DEVELOPING WISDOM - Prov. 2:1-7

Wisdom Defined: In Hebrew –

1) Khak-maw – skillful (in war); wise (in administration); wit (shrewdness); carefully wise in practical, moral, and ethical matters.

2) Dictionary: (1) Common sense; good judgment giving a wise outlook, plan, or course of action.

(2) Ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight

How Wisdom Develops

1) Seeking to know God – Prov. 2:2 tells us to ‘prick up our ears’ to God’s words of wisdom, as a dog does to its master’s voice.

2) Along with wisdom, we also receive the knowledge of God’s purposes and plans and the understanding of how to apply His strategies.

a. Ps. 34:4 (Amp) – I sought (inquired of) the Lord, and required Him [of necessity, and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

b. ASK FOR IT! – James 1:5 – If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God for it who gives to all men liberally.

Prov. 9:10 – The fear/reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Prov. 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

3) Steps Required:

• Receive and Treasure God’s Word – Prov. 2:1 – we receive (laqach) by taking in; accepting; and laying hold of what the Word says. We ponder it and see how to apply it.

• Incline the ear (gashab) – we prick up our ears [as a dog does] to really listen to understand. We often listen without really hearing – to a conversation, to an audio voice over a medium of some sort (tv, podcast…). We need to learn how to listen attentively!

• Apply the heart – Prov. 2:2 – (natah, apply) – to stretch out; be influenced by –

o Put it to work in your thinking and attitudes; ‘how can I imitate my heavenly Father?’

o Bend away from our own thoughts, attitudes, emotional patterns…

• Cry out after – Prov. 2:3 – Talk about God and His ways to others! Do arrow prayers when necessary – i.e., quickly whispered or silent prayers to God that only He hears.

• Seek & Search for – Prov. 2:4 – (seek out by the method of prayer and worship)

o Search for it through putting into practice what you’ve learned and studied.

o Heb. 5:13-14 (Amp) – For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness, [that is, of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought and action,] for he is a mere infant – not able to talk yet! But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble, and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

Benefits of Wisdom

1. A person who knows God knows the purpose he has been created for, then applies himself to pleasing God and loving others.

(Deut. 10:12-13 & Matt. 22:37-39 – love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength; love others as self)

2. Comes packaged with knowledge of God, understanding of His ways, and skills for living.

Prov. 2:10-11 – wisdom received results in discretion/discernment, i.e., knowing your PURPOSE.

3. Wisdom brings into our lives:

• Knowledge of God – Prov. 2:5, 10-11 – we know Him personally, not just about Him.

• Purpose of God for our lives – Prov. 2:11

• Protection and deliverance – Prov. 2:7-8, 12 (He snatches us away or defends us in adversity, affliction, calamity…anything adverse.)

• Adds length to our days along with riches and honor – Prov. 3:16

• Adds pleasure (agreeableness; delight) to our soul and peace – Prov. 1:10; 3:17

• Causes us to walk in safety, without stumbling (II Pet. 1:5-11); peaceful stability, rids you of anxiety/fear; produces confidence – Prov. 3:23-26

• Promotes; brings honor (gives you influence), and grace (God’s favor) – Prov. 4:7-10

• Corrects the way you talk (truth and righteousness) – Prov. 8:7-8 (nothing crude or perverse)

• Gives strategy, knowledge, and perception with understanding; discretion (purpose/plan) – Prov. 8:12

• Kills pride and arrogance (self-exaltation) and evil (corrupt morals, attitudes, patterns of thought) – Prov. 8:13

• Provides counsel (advise; purpose) – Prov. 8:14

• Gives strength – Prov. 8:14 (i.e., force, bravery, courage)

• Enables rulership – Prov. 8:15-16 – (how to overcome; how to decree, i.e., engrave God’s laws into your life; an example is the helmet of salvation engraved with salvation inscriptions); how to rule (exercise dominion, i.e., maintain what you’ve overcome); how to judge (to govern life’s situations).

• Eternal riches – Prov. 8:18 (rewards of righteousness)

• Blessings (find happiness) – Prov. 8:34

• Disciplines us in knowing how to watch (be alert to the Holy Spirit) daily, wait (to guard; hedge about with thorns), and obtain God’s life and favor – Prov. 8:34-35

• Builds one’s house – establishes it – fills its rooms with precious and pleasant riches – Prov. 9:1; 24:3

• Provides for others – Prov. 9:2-6

Wisdom is proof of:

1. The fear of the Lord functioning in our lives effectively – Prov. 15:13

2. Walking humbly before God – Prov. 15:33; 11:2

3. Rightly loving ourselves and others – Prov. 19:8

4. Of the river of life within our inner being – Prov. 18:4; 3:18

5. Speaking with the law of kindness – Prov. 31:26; James 3:15,17

6. That we are hidden in Christ Jesus – Col. 2:1-3 – living our lives through Him.

Conclusion: Isaiah 33:6(Amp) There shall be stability in your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His.

The Fear of the Lord is the KEY to God’s storehouse of WISDOM to live abundantly!