What does it mean that the Lord gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6)?

231 The next chapter takes us farther. It takes the ground of the son, the subject and obedient soul receiving the words of counsel, and hiding, keeping up within himself the commandments ministered to him, so that he inclines his ear to wisdom and the heart applies itself to understanding. If more, if she is sought for as invaluable, and searched out as hid treasure, and avowedly and professedly sought after, the result is the apprehending the fear of Jehovah, and arriving at the knowledge of God. Here therefore it is not a call to men which we have, but the heart itself seeking for true wisdom as its portion and treasure, and thus the intelligence of relationship with Jehovah and the knowledge of God are obtained. "For Jehovah gives wisdom." It is not merely that I by man's understanding get wiser, but Jehovah gives true wisdom. It is what He has said, His word, which gives true knowledge and understanding, and he who seeks it will get it.

But there is more. He has laid up treasures of wisdom, His own counsels, for the righteous. And surely there are in His word treasures of wisdom and knowledge laid up for those who walk uprightly. Besides, He is their shield and protects them in their walk. He watches over His own way. It is a divinely - protected way: "the paths of judgment," when men walk in God's fear, are kept and protected by Him; and "He preserves the way of his saints," for God's way and their way are the same, as Moses said, "Shew me now thy way," and Jehovah was to go with him. This is a great blessing. It may be a wilderness, in which there is no way, but we have God's way in it, and marked by His own presence. "When he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them." His word is, Follow me. "If any man serve me, let him follow me." And then as Moses saw that thus he would practically find grace in God's sight; so here "then thou shalt understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity" [or rather, uprightness] "every good path." Walking uprightly (v. 7) is consistently with, and in faith of, what we know of God. What is said of Abraham and of Israel? "Be thou perfect." Here it is uprightness properly speaking. Walking in God's path before Him, there is the spiritual and growing discernment of what is good and what is upright. This is the positive side, but there is besides this the way in which it guards from evil.

"My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee; so that thou wilt incline thine ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding; yea if thou cry after discernment, [and] lift up thy voice for understanding, if thou seek her as silver and search for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou apprehend the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God. For Jehovah gives wisdom; out of his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the upright, a shield to those that walk in integrity; guarding the paths of just judgment and keeping the way of his saints. Then thou shalt understand righteousness and judgment and equity — every good path." vv. 1-9.

As we are begotten of God's will by the word of truth, so to receive His words, and lay up His commandments with one, is the constant condition of blessing. We see in Luke 10 our Lord deciding for Mary the good part which should not be taken from her. In this Martha complained of her sister's indifference. For she herself was wrong in judging Mary's sitting at His feet and hearing His word. It is really to incline the ear to wisdom, and to apply the heart to understanding. Yet this is not all, for at the beginning of Luke 11 our Lord shows the need and the value of earnest prayer also. So here to cry after discernment, to lift up the voice for understanding, follows according to God the reception of His words. We are called to dependence and to confidence in thus importunately looking up; for every good gift and every perfect giving is from the Father of lights, as Solomon could attest, who thus sought and found wisdom.

Our age can testify the zeal with which men seek silver and gold and other hidden treasures, as Solomon's day of magnificence and noble designs of an earthly sort was famous for its success; for that enterprise was conducted by his skill beyond any other monarch. Now it is the mere vulgar thirst for lucre to spend on vanity and self-indulgence to a degree without parallel in the breadth of its diffusion. But now, as then, the toils are immense, the dangers continual, the sufferings extreme, the experience full of bitter trial and frequent disappointment, the moral atmosphere shameless. But the quest demands in any case constancy and endurance and undaunted resolution; and thence does the Holy Spirit draw the lesson where no disappointment can be. "If thou seek her [wisdom] as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou apprehend the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God." Jehovah is full of goodness and mercy. So here He "gives wisdom," when the heart is thus in earnest. It is the reversal of man's dream of education. Man is proud of his own acquisitions. "Jehovah gives wisdom; out of his mouth [not of man's mind or heart] come knowledge and understanding." Where are we to find what "His mouth" gives out, but in His Word?

Solomon failed to maintain the brightness of his beginning; and old age found him foolish about his wives, and faithless about the glory of Him who had given him all that made him what he was at first. Still less could Solomon guarantee wisdom for the son that succeeded to his throne; none acted less wisely than Rehoboam, and his humiliation was not small. But "Jehovah gives wisdom," He only and surely, to such as wait on Him with purpose of heart and diligently search into and value the treasures of that Word which He has magnified above all His name.

If thus we apply ourselves to seek and to search out of the Word of God that which is precious, sound wisdom and understanding, there is no doubt whatever that we shall "understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (v. 5). For it is the Lord Himself who gives wisdom; indeed, James 1:5 tells us He "gives to all liberally and without reproach." From His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (v. 6), and scripture certainly furnishes us with the words of His mouth. He has therein stored up sound wisdom which only the upright can appreciate, for those who are lost in their rebellious state consider God's wisdom to be foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18). And He who stores up this sound wisdom for the upright is Himself a shield to them. They walk uprightly, in contrast to those who twist and turn like a slippery eel, to try every artifice to get their own way (v. 7).

Verses 1-9 This second chapter of divine instructions begins with an exhortation to pursue after Wisdom. The sayings of Wisdom, that is the Word of the Lord, must be received, laid up, the ear must incline to hear them, the heart must be applied to understanding. In verse 3 mention is made of prayer. There must be crying after knowledge and for understanding and that must be followed by seeking and searching. If these conditions are fulfilled then the fear of the Lord is one's portion as well as the knowledge of God. These are excellent instructions for the study of the Word of God. If followed then the Lord will give wisdom (James 1:5). He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous. He Himself is the Wisdom and in Him are laid up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). He also is a shield (the better word for buckler) to them that walk uprightly, and the way of His saints is preserved by Him.

Solomon had a valuable heritage in being the son of David, though this itself did not give him his wisdom, for it was when he took the throne of Israel, God then gave him wisdom and knowledge. If we are to understand rightly the book of Proverbs, we might well act upon the advice of James in his epistle (ch. 1:5), "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." But this does not mean we shall know everything immediately. for it takes time and energy of faith to learn by means of the Word of God, "to know wisdom and instruction" (v. 1), and "to perceive the words of understanding." Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge: understanding is the right perception of knowledge. When these requisites are present, then we are prepared to receive the instruction of wisdom (v. 3), which includes proper judgment, justice and equity. Equity is the virtue of being well balanced. Prudence is added to this in verse 4, a necessity for the simple, for this involves caution in our conduct. The young man is specially singled out here as needing knowledge and discretion. For knowledge alone without discretion may make us haughty and overbearing toward others, but discretion will keep us from being hasty in our treatment of them.

A wise man does not think he knows everything, but he needs to learn from others, especially from God, for he needs to increase in learning, and realizes this fact (v. 5). If he is a man of understanding, that is, who perceives the purport of what he learns, he will attain the honor of being able to give wise counsel. He will understand proverbs and enigmas and riddles that wise people may propose. This will not suddenly be the case, for one who is wise knows well he must have time to learn.

A scorner is more boldly evil and presumptuous; he "seeks wisdom," but in his own way (which is as far as possible from the Lord), and hence, as is here said, there is none for him. "For Jehovah gives wisdom" (Prov. 2:6); and blessed is he that finds it (Prov. 3:13). Even God Himself is no exception. "Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens. By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew." He indeed scorns the scorners and gives grace to the lowly; the wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Had not Verulam this sounding to his heart, when he wrote, "He that comes to seek after knowledge, with a mind to scorn and censure, shall be sure to find matter enough for his humour, but none for his instruction." How true on the other hand, "that knowledge is easy to the intelligent"!

From this rapid outline of some of the uses, and some of our responsibilities in respect of the Word of God, you will at least recognize its supreme importance to the believer. Allow me, then, to make one or two practical observations which may be helpful to you and other young Christians. First of all, you will see the necessity of being familiar with the Scriptures. For instance, I could not repel a temptation, as the Saviour did, unless I were acquainted with the scripture wherewith to meet it. In like manner, there might be many cases in which I should be led astray simply from not knowing that the Lord had revealed His mind in His Word. One of the first obligations, therefore, of the believer is to study the Word of God. "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:1-6). In this spirit you must search and systematically study the Scriptures, if you would be "throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:17). I do not say, Read no other book; but I do say, Make the Bible your chief companion, and confine yourself as much as possible to those books which help you to understand it; for it should be the chief aim of every believer to be thoroughly conversant with the mind and will of God. Secondly, let me counsel you, if you read much, to meditate more. "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting" (Prov. 12:27). He finds his pleasure in the chase, and once finding, obtaining, he is satisfied. It is thus with many in reading the Word. Their delight is in the acquisition of truth; and in this they rest, and thereby lose the blessing. In the scripture already cited, the Lord said to Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night" (See also Ps. 1:2; Ps. 119:97; Prov: 22:17-18; 1 Tim. 4:15, etc.). For it is in meditation in the presence of the Lord that the sweetness, beauty, and power of the Word are unfolded to us. Never, therefore, lose an opportunity for meditation on the scripture you may read. And, lastly, always remember your entire dependence upon the Spirit of God for the understanding of the Word. "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Cor. 2:11-12).

From this rapid outline of some of the uses, and some of our responsibilities in respect of the Word of God, you will at least recognize its supreme importance to the believer. Allow me, then, to make one or two practical observations which may be helpful to you and other young Christians. First of all, you will see the necessity of being familiar with the Scriptures. For instance, I could not repel a temptation, as the Saviour did, unless I were acquainted with the scripture wherewith to meet it. In like manner, there might be many cases in which I should be led astray simply from not knowing that the Lord had revealed His mind in His Word. One of the first obligations, therefore, of the believer is to study the Word of God. "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:1-6). In this spirit you must search and systematically study the Scriptures, if you would be "throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:17). I do not say, Read no other book; but I do say, Make the Bible your chief companion, and confine yourself as much as possible to those books which help you to understand it; for it should be the chief aim of every believer to be thoroughly conversant with the mind and will of God. Secondly, let me counsel you, if you read much, to meditate more. "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting" (Prov. 12:27). He finds his pleasure in the chase, and once finding, obtaining, he is satisfied. It is thus with many in reading the Word. Their delight is in the acquisition of truth; and in this they rest, and thereby lose the blessing. In the scripture already cited, the Lord said to Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night" (See also Ps. 1:2; Ps. 119:97; Prov: 22:17-18; 1 Tim. 4:15, etc.). For it is in meditation in the presence of the Lord that the sweetness, beauty, and power of the Word are unfolded to us. Never, therefore, lose an opportunity for meditation on the scripture you may read. And, lastly, always remember your entire dependence upon the Spirit of God for the understanding of the Word. "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (1 Cor. 2:11-12).

Then in verse 7 we have a very beautiful and encouraging word: "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." Timothy was to keep in mind all that the apostle brought before him, and the Lord would give him understanding. Whatever the love might be that Paul had for his child in the faith, and however desirous he might be that he should make progress in the mind of God, he could not give him understanding. No one could do this but the Lord. People sometimes think that to understand the mind of God a good deal of natural intellect is required, but this is a very great mistake. Mere natural ability goes for nothing in the things of God. You must have understanding given you of the Lord. Your natural understanding will not serve you in the things of God. You may be very clever in the things of men, politics, business and the like, and be alarmingly ignorant of the things of God; and you may be intensely stupid in the things of the world, but this is no reason why you should be stupid in the things of God, for the Lord can give you understanding in all things, and He will do so if He is sought. Let me say to the youngest here, keep the things of God in your mind that are brought before you, think them over in the presence of the Lord, looking to Him to make them clear to you, and you may rest assured He will never fail you. Sometimes when I have gone to some one about a point which seemed difficult to me, and perhaps have got little or no light, I have felt I should have gone to the Lord direct, and thus have saved myself a lot of trouble, If I go to a man, and I have not understanding, he cannot give it me. He may not be able to help me because I may not be able to receive the truth. He may answer my question, but he cannot make me understand; but the Lord can. I do not deprecate seeking help from those who know the truth better than ourselves, but I want to direct your attention to the only One who can give you understanding. We require more meditation, and we need to cultivate a habit of getting alone with the Lord, and thinking over His things in His presence. If we go to Himself about things that may be difficult to us, and if we ask Him to tell us what His thought is, we will get more help in five minutes than we could get at a dozen readings or lectures, however important these may be in their place. It is our privilege to consider what is brought before us in the scriptures; it is the prerogative and pleasure of the Lord to give us understanding. He has given us His Spirit, the anointing which teaches us, and our ability to take in the mind of God lies in the Spirit; but having the Spirit is not in itself sufficient; we need to have our minds set upon the things of God and we require to be very diligent. You know the time has to be redeemed, and if you do not redeem it it becomes lost to you. We are exhorted in two epistles to redeem the time, because the days are evil. If the days were not evil the time would not have to be redeemed. Time is in the hands of the enemy. You have got to seize the moments as they fly past, to lay hold of every opportunity, to make every moment serve the eternal interests of your soul. The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. If a man is bent on getting on in the world, his thoughts are full of it, and all his energies are directed to the one end he has in view. You have got to attend to your daily avocations, I know, but when the day's work is done and the mind released from the duties imposed upon it, where does it turn? Is it idle and unfruitful? Some of us who have been long on the way feel where we have missed many opportunities, and this accounts for how little we have got on in the things of God; but some here to-night are young, and if they will only take warning, and keep much in the Lord's company, and seek to make every moment contribute something to the eternal profit of their souls, they will find that they will not only be greatly enriched themselves, but they will be of incalculable blessing to others. Some of us feel how very poverty stricken we are, but the fault is our own, for the Lord is not unwilling to help us. He helped Paul and Timothy, and He will help you and me. He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and intelligence. I have dwelt long upon this matter, because I feel in these days we must be careful as to what we hear; we must learn each one of us to get to the Lord for ourselves, and to be careful of trusting to the human mind, either our own or another's.

In verse 8 we have the gracious response of Jehovah to the confidence with which the abundance of His mercy had inspired the man of blessing. Three things are comprised in this verse. First, the promise of wisdom: "will instruct thee." The believer is renewed in Christ for the knowledge of God (Col. 1:9; 3:10). Divine wisdom unfolds its treasures to their faith who already are made perfect in Christ, through the effectual knowledge of the grace of God in truth (1 Cor. 2:6, seq.). But it is well to distinguish between progress in the wisdom of God and the mere acquisition of scriptural knowledge. The Spirit of truth is the alone effectual instructor of the children, who are themselves begotten by the word of truth. A Christian is not always receiving Divine instruction when he is reading the word of God. If the heart be not at the time in communion with the Lord, the knowledge thus acquired will not profit; it may puff up, but will not really enrich the soul. God must blow on it, as on every other vanity, before any solid blessing can result. Every lesson Divinely taught brings the learner nearer in the spirit of his mind to God. Increased conformity to Christ becomes the necessary result. The soul, rising in its estimate of heavenly things, is daily less under the power of its own natural tendencies. Its proper nothingness is understood because of its nearness to the living God. Christ alone is valued and desired, because in Him alone it is that we can hear and enjoy the holiness of our God, who is always a consuming fire Heb. 12:29).