Qualities of Seeking Wisdom

Previously

We are longer new to our study of this book of wisdom. This is part of the section called wisdom books in the Old Testament. we have made it through chapter one, finally to chapter two and what a journey it has been already.

Prologue and purpose (1:1-6)

Theme of Proverbs (1:7) fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge

Value of listening to parental wisdom (1:7-9)

Danger of wrong type of companions (1:10-19)

Importance of listening for true wisdom (1:20-33)

As we head into chapter two we will have it broken down in two parts.

Qualities of seeking wisdom (2:1-4)

Benefits of seeking wisdom (2:5-22)

Q - What does the quality of something tell you about the thing you are looking at?

Q - Do people have qualities, be them good or bad?

Q - If someone were to list your qualities about you, what would one be?

Jam3:17-18 “17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

and if lacking

Jm1:5 “5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Our passage today have more to say about wisdom so may we look together at 2:1-4?

Pro2:1-2 “1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;”

Pro2:3-4 “3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;”

Q - What would you think the theme of this passage is?

Q - Who is talking? Talking to who? Talking about what? - for it is always good to ask questions of the scripture

Q - What words of instruction do you see?

Receive, treasure, make you ear attentive, incline you heart (vv1.2)

Cry for discernment, Lift your voice, Seek her, search for her

Q - Are there other questions you should, would ask of the passage?

OK, now let’s break down this passage more for understanding and application.

To understand the qualities of wisdom it will take some effort, some work to grow the qualities within you as you do the things we just discussed before.

It requires willingness (2:1)

Q -What does it mean to require something?

Q - What does willingness mean?

To be receptive to the words of God and the words of experienced wisdom from others.

To treasure (to highly value and remember) commands of wisdom.

It requires an engagement (2:2-3)

Of the ear (willing to listen)

Of the heart (willing to understand)

Of the mouth (willing to cry out for discernment and understanding)

It requires high estimation (2:4)

Seeking and searching

Do it with the same fervor as if seeking silver, gold or other hidden treasures.

Thus a diligent search for wisdom requires an “all out- participation” an effort on our part.

As experienced by Christians today. . .

It requires hearing the Word of God

It says “incline your ear to wisdom (2:2)

Listening to preachers and teachers carefully (with all readiness) searching the scriptures to know they are true (Act17:11)

Studying the Bible on your own too (search the scriptures daily (again, Act17:11)

It requires meditating upon the Word of God.

to “apply your heart to understanding (2:2)

Maybe consider what it says in (Php4:8) take time to reflect ponder on God’s Word.

Like the Psalmist who sung of his meditations (Ps119:97-100)

Ps119:97-110 “97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. 107 I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word. 108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me Your ordinances. 109 My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

Ps119:110 “110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.”

It requires diligent prayers for wisdom

Cry out for discernment, lift your voice for understanding (2:3)

Or as Jam1:5 says: we must ask by prayers of faith

Or like Jesus (Mt7:7-11) illustrated we must persist in our asking.

It requires the same effort as others put into their seeking material wealth, fame, prestige and the like.

Our passage says “seek her as silver. . .as for hidden treasure (2:4)

Paul, told the Colossians (2:3) In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

A simple way to evaluate if you are expending the proper effort in seeking wisdom.

If you worked as hard for your employer as you do seeking God’s wisdom. Would you have your job very long?

Finding God’s wisdom today requires the same diligence it did in Solomon’s day.

Let’s go back and review our passage again, and grab the instructions, then if time permits we will read our section for next week. Just to familiarize ourselves with it.

Pro2:1-4 “1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;”

Q- What are the instructions given in these verses again?

It takes effort, participation on our part, just as it did in Solomon finding out from experience and sharing that experience and instructions to his son.

Now, seems we have a few minutes let’s read verses (5:22) before we close today so to have a opening place for next week.

Pro2:5-6 “5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

pro2:7-8 “7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.”

Pro2:9-10 “9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;”

Pro2:11-12 “11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;”

Pro2:13-14 “13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;”

Pro2:15-16 “15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;”

Pro2:17-18 “17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;”

Pro2:19-20 “19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous.”

Pro2:21-22 “21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.”

We will focus on the benefits of our participation in seeking, being diligent that we looked at today, next week. So, come ready.