Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Thursday, June 30, 2022 - Proverbs 2:1-15

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Proverbs 2:1-15

[1] My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

[2] making your ear attentive to Wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

[3] yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

[4] if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

[5] then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

[6] For the LORD gives Wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

[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 watching over the way of his saints.

[9] Then you will understand righteousness and justice

and equity, every good path;

[10] for Wisdom will come into your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

[11] discretion will watch over you,

understanding will guard you,

[12] delivering you from the way of evil,

from men of perverted speech,

[13] who forsake the paths of uprightness

to walk in the ways of darkness,

[14] who rejoice in doing evil

and delight in the perverseness of evil,

[15] men whose paths are crooked,

and who are devious in their ways. (ESV)

Wisdom Comes From God to Protect You

Proverbs Chapter 2 is the second address in Proverbs from a father to a son regarding Wisdom (There are ten of these total in the book). In today's text, the first part consists of if/then conditions (v.1-12), and the remainder, as well as tomorrow's text, regards the salvific effect of Wisdom.

In verses 1-4, the father begins his teaching by appealing to the son's desire to have Wisdom. Remember, these words are the inspired and inerrant Word of God. If we cultivate a prayer life that includes praying for Wisdom as Solomon did – which we saw in Monday's meditation – God answers that prayer. How? The same way He answers all such prayers: in His Holy Word. Reading these words creates faith and the resoluteness to seek out Wisdom to understand and treasure God’s inspired Word. These words are not a magic incantation but the power of prayer connected to the Word of God to work a miracle in our hearts and minds. A powerful tool and weapon against the assault against the world’s nonsense, the devil’s schemes, and our own sinful desires indeed! God is giving us a programmatic way, by praying a little bit of the proverbs each day, to mature in faith and Wisdom, live according to that Wisdom, and treasure such learning. This Wisdom will last our entire lives and is the result of God working through the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

In verses 5-8, The father reminds the son of God's promise to impart knowledge. This father is not passing on fatherly Wisdom and insight, but God's Wisdom, the knowledge and understanding of God, granted through His Word. To those who read and hear the Word, God grants the ability to make sound judgments based on His divine Wisdom. That is not to say that by reading the Bible, you will have insight as to God's will for your mundane decisions. "Should I go left or right? McDonald's or Burger King?" Rather, it is the insight into God's will for your life – love Him with all your heart, mind, and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself. The way of Wisdom is the way of Christ. That is why the earliest Christians called themselves "Followers of the Way."

The characteristics which flow from following the path of Wisdom are described in verses 9-11. Righteousness, justice, and equity will flow from knowledge and fear of God. It will not only be pleasant but also offer protection from the temptations of following the evil path. The evil path is the way of perverted justice and darkness. This is the path that calls evil good and good evil. Does the wicked path sound familiar? If not, you need to turn on the news and watch and listen with the eyes and ears of one who can discern the lies. Wisdom will give you these abilities.

Comfort and joy await those who heed Wisdom's call. For those who receive such Wisdom, the lies of the evil one and the world will be perceived for what they are. Our own deceit and sin will be revealed and called to repentance. We who are in but not of this world will be able to remain on God's path because Wisdom will light the way.