Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

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.
He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
    and who are devious in their ways.
Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.
Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.
Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will live in the land,
    and the blameless will remain in it;
but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

• Proverbs 2:1-22

“Solomon has embraced God’s law and made it his own by faith and obedience, as well as teaching.  The wisdom of these words is available to those who, first of all, understand the rich value (‘treasure’) that wisdom possesses.  Appropriating wisdom begins when a person values it above all else.”

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

I thought of chopping this into a couple of lessons, but this is one topic, the Moral Benefits of Wisdom.  In the 22 verses, there are only seven sentences.  Solomon is showing the benefits of wisdom from a moral standpoint.  Remember as Rev. MacArthur was quoted as saying in the post two weeks ago, the first nine chapters of Proverbs introduce the rest of the book, giving the reasons why we should pass on this wisdom to the next generation.  And what is wisdom other than seeking and knowing God.  Thus, Rev. MacArthur’s last sentence should not be controversial.  We should seek and know and love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but in doing that, we embrace wisdom along the way.

Solomon is not telling us to zealously search for silver, but be mindful of the gold rush days, California, Alaska, and present-day Peru.  While China has the largest production of newly mined gold, La Rinconada, Peru is possibly the place that fits what Solomon is talking about.  The people in La Rinconada mine in entrepreneurial fashion, but if it is known that someone found gold, they are usually killed very soon after the discovery is known.  The people are poor, and they take the risks, many dying in the attempt, many dying trying to get the gold to the market, and most starving along with their families.

What Solomon is saying here is that our zeal for wisdom should be greater than the zeal those miners have for their wild chance of finding gold.  Wisdom is more valuable.

Wisdom will save you from wicked people and their plans.  Wisdom will save you from seduction, sexual, monetary, and power.

Wisdom leads to a calming of the soul and a strengthening of the person in the presence of God.  In obeying Gods commands and seeking wisdom, we will be secure in our land.

And now let us sing.

The following song is sung by Laura Woodley Osman, Wisdom Song.

“The fear of the Lord
Is where wisdom starts
Above all else please guard your heart
For out of your heart flow the issues of life
It matters how you spend your time

There is a path that leads to life
A narrow way only few find
Meditate on God’s word in the day in the night
You’ll know blessings of every kind

Like a tree planted by water
Shall you be son, daughter
You’ll bear fruit in season
You’ll prosper, like a tree planted by water

Remember to pray
In Everything
Holy Spirit is here
Only believe
Supernatural life is yours everyday
Miracles in Jesus name

Do what is good
Do what is right
Flee from evil with all your might
Guard your ears
Guard your eyes
You have the mind of Christ

Like a tree planted by water
Shall you be son, daughter
You’ll bear fruit in season
You’ll prosper, like a tree planted by water

Forgive yourself
Forgive your family
Forgive your friends
Forgive your enemies
Do justice, love mercy
Walk humbly with your God
Remove offense
Make peace
Do not judge.

• Laura Woodley Osman, Wisdom Song

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  There is great value in knowing Your wisdom.  We can find great treasure in Your wisdom.  Give us strength, courage, and the mindset to never be satisfied with our present understanding, but to seek You in everything that we do.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.