The Benefits of Wisdom Reflections on Psalms & Proverbs Series, Part 5 Proverbs 2:1-22 January 19, 2014 Pastor Paul K. Kim

PROVERBS 2: SOME PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS AND OVERVIEW It is the second parental appeal from a father to a son (as introduction to wisdom, chapters 1-9). It is one long sentence of a father’s [Solomon’s] exhortation about wisdom in the original Hebrew text. It is less directive (i.e., there is no command) and more descriptive about wisdom. It is a conditional statement/declaration with the protasis [the “if” clause] and the apodosis [the “then” clause] about benefits of wisdom.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM? Knowledge of God and his protection (vs. 5-8) 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 stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  Wisdom leads us to know God for who the LORD really is; the knowledge of God, in turn, leads us to wisdom as well.  Moreover, the LORD is a shield to those who fear him and walk in his will.  So, the first benefit of wisdom is this perpetual source of wisdom, God himself.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM? A heart of wisdom and discretion (vs. 9-11) 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you  Wisdom also gives us a keen eye to discern what is right and wrong—a sound moral compass.  Wisdom coming into heart implies character transformation by wisdom (for us, Christ himself coming into our hearts).  So, the second benefit of wisdom is our inner character being impacted and equipped with discretion and discernment.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM? Protection from evil people/ways (vs ) 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.  This doesn’t mean that wisdom protects us from harms of evil people but it will guide our ways away from evil people.  Wisdom provides with necessary skills and strength to turn away from wicked people’s lures/influence.  So, the third benefit of wisdom is prudence that protects us from evil ways and wicked people.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers Psalm 1:1

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM? Protection from seductive forbidden women/men (vs ) 16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; 19 none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.  Forbidden woman means anyone who is outside of God’s moral boundary for us; it also includes forbidden men and relationships in today’s application.  This kind of relationship/temptation is toxic to our lives.  So, the fourth benefit of wisdom is protection from toxic relationships and seductions.

18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. 20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? 21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. Proverbs 5:18-21

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM? Life kept on the upright and righteous path (vs ) 20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.  In conclusion, wisdom leads us to the right path of life that is blessed by God.  Contrastingly, the foolish/wicked way is judged by God.  So, the fifth benefit of wisdom is God’s guidance and power to stay on the right path with God’s blessings.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away... 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:3, 4, 6

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM? 1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures 1)We must have EAGER RECEPTIVITY to the words of the Father and others (v. 1). 2)We must have PROACTIVE LEARNING with an attentive ear and inclined heart (v. 2). 3)We must have DILIGENT SEARCH for wisdom (v. 3). 4)We must have HIGH REGARD of wisdom (v. 4).

If you receive my words, you treasure up my commandments with you, you make your ear attentive to wisdom, you incline your heart to understanding, you call out for insight, you raise your voice for understanding, you seek it like silver, you search for it as for hidden treasures, Then you will have... the knowledge of God and his protection. a heart of wisdom and discretion. protection from evil people/ways. protection from seductive forbidden women/men. life kept on the upright righteous path.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Which one of the five benefits of wisdom is most appealing to you? How will this motivate you to search for wisdom? 2.What would it mean for you to have “eager receptivity” and “proactive learning” of God’s Word/wisdom? 3.What would it mean for you to have “diligent search” for and “high regard” of God’s Word/wisdom?