Protection Of Wisdom: Walking Through Proverbs 2

A couple of weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on Proverbs 1. I’ll be going through the Book of Proverbs this year, one chapter at a time, and sharing anything I’m learning as I work my way through. These are just my thoughts as your sister in Christ, and I am not trying to approach you from a place of authority. In fact, I wholeheartedly welcome your thoughts, whether or not you agree with me. This week, let’s take a look at Proverbs 2 and consider one of the reasons wisdom is good for us. (I recommend you read Proverbs 2 on your own, as well.)

Where Will We Find Wisdom?: Proverbs 2:1-9

Christians often receive sound advice concerning wisdom. Get it. New Christians and those with little discipleship are enthusiastically on board. But, like, where is this wisdom everyone says they need?

Sometimes we neglect to mention that part, and it can make the pursuit of wisdom a little murkier than initially expected. Thankfully, God is gracious and provides all of our needs, so He shows us where to find wisdom. First, open your Bible to Proverbs, generally known as wisdom literature. Then, read the beginning of Proverbs 2.

Our Role

Verse 1: “receive my words” and “treasure up my commandments with you”

Verse 2: “making your ear attentive to wisdom” and “inclining your heart to understanding”

Verse 3: “call out for insight” and “raise your voice for understanding”

Verse 4: “seek it like silver” and “search for it as for hidden treasures”

The first four verses of the second proverb put a lot of the work on us. No, wisdom doesn’t come from us. After all, “wisdom” originating within us comes from a sinful heart. Meanwhile, true wisdom is from our perfect and holy God who made all things and knows all things. There’s no contest between those two sources of wisdom!

However, these verses indicate that wisdom doesn’t just happen to us. We aren’t born again and then instantly wise. Wouldn’t that be nice? Instead, we need to want wisdom. No. I think it’s more than just wanting. We need to desire God’s wisdom. What will this look like?

If You Desire Wisdom, You Are…

1. Willing to receive it

Proverbs 2 instructs us to be open to what God teaches us through His Word. It says to be ready to receive His Word, and friends, that means the entirety of His Word. We can’t take the teachings we are comfortable with and leave the rest.

2. Obedient

God’s commandments aren’t just something we know, but they are something we should treasure. Proverbs 2 isn’t describing a believer who grits her teeth and bears it. She loves the Lord and wants to live out His instructions.

3. Seeking wisdom

Proverbs 2:2 paints the picture of someone looking for wisdom. Her heart is open to learning more from God and understanding Him and His ways. Sometimes, we can get into the habit of memorizing verses and facts about God in a shallow attempt to “act Christian,” but to understand Him is to know Him. A Christian listening to hear from God and yearning to truly know Him is someone who finds wisdom.

4. Asking

Well, how embarrassing is this? If you want God to give you wisdom, according to Proverbs 2:3, you should ask for it. That’s almost too easy. Maybe this is why so many of us don’t do it. Whoops.

I love the language in verse three: “call out” and “raise your voice.” Don’t be shy, and don’t approach God with uncertainty with this request. Boldly call out to Him. He wants you to be wise, so call out for it. He’ll open your eyes if you really want wisdom.

5. Appreciating the value of wisdom

Proverbs 2:5 reiterates the needfulness of searching for wisdom, but wisdom is likened to silver and treasure. How hard do we seek out riches and things of great value? Oh, but how much more valuable is God’s wisdom?

God Is Our Source Of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:6 ties it all together.

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;”

Proverbs 2:6

We seek, desire, and ask for wisdom, but only God Himself can give it to us. That should remind us to seek advice and guidance from people who can attribute their wisdom to God. Your dad or aunt may be great people who love you, but if they don’t know the Lord, they’re not the right people to go to when you’re in need of guidance through difficult trials or major decisions. Their advice is coming from a different source than God, and try as they might, they can’t provide you with true wisdom.

The Protection Of Wisdom: Proverbs 2:10-22

Not to be too pragmatic, but what does being wise do for me? In other words, why should Christians pursue godly wisdom?

Wisdom Protects You From Bad Influences

Proverbs 2 tells us that, with wisdom, we have discretion and understanding. Admittedly, these don’t necessarily sound exciting, but they do aid us in approaching situations carefully and viewing them through a biblical lens.

Verses 12-15 tell us wisdom delivers us “from the way of evil.” There are people in the world who not only love their sin but also try to drag others into their sin, as well. With wisdom, though, we can avoid those “who walk in the ways of darkness” and “rejoice in doing evil” And as we steer clear of those folks, we can also more easily surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to draw nearer to God.

Wisdom Protects You From The Forbidden Woman

Proverbs 2:16-19 describes a temptress. She flatters with smooth words, cheats on her husband, and even “forgets the Covenant of her God.” She knows how to entrap a man, and after she does, she will ruin him. What a delight she is…

The is an obvious warning against adultery, and a man with wisdom knows to avoid this woman. However, this woman in Proverbs 2 is also symbolic of temptations that pull us away from the Lord. Being led astray by this temptress leads to spiritual and moral decay. A fool will easily fall for her trap, but a person rooted in God’s wisdom will recognize when someone or something is trying to pull him away from God.

Final Thought

“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, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.”

Proverbs 2:20-22

Proverbs 2 ends with contrasting fates. The righteous receive blessings while God cuts off the unrighteous. As is often the case in the Bible, we have two paths. One path brings us closer to God, and the other assures our separation. Wisdom will assist us as we navigate our lives in an attempt to obey the Lord and live in service to Him. Without it, I fear we’re all likely to step onto the wrong path with the wrong people doing the wrong things. It is, after all, our nature.

Has God’s wisdom ever protected you from a bad situation or decision?

Image courtesy of Joel Muniz via Unsplash.