Proverbs 2:1-11
Proverbs 1-24 is the syllabus for the young man starting out in life.
In chapter 1 he is a schoolboy; in chapter 2 he is a teenager in high school.
If only Rehoboam had heeded his father Solomon's good advice. If only Solomon
had himself heeded his own good advice!
What is Wisdom? Is it the same as Knowledge? No. Is it the same as
Understanding? No. What is it then? "The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom:
and to depart from evil, that is understanding" (Job 28:28). The opposite of
Wisdom is Folly: "The fool has said in his heart 'There is no God'" (Psalm
14:1). Folly is the rebellion of those who know better (Romans 1:21-22). As
children we played "Simon says". In the Bible it's "Solomon says":
1. SOLOMON SAYS WE MUST SEEK WISDOM 1-4
a. Pay attention to your Prophets (Bibles). 1-2
"My son". Are you a twiceborn child of God? God has a message for you. Read,
mark, learn, and inwardly digest it. Solomon knew Job 28; knew he lacked
Wisdom; so he asked for it (1 Kings 3:9).
b. Pay attention to your Prayers. 3
God says "Ask me: summon discernment, and invoke understanding". We receive
not, because we ask not. Solomon asked (1 Kings 3:9); Solomon received Wisdom
and more besides. He was the wisest man of all time (1 Kings 3:12).
c. Pay attention to your Prospects. 4
The prospector's reward is to strike it rich˜ but only after perhaps years of
toil. Divine Wisdom is as silver and gold; mined, or treasure trove. Solomon
was the richest man of all time.
2. SOLOMON SAYS WE MUST FIND WISDOM 5-6
a. Wisdom is experiential, not existential. 5
You will understand. To receive the Holy Spirit is a supernatural experience,
but not an unnatural one. "The fear of the LORD, that is Wisdom". You can't
see electricity, but if you touch a live wire you get a real shock, not an
imaginary one!
Seekers finders...
b. Wisdom is rational, not irrational. 6
We do not arrive at Wisdom by a sudden irrational leap of faith, as the
Buddhists claim Enlightenment. It is a matter of taking God at His Word,
accepting His truth. "If... if... if..., then..." (1,3,4,5). "The LORD gives
Wisdom" (6a).
Finders keepers, [losers weepers. There shall be weepimg and wailing and
gnashing of teeth, warns Jesus (Matthew 8:12, 13:42 etc).]
3. SOLOMON SAYS WE MUST USE WISDOM 7-9
a. We are Gifted by the Spirit. 7a
We are deemed "upright" because we have been redeemed outright (cf Acts 2:38).
Now He endows us with abilities from His store˜ all the Gifts of the Spirit.
What talents has God given you? Use them, or you lose them.
b. We are Guarded by the Spirit. 7b-8
He protects us from sin and Satan, so we are called blameless. He is our
Shield and our Guard as long as we are loyal to Him. Grieve Him, and you lose
Him.
c. We are Guided by the Spirit. 9
He enables us to understand what is right; He enables us to walk in the
pathway of Christ, "the good man's path". He is our Guide. Quench Him, and you
lose Him.
God in His Wisdom has gifts and plans for you. Won't you study and pray to
discover them?
___________________________________________________________________________
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
