“My son” (May ‘08)
The
second proverb begins with what will be a repeated refrain by Solomon to his
sons:
“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 cry after knowledge, and lift up thy voice for understanding: If
thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shall thou understand the
fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverb 2:1-5)
These five verses form the introduction to
this second Proverb showing exactly what it takes to live a Godly life. “Gods
Plan for a Godly Life” is a good title for the entire Proverb because the
instruction given in (v.1-5) if obeyed will result in what is explained in the
rest of verses. This simple outline will help our understanding:
I.
The Practice of a Godly Life (v.1-5)
A.
Receiving the Word/Hiding the Commandment with thee
B.
Inclining Your Ear unto Wisdom/Applying Your Heart to
Understanding
C.
Crying after Knowledge/Lifting up Your Voice for
Understanding
D.
Seeking Her as Silver/Searching for her as for Hid
Treasures
E.
Understanding Wisdom/Finding the Knowledge of God
II.
The Power for a Godly Life (v.6-8)
A.
For the LORD gives wisdom/Out of His Mouth comes understanding
B.
He lays up sound Wisdom for the righteous/He is a
Buckler [Shield] to them that walk uprightly
C.
He keeps the paths of judgment [justice]/He preserves
the way of His saints [Godly ones]
III.
The Results of a Godly Life (v.9-22)
A.
Being delivered from the evil man (v.12-15)
B.
Being delivered from the strange woman (v.16-19)
C.
Walking in the way of good men/keeping the paths of
righteousness (v.20-22)
Every good blessing revolves around the
Word of God which Solomon calls “my words…my commandments” for the
words of Solomon are recorded in the inspired Scriptures. He admonishes his
sons/children at least seven times (2:1-5, 3:1,2,2, 4:4, 20-22,6:20-23, 7:1-3,
22:17-21) in the book of Proverbs to memorize the Word!
And, as the Lord Jesus Christ is “The [Living] Word” (John
1:1) our focus immediately centers on Him Who alone can sanctify us through
the Word: “Sanctify
them through Thy Truth, Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17).
In essence we are sanctified or
made holy/Godly through the power of the Word of God dwelling in us.
The Holy Spirit of God energizes the Word
causing it to come alive in our hearts and do the work that God desires. The
Lord Jesus Christ spoke of this amazing and miraculous truth when He said:
“The Words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit
they are Life.” (John 6:63)
Solomon’s father David also had much to
say about memorizing and meditating on the Word of God:
“Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.”(Psalm
119:11) Seven times in Psalm 119 David speaks of
meditating/meditation on the Scriptures demonstrating miraculous supernatural results.
This practice did not begin with David for
Moses commanded Israel early in their history:
“Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And
thou shall love the LORD they God with all they heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might. And these Words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: and thou
shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou
sit in thine house, and when thou walk by the way, and when thou lie down, and
when thou rise up. And thou shall bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thy eyes, And thou shall write them upon the
posts of thy house, and on thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
Joshua, Moses successor, also understood
the vital need for internalizing the Word of God:
“This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy
mouth, but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all
that is written therein, for then thou shall make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shall have good success.” (Joshua 1:8). Solomon’s compelling message to
his sons continues to be the only way for
believers to live a Godly life!
No comments:
Post a Comment