THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

The How and Why of Wisdom

Proverbs 2:1–3:8

The Purpose of Proverbs Proverbs was originally written by

King Solomon (1:1) as an instruction manual to be used by parents in the nation of Israel to teach their sons wisdom: Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and

forsake not your mother's teaching… (Proverbs 1:8 cf. 4:1; 6:20)

God eventually included the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, in order to give wisdom to all those who read it (cf. 1:1-7)

What is Wisdom? Wisdom is competence with regard to the

realities and complexities of life. Wisdom is the ability to know the right thing to do in the 80% of life where the rules of morality don’t apply. Being good and moral is not enough – you’ve got to be wise. (Tim Keller)

The How and Why of Wisdom

The first nine chapters of Proverbs deal primarily with the subject of wisdom itself.

In light of that, I plan to devote the first few lessons of this series to the subject of wisdom.

The passage in Proverbs that we will examine today (Proverbs 2:1–3:8) will teach us two things: Why we would want wisdom – in other

words, what are the benefits of wisdom? How we should go about getting wisdom

How to Get Wisdom 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; (Proverbs 2:1-2)

All wisdom ultimately comes from God (cf. 2:6), but in this case, wisdom comes to us through the “words” recorded for us in the book of Proverbs.

To get wisdom from the Proverbs we must first “receive” those words – this means we must commit ourselves to learn and obey them – it’s not enough to just hear and understand them. (2:1a)

How to Get Wisdom 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; (Proverbs 2:1-2)

Next we’re told to “treasure up” wisdom – tuck it away so that you’ll have it when you need it later. (2:1b)

You must be “attentive to wisdom” – listen carefully with the intent of doing what it says. (2:2a)

You must “incline your heart to understanding”– align your inner thinking and attitudes to conform to a proper understanding of the wisdom found in Proverbs. (2:2b)

How to Get Wisdom3 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. (Proverbs 2:3-5)

Urgently ask for wisdom (2:3 cf. James 1:5) Intently seek wisdom and search for it.

(2:4) One of the obvious benefits of wisdom is

that it equips us to deal competently with the realities and complexities of life, but here we see that true wisdom also causes us to have better reverence for and understanding of God! (2:5)

Why You Need Wisdom 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; (Prov. 2:6-9)

All wisdom ultimately comes from God. (2:6) God blesses his people with wisdom in order

to protect them. (2:7-8) As a Christian, wisdom will not only make

you competent, it will also enable you to live a holy life and protect you from the pitfalls that come with sinful living. (2:9)

Why You Need Wisdom 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… (Proverbs 2:10-11)

For a regenerate man (or woman), wisdom not only protects you from sinful temptations, but it is pleasant to your soul. (2:10)

In the verses that follow (2:12-19), we will see two examples of where “discretion” (=wisdom) will protect you from temptation: Wicked men who delight in doing wrong (2:12-15) The adulteress with her seductive words (2:16-

19)

Why You Need Wisdom 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. (Proverbs 2:12-15) The world is full of evil, perverse people

who will tempt you to join and imitate them. (cf. 1:10-19)

In the NT Paul warns: Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." (1Cor. 15:33)

Wisdom can protect you from such temptation.

Why You Need Wisdom 16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; 19 none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. (Prov. 2:16-19)

Wisdom can keep you from giving in to the seductive advances of someone who is trying to draw you into sexual immorality.

In the Proverbs, as in the rest of scripture, obedience to God leads to “life”, sin (ultimately) leads to “death”.

Why You Need Wisdom 20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Because Proverbs is Wisdom literature it only recognizes two ways in life: The ways of “evil” men (2:12) The ways of “good” men (2:20)

In 2:12 we saw that wisdom will deliver you from the ways of evil men

Here we see that wisdom leads us to “keep to the paths of the righteous”

Why You Need Wisdom 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

“The land” here refers to the future heavenly land where only those who are blameless will go to live with God forever (cf. Psalm 37:9,29,38; Mat. 5:5; Heb. 11:9-10)

In the end, there only two outcomes, depending on what type of person you are: The upright (or blameless) will live and remain in

the “land” (i.e. heaven) The wicked (or unfaithful) will be cut off (or torn

from) the “land”

The How and Why of Wisdom

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (Proverbs 3:1-2)

The wisdom sayings in the book of Proverbs come to us in the form of teachings and commandments.

If we will make the teachings of the Proverbs an integral part of our innermost thoughts, desires, and beliefs (= “heart” in the Hebrew) – we are likely to have a full and lengthy life, one that tends to be free from unnecessary hostility and filled with inner contentment, delight, joy and pleasure as a gift from God (= “peace” in Hebrew)

The How and Why of Wisdom

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

“Steadfast love and faithfulness” are the characteristics of a person who lives his life in obedience to the teachings (of wisdom) found in the Proverbs. (cf. 3:1)

To “bind them around your neck” (like a necklace) and “write them on the tablet of your heart” implies that these things characterize who you are both inside and out.

If you will live this kind of life of wisdom and obedience, you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

The How and Why of Wisdom

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

To “trust in the Lord with all your heart” means a total trust in God (remember in Hebrew the word “heart” refers to the real inner you – your thoughts, desires, true beliefs, and feelings)

In order to become wise, you must depend on God for wisdom, as opposed to your own natural way of thinking about things.

In everything that you do conform to God’s standards and He will straighten out your life.

The How and Why of Wisdom

7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Beware of being over-confident in your own innate sense of what is wise. Often our opinions are tainted by our own evil desires.

Begin instead with a fear (reverence) for the Lord and His word which over time will help you turn away from evil.

A right relationship with God leads to a state of complete physical and mental well-being, not simply the absence of illness and disease (Bruce Waltke on 3:8).

Why You Need Wisdom 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

“The land” here refers to the future heavenly land where only those who are blameless will go to live with God forever (cf. Psalm 37:9,29,38; Mat. 5:5; Heb. 11:9-10)

In the end, there only two outcomes, depending on what type of person you are: The upright (or blameless) will live and remain in

the “land” (i.e. heaven) The wicked (or unfaithful) will be cut off (or torn

from) the “land”