Day 5
Let’s finish up our discussion of the “fear of the Lord” with a section of a speech that the wise Father gives in chapter 2. Notice his instructions that will lead to the fear of the Lord.
We’ll also consider an exciting connection between the book of Proverbs and the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who will come centuries after these sayings were compiled.
Read
Proverbs 2:1–8 (NIV)
1My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—3indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
6For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Colossians 2:2–3
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Ask Yourself
- Go back and look at Proverbs 2:1–5. These verses are set up as an “if – then” statement, meaning that if you meet the conditions following the “if,” you’ll get what follows the “then.” What are the conditions? What will be the result?
- Now look at Proverbs 2:6–10. What does the Lord do for those who have a healthy fear of him?
- Finally, look at how Jesus is described in Colossians 2:3. What connections do you see between Jesus and God’s wisdom and knowledge? (Amazing, isn’t it?)
Read what others say
Wisdom is both hard-won and God-given (Proverbs 2:1–5)
From: Derek Kidner
“Wisdom is hard-won. This is the essential counterpart to chapter 1., where wisdom was clamouring to be heard. Here it is the pupil who must clamour (verse 3). Yet the search, strenuous as it must be, is not unguided. Its starting-point is revelation—specific (words) and practical (commandments); its method is not one of free speculation, but of treasuring and exploring received teachings so as to penetrate to their principles (see the verbs of 1–5); and its goal, far from being academic, is spiritual: the fear of the Lord … the knowledge of God (verse 5). With these two phrases verse 5 encompasses the two classic Old Testament terms for true religion—the poles of awe and intimacy.”[1]
“Wisdom is God-given. What you find, then (verse 5), is what he gives (verse 6); discovery and revelation are inseparable. This paragraph goes on to show that to know the Lord is also to know how to live”[2]
From: Ellen Davis
“The figurative language suggests that acquiring wisdom is more like an adventure, a quest, than a homework assignment. First, you have to want understanding, and want it badly. ‘If you cry out … and raise your voice …’—these are the same verbs used of Wisdom’s urgent call in 1:20–21.”
“The image of the treasure hunt suggests both strong motivation and also the rigors of the search. ‘If you seek it like silver’—in the ancient world, miners were lowered by ropes into deep narrow shafts; it was an occupation that few would choose! Yet, perhaps anticipating that many will fall away at the outset, the sages of Proverbs assure us that sure knowledge of God is possible (v. 5)—not because we are so smart, but because, in response to our earnest desire, ‘the Lord gives wisdom’” (v. 6).[3]
Explore on your own
Explore the connection between Proverbs and Jesus by first reading Proverbs 8, and then this article, Where’s Jesus in Proverbs.
Talk about it
- The wise father in Proverbs has told us that in order to gain the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, you’re going to have to seek it out. Talk about how. How can you put yourself in a place to receive God’s gift of wisdom and knowledge?
- We’re at the end of our first week in Proverbs. Discuss what you’re learning so far. How would you explain the “fear of the Lord” using the verses we’ve looked at this week? Come up with a one or two sentence explanation.
Pray
Father God, thank you for offering your wisdom to us. May we seek it! Holy Spirit, empower and encourage us on our treasure hunt for the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. Teach us how to live as people of moral integrity who are excited to bless others. Draw us closer to Jesus, who is wisdom. May we look to his life as an example of “the skill of living.”
Now pray over anything else the Spirit showed you this week.
Coming next week
Father’s Day is coming up! Next week we’ll let Proverbs show us how to make our dads happy. (Hint: it doesn’t involve a tie.)
[1] Derek Kidner, Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 17, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1964), 59.
[2] Kidner, 59.
[3] Davis, 35–36.