Each of us crave to get wisdom early on in our life. We pray to God for wisdom and knowledge, as its one of the many blessing we receive from God . Knowledge can be acquired by our education to knowing the "what," "when," and "how" of things. Whereas wisdom involves the ability to apply knowledge and experiences in a sensible, insightful manner to solve problems, make decisions, or give advice. Wisdom often requires emotional maturity, reflective thought to understand the implications of “why” and its after effects. many times our human brain cannot comprehend the things to give right wisdom.
So we turn to the one who was wise in wisdom in the Bible. It's none other than Solomon (Who was the son of David), God granted him wisdom.
Solomon ask for wisdom
1 Kings 3:10-12 'The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. '
God’s testimony of Solomons wisdom
1 Kings 4:29-32 'God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. '
We are going to turn to Solomons proverbs (1 Kings 4:32 “..He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.”) to get our wisdom recipe as its one of the key blessing from God. Recipe to acquire this wisdom from Proverbs 2
1) IF Condition - a condition from God
Proverbs 2:1 'My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, '
If (also in Proverbs 2:3, 4) - This word introduces a conditional clause which signifies that we must make a choice if we are to acquire wisdom. God will not force us to receive His wisdom.
The argument that Solomon gives in this chapter that begins with the “if” of Proverbs 2:1 and continues with the “then” of Proverbs 2:9 and the “thus” of Proverbs 2:20…
IF - Proverbs 2:1 'My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, '
THEN - Proverbs 2:9 'Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. '
THUS - Proverbs 2:20 'Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. '
We have the right to choose this “IF”, the freedom to choose comes from Christ, but what does that freedom do ? 1 Corinthians 6:12 '“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. '
We must be receptive to receive his wisdom. Then only he gives to us, thats the significance of “if”
If you accept my word then store it inside your heart / mind so that the word from God acts as a base to get the wisdom
2) Turn your Ear to Wisdom
Proverbs 2:2 'turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— '
Common worlds wisdom says only mind and knowledge can turn to wisdom, but here Solomon advices that turning your ear to wisdom.
You must listen to God attentively (Matthew 13:9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.)
Listening to Jesus can turn to wisdom. Humans often look to elders to turn to wisdom. Here we need turn our ears to Jesus to get our wisdom.
The listening alone cannot produce the wisdom, “And” a condition laid to obey - “applying your heart to understanding”
Obey his word with a sense of humility -John 7:17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
We must be responsive to the word that we hear and obey to that, so that we get the wisdom from our Saviour Jesus.
You start hearing only if you think someone is telling something valuable, same way Solomon says humble and give attention to hear his voice.
Wisdom involves understanding and discernment, enabling us to apply the truths of God’s Word appropriately—choosing the right moment, method, and motivation.
Wisdom comes from the Word of God “The Bible” and from getting to know him and ourselves better.
3) Cry aloud for understanding
Proverbs 2:3 'indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, '
Solomon talks on the praying ability - we should captivate in our life to cry out to God for our understanding. This praying ability gets us the spiritual wisdom.
If you want wisdom Ask God sincerely in your prayers, he desires that to be given to us (James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.)
Obtaining spiritual wisdom is not a once-a-week affair by just going to Chruch, it is the daily discipline of a lifetime. The word says “cry aloud for understanding” by praying, we get the insights of God..
But in this age of fast foods, Insta reels, YouTube Shots, we look for quick ways to get this understanding and many people are getting out of the habit of daily investing time and energy in digging deep into Scripture and learning wisdom from the Lord. We want some one to teach us (Nothing wrong in this, but that cannot be the sole medium), instead of us learning from God.
Jesus was called good teacher, he is the world’s best teacher to teach depending on our IQ capabilities, his teaching skills / methods varies according to age / experience and teach us to our pace. Seek him, to be taught first hand by reading the Bible again and again. It can help get better after 1st reading / 2nd reading and more.. Every time you read it gives a new life / dimension to what is written. That wisdom comes from our Saviour.
4) Search as a hidden treasure
Proverbs 2:4 'and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, '
Solomon gives the wisdom shots advice here on Meditation of God’s word. He not only tells that, he also says how we should do that
Seek Him diligently (Isaiah 55:6-7 'Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord , and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’)
He compares that to a miner on how he will search for Silver or Gold. He would not throw any particle from the sand he gets, he looks deep in the lens, washes it again and again. He looks for it with a searching attitude of this hidden treasure.
Our diligent attitude to seek him should be like a miner searching for silver and gold from the sand and stones he finds. Shifting through to see if thats a silver or Gold or any other precious metal.
Our attitude to reading the Word should be to see what God is saying to you (look inside of you, how it applies to your life. Don’t discard it as its for some one else). Read again he will teach a different meaning, read again it will speak and refine you better. The word only can correct our understanding and bring the right wisdom of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.'
God cannot bless us, unless we spend time reading the word and his word going to our mind and we start hearing the word.
We must be firm and resolute in spending time meditating to search like a miner every word of his (even a full stop and comma matters in his word).
5) Then - comes the fear of Lord
Proverbs 2:5 'then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. '
Once you follow the hearing (verse 2), cry for his understanding (Verse 3), Meditate the hidden treasures (Verse 4) the outcome is “Fear of the Lord”
Fear is not a suppressive fear, like how a prisoner is treated in prison. This fear is a submissive fear, the fear is to know what God dislikes in us, fear to know the sins of our life that God dislikes. This kind of fear is a reverent fear.
Out of Revenant fear comes respect to honour him, obey him. You say, God you are my “all in all”, you are my “everything”, You are my “source”
Out of this revenant fear comes to give credit to God, instead of you taking credit for all the success in life / Blessing of Life.
This fear gives to the “Knowledge of God” which is nothing but the Spiritual knowledge, it comes from God.
God transforms our human wisdom to Godly wisdom in our life, its explained in practical terms by Paul from his experience very aptly 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 'these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. '
You take and apply this to each section of life, it brings immense blessing. If you are a student God will give his wisdom to do better at studies, if you are at work, he will give his wisdom to perform right to be success at work, if we are doing business he will give the right strategies for business success. If you are a teacher / lawyer / worker, any field he can make you shine.. as the promise is “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit”
This is the wisdom from God to bless us in our work here at world, as we are here in the world to fulfill the purpose of God, and to know why he has called you or chosen you.
Summary
Solomon outlined summary of this in his writing from verse 6 to 11.
Proverbs 2:6-11 'For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.'
It gives the knowledge and understanding that you need for the job you are at, no matter what situations of life it may be. Student / teen / Adult / Old aged, it gives the knowledge to make you do the right thing (Verse 6)
Success of life comes from his wisdom - This is nothing but blessings that come from his wisdom, once we obey his voice and act to that. (Verse 7)
He acts as a shield not to follow the tricks of Satan - He acts as a armour of God (verse 8)
It acts as a protection not to go left or right and to look to him as he is our source ( Verse 9 )
Wisdom acts as a comfort to soul - There is no better word than this, when we see some greenery and scenic view, our heart refreshes, here there is comfort of Soul to say you walk with him, listen to him, obey him, what you do is correct that produces this comfort to Soul (verse 10)
Remember fearing God is not only about you, its for generations to generations. Abraham feared God and we are his offsprings, God’s mercy has continued to you and me, it will continue again. So don’t take this fear (reverent fear) of God lightly.. treat this with utmost respect and honour Luke 1:50 'His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. '
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