PROVERBS Chapter 2
I. Outline: I. Wisdom As A Treasure And Safeguard: 2:1-22 A. Wisdom, Hard-Won: 2:1-5 B. Wisdom, God-Given: 2”6-9 C. Wisdom, A Moral Safeguard: 2:10-22 1
II. Opening Comments: “The young man faces two major temptations. The first (in chapter one) is the temptation to violence and crime and to the feelings of power and easy money that way offers, and the second is to easy and apparently uncomplicated sexual pleasures offered by the prostitute. Both ways, however, have complications the young man cannot see, complications that will drag him to his death. This whole text hinges on an enormous “if” clause (vv. 1-4). The “if” represents a decision that every young man must make. He can either go in the way of Wisdom and find life, true love, and most importantly God, or he can turn his back on her and find only bitterness, isolation, and death. One cannot opt out of making this decision or choose a little of one and a little of the other. If the church, however, fails to present this stark decision to young people, many will go in the wrong way and never even know they had a choice” (Garrett p. 74).
III. Commentary: 2:1 “if”, the language of free will and choice. While the parents need to train up a child in the way he should go (22:6), the child still has to make the final choice. Here again we see that the Bible isn’t that complicated, and that parents can accurately pass on to the next generation the correct interpretation of the 1
Outline Taken From Proverbs by Derek Kidner 1
Scriptures (Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:7). In fact, it is assumed that any parent can do this if they so choose. 2:1 “receive”-Wisdom doesn’t just come naturally, in fact “foolishness” is what is bound up in the heart of every child (22:15). People aren’t born knowing all they need to know, neither is our heart or conscience an infallible guide (3:5; 16:25). Notice the verbs in this section, “receive”, “treasure”, “Make your ear attentive”, “Incline your heart”, “if you cry”, “lift up your voice”, “seek her”, search for her”. All of this stresses that acquiring godly wisdom takes effort. “This is the essential counterpart to 1:20ff., where wisdom was clamoring to be heard. Here it is the pupil who must clamor” (Kidner p. 61). Compare with James 1:5 and 2 Timothy 2:15. 2:1 “sayings…commandments”-The starting point for wisdom is not speculation. This strenuous search is not unguided. It’s starting point is revelation, specific words and commandments. “It’s method is not one of free speculation, but of treasuring and exploring received teachings so as to penetrate to their principles…and its goal, far from being academic, is spiritual (2:5)” (Kidner p. 61). Point to Note: Wisdom isn’t found in spurning the counsel and advice of godly parents. There isn’t any wisdom to be found apart of God’s revelation (Jeremiah 8:9) Hence youth needs to listen to godly parental instruction, instead of the voices of their contemporaries, the coffee-house poets, eastern religion, hard rock song lyrics or self-made Internet gurus. 2:2 “Make your ear”-Listening to wisdom isn’t always easy, for at times wisdom can come to us in a rebuke (9:8-9; 2 Timothy 4:2). Listening to the truth demands a conscious decision, it will involve effort, sacrifice and humility (James 1:21). 2:3 “cry…lift your voice”-“the father encourages his son to do whatever is necessary to learn discernment” (Alden p. 31). Notice, wisdom isn’t found by those who consider themselves self-sufficient. A good dose of humility is necessary, I must realize what I don’t know, I need to cry out for someone to teach me. This search must be in earnest! One must hunger and thirst (Matthew 5:6). Point To Note:
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I pray that more young people who are contemplating marriage, or more newly married couples would “cry out” for the wisdom that it will take to enable their marriages to be successful. The same needs to be said concerning couples with small children, or couples expecting their first child. “Help, I need some wisdom to raise this child!” (Judges 13:8) 2:4 “seek her as silver…search for her as for hidden treasure”-Because wisdom is more valuable than any earthly treasure (3:14-15). The word “seek” here means to “seek diligently”, and “search” has the idea behind it of “digging out”. “the imagery employed in both clauses indicates that the search after Wisdom is to be persevering, unrelaxing, and diligent, like the unremitting toil and labour with which men carry on mining operations” (P.P. Comm. p. 34). In addition, Divine wisdom is a treasure which cannot be exhausted, you will mine this vein until you die. In light of the fact that Solomon is the author, this proverb takes on additional meaning. In no era of Jewish national history was there such abundance of riches, such splendid prosperity, as in the reign of Solomon (2 Chron. 9:20-22). And yet, Solomon advised his son that “wisdom” was far more important than any amount of material prosperity. The best inheritance that Solomon could give his son, would be to instill in his son a love for the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-12). See also Matthew 13:44-46; Colossians 2:3. 2:5 “Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God” The goal, far from being academic, is spiritual. “With these two phrases verse 5 encompasses the two classic Old Testament terms for true religion—the poles of awe and intimacy” (Kidner p. 61). Point To Note: Note the word “then”. One must have the proper attitude, one must be in the right frame of mind---before one can learn. One must have a heart that is willing to listen to the truth, before the truth can be appreciated. Before the sinner can be saved, the sinner must first make the decision to listen, regardless of what the truth might say about them (Matthew 13:23). One must be willing to have ears that hear (Matthew 13:15-16). What this verse is saying is that one must be willing to be taught, if they are ever going to really appreciate, understand and see the wisdom in the Word of God. The person who stands in judgment over the Bible, the skeptic and the critic are people who aren’t crying out for wisdom. The person who views the Old Testament as crude or unspiritual, isn’t searching for wisdom as for treasure.
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2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom”-James 1:5. God is the only true source of all wisdom (Daniel 2:21). Solomon knew this by experience (1 Kings 3:9,12). Carefully note that this wisdom isn’t mystical, rather it comes out of God’s mouth, which means it is found in His revelation to mankind (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 19; 119). God communicates wisdom through the medium of His word. 2:7 “stores up sound wisdom for the upright”-Once again, wisdom is inherently connected with being godly, morally pure, honest, etc…The person who doesn’t want to be good, can never become truly wise. God also offers protection to those who walk in integrity, “he is the shield of those who walk honestly” (NAB). Our modern society says that the honest person is vulnerable, “Your going to get nowhere in business or politics if you are honest”. But God protects those who aren’t deceitful, who aren’t trying to manipulate others or live by their own human wisdom. Compare with Genesis 15:1; Psalm 33:20; 84:11; 89:18; 144:2. 2:8 “Guarding the paths of justice”-“he guards the course of justice and keeps watch over the way of his loyal servants” (NEB). God not only guards those who are walking in such paths, but the idea might also be that God insures that justice will never vanish from this world. “Is it not remarkable that even though men themselves do not always do what is right that the old basics of what is right and wrong still survive” (Hunt pp. 19-20). See 1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 121:3-8; 1 Samuel 2:9. 2:9 “Then”-one must walk on the paths of justice, one must get wisdom to gain additional wisdom. This verse also implies that every “good course” in life is a path that includes righteousness and justice. Sin is never on the “good path” (1 Cor. 10:13). “Then you will understand right, justice and uprightness, every good road” (Ber). “Duty and right and honour thou shalt discern, and see ever where the best course lies” (Knox). “discovery and revelation are inseparable. This paragraph goes on to show that to know the Lord is also to know how to live” (Kidner p. 61). “Here are things that every person should understand and not be confused about” (Hunt p. 20). Hebrews 5:14. Point To Note: In light of such comments, it is rather foolish in our modern society that when we elect Judges, those who will administer justice, that we aren’t told what they believe. The ungodly cannot administer true justice, unbelief prevents one from seeing the true way in many situations.
Wisdom: The Safeguard Against Evil Men 4
2:10 We have already noted that wisdom doesn’t enter your heart mysteriously or without effort. It is the result of hard work, an honest heart, and listening to the right source of instruction. For such an honest and good heart, the knowledge of the truth is pleasant. “the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8); “O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). 2:11 “Discretion will guard you”-“good sense will take charge of you, sound judgment will keep you right” (Mof). So much for the idea that common sense is common. This verse reveals that what often guards us is our willingness to learn at God’s feet, our willingness to allow His word to direct our lives. But what sort of protection does the unbeliever have? How will the critic of the Bible keep from making foolish choices, harmful choices, disastrous choices? Our mouth is guarded when our heart is receptive to the Word, the polices and choices that we make will be wise, when our heart is receptive to God’s instruction. 2:12 “To deliver you from the way of evil”-“The process is that wisdom and knowledge, when they become your own way of thinking, and your acquired taste (10), will make the talk and interests of evil men alien to you” (Kidner p. 62). 2:13-15 Note God’s description of those who reject His will: 1. Unbelievers speak a perverted set of values. “He justifies his way of life with a distorted set of values in order to persuade others to join him” (Garrett p. 76). Error is constantly evangelizing and seeking someone to convert. Young people need to realize that the world is filled with false teachers (2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Matthew 7:15ff). People who are very good at making right look wrong and wrong like its the right thing to do.. 2. Sin is a chosen lifestyle, “those who leave the paths of uprightness”. One isn’t born a sinner, rather, at sometime in life, such people freely chose to reject the truth. 3. The life of sin is confusing, it is filled with moral confusion (“darkness”). 4. Yes, there are many people who know they are doing wrong, and delight in that fact (Romans 1:32; 1 John 2:1516). No, everyone isn’t basically honest, no, everyone isn’t trying to do the right thing. No, most people are not basically good. Remember, in the parable of the sower, only one heart was good. 5. Such people are “devious in their ways” (2:15). They will tell you what you want to hear. They are unreliable, untrustworthy, deceitful---how different from those who trust the Lord! Point To Note:
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In view of all the dangers that are out in the world, Wisdom makes you feel good and safe under the protection of God. With wisdom the true evil of sin is revealed and clearly seen. Which means, in order to break the cycle of an addictive sinful habit, in order to break lose from spiritual apathy, such a person must cry out for wisdom, such a person must want to change, such a person must want to love the truth—if not such a person will die in their sins.
Protection From The Woman Dressed To Kill 2:16 “the strange woman…the adulteress”-Wisdom not only protects one from the professional prostitute, but also the adulteress. In addition, wisdom will enable you to avoid the wrong type of girlfriend or boyfriend. The person who pulls you away from God, instead of encouraging you to remain with God. How many young Christian men have been destroyed and rendered completely ineffective because they fell in love with a woman that was simply no good? This woman is called “strange”, lit., a foreigner, because she should forever remain outside the circle of a man’s proper relations. Several chapters and verses in this book will deal with this type of woman (5:1-23; 6:23-25; 7:4-27; 9:13-18). Evidently God knows that this type of temptation occurs far too often. 2:16 “who flatters with her words”-“The immoral woman speaks words of ‘seduction’ to inflate the ego of her victim and draw him in” (Garrett p. 76). See Proverbs 7:15. She is in a sense a false teacher, she tells her victims what they want to hear. She tries to make young men think that she really does care for them. 2:17 But she has lied to other men, including a former husband, “the companion of her youth” (Malachi 2:14-16). In doing so, she has demonstrated that she doesn’t honor her commitments with people or God. She is a liar, and the truth, vows, loyalty and honesty mean nothing to her. 2:18 Like other wicked people, her paths are also crooked, she is leading young men to spiritual ruin and death. To follow her into her house is to be walking into the jaws of death and eternal misery. “Her ‘house’ is referred to because this is where she operates her dirty business” (Hunt p. 23). 2:19 Here is probably one of those general principles in Proverbs. Some men do escape from such lusts (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), but most do not! The majority of adulterers, fornicators, those addicted to pornography, etc…do not escape from such an addictive lifestyle. Such lusts do not simply lose their luster with time. Here we see how difficult it is for those who give into such lusts to get 6
themselves out. No wonder God said, “Flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22). Here is a great incentive to avoid temptation. When we give into a temptation, we are only creating one more hurdle, one more additional weight to the cross that we must bear, one more thing to fight, one more thing to resist. 2:20 But other men are succeeding! The way to life might be narrow—but there are other people on it right now! (Matthew 7:13-14). In contrast to what the world says, all men do not cheat on their wives, are men are not addicted to lust, there are “good men” in this world. 2:21 The promise of remaining in the land immediately recalls to our minds the curses and blessings found in the book of Deuteronomy (chapters 27-30). Serving God commonly also results in many temporary and physical blessings. (Psalm 37:9,11,22,29). 2:22 While the wicked at times do prolong their lives by their wickedness (Psalm 73), we also see many examples in which the wicked suffer and die young because of their wickedness. So many examples, that we could simply state it as a general rule. Carefully note that when Solomon talks about the wicked, he is often talking about the wicked in the nation of Israel. Even in the Old Testament, the righteous understood that Israel was actually two nations, the righteous and the wicked (Romans 2:28-29).
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