Back in Proverbs 1:7, Solomon reminded us that, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.’ Notice what he says concerning fear of the Lord.
Searching for wisdom requires a willingness, and it requires an engagement. We need to listen with an open heart and have a willingness to speak, that is, a willingness to cry out for understanding. It requires a high estimation, that is, to see wisdom like a valuable hidden treasure, Colossians 2:3. In other words, it requires a diligent search for wisdom.
Today we do this by hearing the Word of God, Acts 17:11 / Acts 17:11. We need to take the time to reflect and ponder on the Word, Philippians 4:8 / Psalm 119:97-100. We need to pray for wisdom, James 1:5 / Matthew 7:7-11.
Do you notice anything important in these verses about how we understand what it means to fear the Lord and get knowledge of God? They are all action words! So many times, people say something is free, and they say you don’t have to do anything to get it.
There’s nothing free in this world, and if people understood that, then a lot of people wouldn’t be in debt to loan sharks and banks. To understand what it means to fear the Lord and get knowledge, we have to do something.
Have you ever had a letter saying you’ve won this or that, and you say great, but then you realise you have to do something else to get whatever you’ve won? It’s the same with salvation; we can’t just believe in God, we need to do something to receive that salvation, we need to be baptised, Mark 16:16 / Acts 2:38, and stay faithful to the Lord all your life, Revelation 2:10.
God gives us everything we need to stay faithful and live holy lives, but sometimes we need to ask for it first before we can enjoy the benefits of being a child of God.
What does the text say that God does for us? He gives us knowledge and understanding. He holds the victory for us. He shields and guards and protects those who are faithful. It’s all down to God; He offers things, and all we can do is just accept them, Ephesians 2:8-9.
It’s all down to God; He gives us everything, there’s nothing smart about mankind, it’s God who does the giving. And when we finally understand that it is God who gives everything and that God is at the centre of the universe, then what will happen?
Wisdom guides our life and helps us make the right decisions in life, and when we get a taste of knowledge from God’s Word, we will want more because it tastes good, as we realise it’s good for us.
The more we learn, the more we understand what kind of life God wants us to live and from that comes protection and understanding. Then wisdom says that it will save us from wicked people, and the reason it can save us from these people is that it describes what these people are like.
Notice that these people are going away from God with their actions. This is in total contrast to what we read a moment ago in Proverbs 2:1-5, remember the action words! They are headed in the opposite direction from where we are trying to head.
That’s why the world will never be one. We’re trying to do the will of God, and these other people are doing their own will. That’s why there won’t be any conflicts when Christ comes back to take us home.
On the earth, there are billions of wills, but in heaven, there is only one will, and that’s the will of God, Matthew 6:9-10. Solomon continues and tells us that wisdom will save us from something or someone else.
What does the writer mean when he talks about being saved from the adulteress? Is she someone specific or a general term for those who turn from God? Ezekiel 6:9 / Ezekiel 16:32 / Matthew 16:1-4.
Israel was called an adulterous nation many times by God because they were married to God but gave themselves over to other nations and worshipped idols. Instead of being pure and holy, they slept around with other so-called gods. And that’s because adulteresses are just like the world, they seduce you and trick you into thinking that they have got something better to offer you.
Something better than your wife or husband could ever offer you. Or in this case, something better than God could ever offer you. How wrong the world is because, as we have already seen, God gives us everything we need, 2 Peter 1:3-4. And wisdom ends by saying what she has been saying since the beginning of time: if you listen, you will live; if you don’t, then disaster will come.
If we listen and do what wisdom says, then we will continue to share in the blessings we receive from God, but if we continue to stray off the path deliberately, we will lose our place in heaven and lose all our privileges, Romans 11:22.