Proverbs 2:6: Go to the Source

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; Proverbs 2:6

Gives: give personally, deliver, bestow upon, grant a request

Wisdom: ethical and religious, of God, as a divine attribute or energy

Knowledge: knowledge possessed by God

Understanding: discernment, the faculty

The source of wisdom is the Lord—Yahweh, God Almighty. He GIVES—wow, think about that for a moment. God Almighty, the Creator of all, who is omniscient—gives us personally, grants us, Wisdom! There is no better source! 

FROM God come knowledge and understanding. God not only gives wisdom, but also gives knowledge and the understanding (discernment) for applying it to life. 

As I read this verse, I get stuck on the verb, GIVES. God personally will give me wisdom. He wants to give it to me. He wants me to know Him and His will. He wants me to know what's best for me. GIVES. No bartering. No pay-back. No loaning. God GIVES. 

Once I accept God's wisdom, then I'll want the knowledge and discernment that God also provides. God gives the complete package! 

If I truly want wisdom, than I must begin at the true source of wisdom—God. For the best place to get wisdom is from the source! And if I am going to accept God's wisdom, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), in order to accept it and apply it. 

Do you want wisdom? Then go to the Source! He will give it to you! 

Proverbs 2:1-5: It's all about the Verbs!

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5

Receive: accept

Treasure: hide with thyself, in thine own keeping

Commands: code of wisdom

Incline your ear: cause to attend, give attention

Wisdom: ethical and religious

Apply: incline one's own heart unto God and his commands

Heart: intelligent mind

Understanding: the object of knowledge

Cry out: call unto some one

Discernment: knowledge, meaning, perfectly, understanding, wisdom

Lift up: utter a sound, lift up the voice

Understanding: the object of knowledge

Seek: seek to find

Search: make diligent search

Understand: know with the mind

Fear of the Lord: fear of God, reverence, piety

Find: thing sought

Knowledge: in highest sense, knowledge of God (including obedience)

God: the (TRUE) God; Yahweh is God in truth

IF you do these things — THEN, you will understand and have wisdom. Wisdom does not come by wishing. To get wisdom you must DO. It's all about the VERBS! Action is required. 

But not just any action—specific, directed action. 

RECEIVE. HEAR. APPLY. CRY OUT, SEEK. Verbs that are specific and are directed toward a goal of wisdom. 

Verbs, specific actions whose end result is wisdom and fearing God. But to begin with the first verb, RECEIVE, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For that is only way, I'll be willing to accept Wisdom's advice. It's all about the VERBS!

Proverbs 1:28-33: Hate or Hear?

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:28-33 (NKJV)

Once we find ourselves in the midst of trouble, we then realize the mistake we made, and cry out for help. This is the position Wisdom is referring to regarding those who have ignored her warning. 

Wisdom has given many opportunities to avoid trouble and the consequences of choosing sin, but each was ignored. There comes a point, where Wisdom says, "Sorry, you have no more chances." 

Proverbs 1:29

Because: the end of

Knowledge: in the highest sense, knowledge of God (including obedience)

Fear: fear of God, reverence, piety

Lord: of deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel

Notice the two verbs in this verse: HATED and CHOOSE. 

The later is a result of the first. When one hates knowledge (including obedience) that leads to the choices; in this case—not to fear God.

In Proverbs 1:30-32, Wisdom continues to describe how the sinners ended up where they are and the consequences. 

BUT— there is hope!

Listens: hears, hear with attention, interest

Dwell: settle down to abide

Safely: quietness and security

Secure: be at ease or at peace, rest securely

Fear: terrifying, dread

Evil: misery, distress

So, the choice is HATE or HEAR. The consequences of both actions are clearly explained. 

Hate Wisdom = fear, chaos, trouble, destruction

Hear Wisdom = a secure and safe place without terrifying fear or distress. 

Sadly, often it seems easier and more enticing to choose Hate. But, when my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), I will easily Hear Wisdom and want to obey. 

Which verb will you choose: HATE or HEAR? 

Proverbs 1:24-27: Wisdom shouted. Did you listen?

Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Proverbs 1:24-27 (NKJV)

Wisdom did all she could to get your attention—but Wisdom was ignored. 

Called: shouted 

Refused: be recusant (deny to submit one's self to an authority or follow a set of rules)

Stretched out: extend; of wisdom's appeal

Regarded: incline, attend, gave attention

Disdained: neglect, let alone

Counsel: advice

Would: be willing, consent

None: zero

Rebuke: chiding, correction

Now the result is—

 

Laugh: usually in contempt, derision

Calamity: distress, under which one bends, burden

Mock: deride, have in derision

Terror: dread, terrifying

Comes: arrives

Storm: devastating storm

Destruction: calamity, oppression

Whirlwind: storm-wind—that makes an end; of ruin

Distress: adversary, specifically of travail

Anguish: pressure, distress, troublous

Why do we think that after multiple opportunities to accept Wisdom, which we've ignored, that she would be willing to continue to hand around waiting for us to listen. There comes a point and time when Wisdom says, "You didn't listen, and now you find yourself in trouble. So be it." 

Listen. Hear. Take note of what lies ahead. And if you ignore Wisdom—you'll end up just where Wisdom said you would, in trouble. 

Hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back we see mistakes and wrong choices we made. Wisdom is doing all she can to help us make the right choices so that we don't have to learn the hard way! Wisdom knows all about right and wrong choices. If one just LISTENS and HEARS what Wisdom is saying, calamity, distress, and anguish can be avoided. 

To be able to hear and listen to Wisdom, a heart must first be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when one has a reverence for God, then the ears are open to hear what Wisdom has to say, and the desire to listen and obey is strongest. 

Wisdom shouted. Did you listen? If you ignored her, you will now hear her laughing as anguish comes upon you. 

Proverbs 1:23: Wisdom shouts—TURN!

Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23 (NKJV)

Turn: turn back, return

Rebuke: reproof, chiding, scolding

Surely: certainly

Pour out: as a well or issue forth

Spirit: as endowing men with various gifts—wisdom, understanding

Words: as the sum of that which is spoken

known: be instructed

Proverbs 1:20-22, Wisdom is SHOUTING to get our attention. This is one more plea, to listen and follow after Wisdom. 

VERB: TURN. Take action and not only hear what is being said, but take further action and turn around! 

We all have seen it when a toddler is about do to something wrong. He looks at the parent with a sheepish grin and slowly begins to do the act. The Parent says, very strongly, "NO". But the toddler continues with the action in defiance of the greater wisdom. Then the toddler has to deal with the consequences of disobedience. 

Sadly, this toddler response is too often true of adults. We fully know that the action, attitude, we are about to do is in direct opposition to God. We may hesitate for a moment, then we go right ahead and sin. 

Wisdom tells us "NO", and is willing to instruct us and teach us. But, too often we show a sheepish grin and in defiance — ignore the sound advice. 

Why do we ignore Wisdom? Why do we, knowing that there are consequences to sinful actions, continue to choose sin? Why do we turn a deaf hear to instruction and not accept the gift of wisdom and understanding? 

The answer to each of those questions is the same. We do not have a reverence for God. We do not fear God. We do not respect God. For when there is a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), one will choose to obey God—simply out of respect and love for Him. 

As Wisdom shouts and asks for my response to TURN—will I listen or will I ignore Wisdom and continue on the path of destruction? That is a daily, and sometimes multiple times in a day, question to ask one's self.