The Book of Proverbs is one of the wisdom books provided in the Bible. It lists a number of wise sayings or teachings, some by Solomon and some by Agur. They are a rich heritage for those who wish to pursue a prudent living. However, the book of provers require a few actions on the part of those that follow. These actions are centred on three instruments that are involved as well as three modes of wisdom.
The Wisdom enters through the ear and makes an indwelling in our heart. The result is a benefit to our soul which strengthens in its relationship to God.
Wisdom expresses itself in three modes which call for three different kinds of action:
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, (Pro 2:1)
The first two of those actions are to receive and value the commandments of the Father. It refers to both the earthly father and the Heavenly Father.
making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; (Pro 2:2)
The next two actions are to pay attention to wisdom and at the same time understand the meaning of it.
While listening to commandments is easy, paying attention to wisdom requires discernment.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (1Co 1:18-19)
Discernment is in itself a gift. Nehemiah had the gift of discernment so that when he was urged to hide in the temple to bring misfortune on himself he did not heed it.
And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. (Neh 6:12-13)
How do you incline your heart towards understanding? You must be willing to test the knowledge to know whether it is good or not. Whether it is from God or not.
but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1Th 5:21)
Blind faith is not a sign of a wise person. Neither is it a sign of a godly person. God asks for faithfulness, not ritualism.
yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, (Pro 2:3)
How do you test something? It is not merely enough to want to verify the truth. You must make an effort. Call out, raise your voice, these are verbs associated with making an effort.
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, (Pro 2:4)
And it is an active effort, a pointed effort where you need to seek it. It is not an aimless pursuit. It is a directed search and it is a frantic search. Just as you would seek a treasure so you must seek wisdom. It should be in the back of your mind that if you fail to find it before others do then it will be your loss.
The outcomes of these actions are two-fold. Firstly there are the Spiritual outcomes and then there are the moral and personal outcomes. While the former deal with our position with respect to God the latter deals with our position with respect to former selves. The active task of seeking wisdom leads to the betterment of our own beings.
While human knowledge is limited the knowledge of God, His being and His will are unlimited. While the human knowledge can be attained through trial and error divine knowledge can only be attained through dedication and discernment.
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (Pro 2:5)
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, (Pro 2:9-12)
So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, (Pro 2:20-21)
*Wisdom leads to manifold benefits. However, once you receive Wisdom into your heart the result is something longlasting. It does not leave you.
The act of seeking Wisdom is pleasing to God and He rewards us in a number of ways. Wisdom is a gift from God and He is the source of it. However, it is not a free gift. God's gift of wisdom is for the benefit of His chosen who follow a walk of life pleasing to Him.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. (Pro 2:6-8)
Those who forsake wisdom are those who walk in darkness. It is a clear indication that God is light.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (Joh 3:19)
This is a consequence that leads to judgement. And that judgement leads to death. This is not just a spiritual death though that is indeed true here. However, those who discard the path of wisdom often find themselves in trouble, trouble that may become dangerous or life-threatening. You need to choose your friends wisely and you need to choose the righteous path.
who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, (Pro 2:13)
for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; (Pro 2:18)
but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. (Pro 2:22)