Proverbs 2:1-5 Start Searching!

Jon Courson points out that in chapter 1 of Proverbs, Wisdom cries out to be heard (vs.20), while in chapter 2, Solomon tells us that we are to cry out for understanding. We must feel the urgency to understand, and desire wisdom so much, that we are willing to work for it. And there’s a promise that we’ll find it if we genuinely seek it:

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,  
and 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. (Proverbs 2:1-5) 

Look at all of the active verbs that indicate effort there! Store up, turning your ear, applying your heart, call out, cry aloud, look, search. These require intentional action and a passion. They speak of a hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Solomon is saying that we need to work to the point of sweating to find the treasure in God’s Word. It won’t come easily. It requires daily searching His Word for wisdom, praying for it, digging in like a miner searching for precious minerals and jewels.

Don’t you find that sometimes it takes a crisis to motivate us to truly grab a hold of God’s Word in search of answers? Solomon says we should not wait for trouble - dig in NOW. Then we will find ourselves armed for whatever comes our way. In fact, that is the guarantee of verse 5: then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 

As a teacher I see evidence every day that those who persevere to understand new concepts truly own them after their efforts. This is our promise. If we put in the effort, apply ourselves to searching through God’s Word so that we might claim it as our own, THEN we WILL find wisdom. Jon Courson says that we will know we’ve found it when we fear the LORD, when we have humbled ourselves before Him, because we finally understand who He is and who we are before Him.

Next time we will look at the wealth contained in this promise!