
I felt like verses 4 and 5 stood out the most to me: "and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God."
When I evaluate our culture today, I can see that we like things handed to us. We want things for free, with no string attached. But in chapter 2 we see that wisdom is something we need to search for. There are so many times I ask for God's wisdom, and I expect His answer to fall from the sky. I don't want the responsibility to search and seek Him through His word. Although I'm rewarded if seek Him like a treasure...I will understand the fear of the Lord, which is the foundation of wisdom!
Proverbs 2 left me with realizing how important it is for us to seek God's wisdom. He promises so much if we seek after it and seek after it like lost treasure. I want to have those blessing and I want to seek after God and his wisdom like seeking for treasure.
verse 11 really caught my attention as it describes the benefits of gaining discretion and understanding. Fearing the Lord allows us to gain the wisdom we need to make the right choices. With that comes discrection and understanding, which as stated in verse 11, will watch over you and guard you. I dont know about you, but that's a comforting thought.
I really love in verse four when it is talking about seeking wisdom like treasure. We should really value true godly wisdom as treasure and be searching after it like it is treasure. We should be diligent in studying the Word and really view it as having great value. Throughout the rest of the passage it speaks of the "knowledge" and "understanding" God will give to one who seeks after Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. He is our source of wisdom, not anything or anyone else.
Sarah said...
The last two verses of the chapter put a good picture in my head and a bad one. "The righteous shall live in the land," in my mind that pictures heaven or land where Israel was headed in the OT, a land filled with milk and honey. The last part where the wicked will be torn from it, puts a gruesome picture meaning that they will not want to leave but are forced to leave. That is what could happen if we do not have wisdom and our faith is shallow and low.
In the first five verses of chapter 2, a lot is expected of the seeker of wisdom before the LORD will provide it. I need to accept his words; remember his commands; listen to wise ones; apply that understanding; call out for insight; cry aloud for understanding; look as if it were silver; and search as if it were hidden treasure. I do not remember the last time I actually prayed like this.
I can recall spots of life-activity sprinkled with some of this in it, but an all-out, aggressive, campaign in pursuing wisdom? Much is required of me if I intend for the “LORD to give wisdom… and for Him to provide life’s victories… and for him to protect my way (v6-8).” Gettin' to it... Mike T.
If we seek the wisdom that the Lord gives then He will give us understanding and knowledge. He will shield us, guard us and protect us. He will provide us with wisdom in our hearts and give us discretion.
It is comforting to know that when we look to the Lord for wisdom and we submit our lives to Him, He will will provide us with the wisdom we need to live a God honoring life.
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
True wisdom only comes from God and anything that the world offers as wisdom is just an ugly imitation. Because wisdom comes from God, if you search for wisdom as the beginning of the chapter suggests then ultimately you are searching for God.
This chapter in Proverbs was a reminder of why exactly we should be seeking wisdom. We should make our ear attentive to wisdom and our hearts to understanding (vs2)If we seek wisdom and search for it (vs 4) then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God (vs 5) God, the one who wisdom comes from will guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.(vs 8)
One thing that stuck out to me today was the theme running throughout chapter 2. Two roads exist for every person – the way of righteousness and the way of evil. The way of evil is populated with those who reject God and His gracious will. The way of evil leads to eternal death. The path of righteousness is traveled by God’s forgiven children through faith in Christ Jesus, kept on the narrow path by the working of the Holy Spirit. This path leads to eternal life.
i thought it was pretty cool when i read the reminder that wisdom comes from God and is GIVEN by God in verse 6. Its that daily reminder of if i were to try my hardest it is God who gives and takes away, not me.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
This verse reminded me that I need to be listening to what the Lord says. He is ultimately the one that gives wisdom so I need to submit to Him.
Reading this chapter, I was reminded of the blessed truth that God always provides what He demands. Whether it was providing a ram for Isaac's life or providing Christ as our perfect substitute for atonement, God's provision for His righteous demands are seen throughout both Testaments. Here, He demands understanding and wisdom from those who fear Him and He not only gives that fear and awe but He also provides the means for and the desire to grow in His wisdom (2:1-15).
My favorite part of this chapter is the .. "so you will" 's... Basically the father is giving all of this insight and then adding, so you will not do this , or so you will not be like this. Basically saying you have not other choice. Keeps God's commands so you WILL NOT. What an important truth.
This chapter is a great way to show the difference in what path can be choosen and the result of each. It is a great reminder to me to about what path am I going to choose to follow. Am I going to follow God's path or the way of the world. I also, like how the chapter at the beginning points all of wisdom, understanding and knowledge back to God. A reminder that I know that I need to have often.
I love verses 1-5. We are told that we need to seek wisdom as though it were a hidden treasure. we also find that when we seek and find it we will understand the the Fear of the Lord. We have a responsibility to seek wisdom. It is our responsibility to do this. The only way that we will understand what "the Fear of the Lord" is, is if we seek it.
This chapter of Proverbs helped me understand the importance of the wisdom of God. I felt like the beginning of the chapter (vs.1-11) was preparing me for the second half of the chapter (vs.12-22). Verses 12 on spoke about how wisdom helps me deal with people who could possibly lead me away from Christ.
What am I seeking/searching for? Where does my treasure lie? If wisdom and the Lord are so important, then why does it seem like I'm always running out of time to search for them?
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