Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
God gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. He is the source. His Word is the written record of the knowledge he wants me to learn. But gaining godly understanding and wise guidance from God is conditional. There are three “if” statements in these six verses and eight conditions linked to those ifs. If I truly want wisdom, I must: 1] accept God’s words; 2] store them in my mind; 3] turn my ear to wisdom; 4] apply my heart to understanding; 5] call out for insight; 6] cry aloud for understanding; 7] look for wisdom as for silver; and 8] search for wisdom as for hidden treasure. These add up to an intentional, determined, even painstaking pursuit of truth. It means reading, studying, and researching the Bible every day. It means praying for guidance. It means asking questions and learning from wise teachers. God’s wisdom is available, but I must seek it like hidden treasure. God wants me to focus, put forth effort, and exercise my mind in pursuit of him.
Father, thank you for your Word. Some of your teaching is straightforward and clear even at the first reading. Other parts require much digging and cross-referencing and research. But all of your words are worthwhile and true.
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