A Proverb A Day Gives Us Wisdom To Pray - Proverbs 2

I love this proverb. It has 6 distinct parts to it, but they all lead back to One Resounding Truth. Verses 1-4 contains a charge from Solomon that IF we accept his words, store up his commands, turn our ear to wisdom, apply understanding to our heart, call for insight, cry for understanding, and look for it as a treasure, then we will understand (verse 5) the fear of the Lord and find His knowledge. I just love this! It's quite simple, our part, but hey, that's how God is. He keeps it simple for us. Verse 6 continues with this truth that wisdom comes from God, knowledge and understanding - from His mouth. Verse 7: The upright have victory, which He holds for them (I could stop and shout right there!) But wait, He is our Shield and we can walk Blameless! That is so powerful and so awesome! Verse 8: For He guards our course and protects our way! Just verses 5-8 could preach! He is an awesome God!

In verses 9-11 we see that we will have understanding of what is right and just. Wisdom will enter our heart and knowledge will be pleasant to our soul. Discretion will protect us and understanding will guard us. This is good stuff!

In verses 12-15, we see how wisdom saves us from the ways of wicked men, perverse things, and crooked paths. Amazing! Verses 16-19 gives hope for escape from sexual immorality and all of the entrapments of it, that lead to the grave.

Verses 20-22 reminds us again of where this proverb began. God will keep us on His path of righteousness; upright and blameless. However, the wicked, who choose not to follow God or seek His wisdom will be cut off and torn down (not a good place to be). I choose the wisdom of the Lord, thank you very much. I encourage you to do the same. It's a win-win situation.

Proverbs 2 (NIV)

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,

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 holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
¹³ who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,
¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
    and who are devious in their ways.

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a]
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
¹⁹ None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For the upright will live in the land,
    and the blameless will remain in it;
²² but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 2:17 Or covenant of her God

*Bible Passage and footnotes courtesy of Biblegateway.com