Daily Proverb - Proverbs, Chapter 2

Understanding the fear of the Lord, understanding where knowledge and wisdom come from!

^"1My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,  ²turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,  ³and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, ⁴and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,  ⁵then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.   ⁶For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  ⁷He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, ⁸for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.⁹Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path.  ¹⁰For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  ¹¹Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.¹²Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, ¹³who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,"

There is a small yet powerful word in verse 1, "if".  This word is repeated in verses 3 and 4.  Why do I say it is powerful?  Well the follow-up to the "if" is in verse 5, "then".  You need to understand that there is a condition here.  You see, only "if you accept my words and store up my commands within you" and "if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding", etc will you see the result - "then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.".

The key goes back to that wonderful verse, Joshua 1:8, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.".  So here is the condition again.  We need to store up God's commands and accept His Words.  You must be willing to listen and accept correction where you fall short and obey the Lord.  You need to accept God at His Word!

Tomorrows Proverb will shed much light on what we have discovered so far.  Keep  in mind as you seek Godly wisdom, it does require a willingness to submit and trust God.  After all, God created us for His purpose, for His glory and we need to understand that His will is best for us!  So understanding the fear of the Lord is the result of seeking and applying ourselves to His commands!  Then the Lord will give us wisdom and knowledge and understanding (vs. 6).