Proverbs 2

The Value of Wisdom

2 My son, if you receive my words,

(We can hear or read something but not receive it.  To receive it means we believe it and will submit to what has been said.)

And treasure my commands within you,

(Most do not treasure commands.  They think of commands as rules and they despise them.  But our minds need to be transformed so that we see that what God commands is like honey.  It is sweater than sugar and the best thing for us.  We need to see that God loves us and his commandments are like his love letter to us.  He is trying to keep us from harm.  He is our daddy and is just looking out for us.  Amen :)

² So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;

(We need to really listen to wisdom and we need to let it sink into our hearts, not just take it in our heads.  If it sinks to our hearts it will actually transform us.  It will change who we are.  We need to take it into our soul and spirit, not just intellectually receive it.)

³ Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,

(To cry out means you really want something.  You are yearning for wisdom.  Not just casually but with all that you are.)

⁴ If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;

(People search for silver or gold because they think that will bring them security.  But if you become rich but are still a fool, you riches will do you no good. :)  It is wisdom that brings security and ensures a long life for you more than anything.  Those who are the most wise live the longest.)

⁵ Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.

(The fear of the Lord is ultimate wisdom.  It is a fear like a respect.  When you come to respect God, all else in your life will fall into place.  You will work hard at your job because you know God sees all that you do and you respect and fear him.  God's opinion matters to you.  You know nothing is hidden from his sight.  You seek to please him in all you do.  This is the goal of wisdom, to fear God and seek to please him and honor him in all things.....)

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;

 

(In the new covenant we get wisdom from the Holy Spirit.  He guides us into all truth.  He shows us what God's will for us is in every situation that we may be in.)

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

 

(Obviously since God created us he knows what is best for us.  He is perfect.  He is all knowing.  He is the most wise God.  There is no being wiser than God.  We may at times think we are wiser than him but that is impossible.  A created thing can never be greater than its creator, in anything.)

⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

 

(Those who are trying to live uprightly, as in live godly lives that are good, God stores up wisdom for.  Wise sayings or commandments are like gifts that he gives to those who seek to be good.  Wisdom is his best gift to us. :)

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
⁸ He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.

 

(When we obey him and seek to do what is good, we are under his protection; we are under the shadow of his wings.  He protects those who seek him.  God watches over those who love him; just as a parent would their child that they are proud of.  By living out his commandments, we bring good upon ourselves, which is God's protection.)

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.

¹⁰ When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
¹¹ Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,

 

("When wisdom enters your heart."  It must enter into the core of who you are in order to really change you, in order for you to really benefit from it.  Jesus over and over said the phrase, "He who has ears to hear let him hear."  As in those who take what is said and let it sink deep into their hearts and let it take root and bear fruit, those are they who have ears to really hear.  To hear with your whole heart and soul, that is to really hear God.  When you can transform your thinking so that knowledge seems pleasant to you, then will you be preserved and kept safe.  Then Satan will not be able to harm you.  When you are walking in a righteous path, Satan will have no power over you.  You are then under the shadow and protection of God's wings. :)
¹² To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
¹³ From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
¹⁴ Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
¹⁵ Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;

 

(When we are wise we will avoid certain people.  We will have discernment about who would be a good influence on us and who would not.  We recognize those who only want to talk in a perverse manner, who love to do evil and are devious.  We will steer clear of those who would bring us to our death by their crooked ways.  We will "walk in the counsel of the godly" instead.  Amen :)

¹⁶ To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
¹⁷ Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
¹⁸ For her house leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
¹⁹ None who go to her return,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—

 

(Wisdom keeps those who are wise from adultery.  Wisdom keeps married or single men from evil, devious women who seek to entice them with flattery and charm.  It says that her paths lead to death because her husband might kill you if you commit adultery with her.  That is why.)

²⁰ So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.
²¹ For the upright will dwell in the land,
And the blameless will remain in it;
²² But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

(For those who seek to do God's will, he gives them a home and safety.  God provides for the righteous and those who seek to be upright and blameless.  He watches over them.  Cause and effect; if we will seek to obey God, he will bless us, just as children who obey their parents receive more good things.)