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“The Worth of Wisdom”
The Worth of Wisdom
Wade Webster
The second chapter of Proverbs, like so many others, opens with the words, "My son..." The son that is under consideration is probably Rehoboam. Whoever is being addressed, the important thing to notice is the sage advice that is offered to the son. Throughout this chapter, Solomon tries to impress his son with the worth or the value of wisdom. Let's notice how Solomon sought to impress wisdom's worth upon his son.
First, the worth of wisdom is seen in the SECURING of it. Solomon emphasizes that intense effort is required to secure wisdom. He points out that securing wisdom requires four things: (1) Reception, (2) Attention, (3) Application, and (4) Petition. He points out that securing wisdom begins with understanding that wisdom must be received. He wrote, "My son, if thou wilt receive my words..." (2:1). This emphasizes that man has a part to play in securing wisdom. God offers it but man must receive it. Once his son has learned the importance of receiving wisdom, Solomon stresses the importance of paying attention to wisdom and of applying wisdom to one's life. He wrote, "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding" (2:2). Unless man is willing to listen to what wisdom has to say, and make application to his life, it will not do him any good. Once man is ready to pay attention and make application, he is then urged to petition or ask for wisdom. Solomon wrote, "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding" (2:3). Solomon wants his son to realize that wisdom is not something that automatically comes with time but rather something that comes with asking God. He encouraged his son to seek wisdom as he would seek buried treasure. He said, "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" (2:4-5). Here, Solomon emphasizes that as his son would be willing to spend great energy and effort for wealth because of its value, he should likewise spend great energy to secure wisdom which is of far greater value.
Second, the worth of wisdom is seen in the SOURCE of it. Solomon points out that the source of wisdom is God. He wrote, "For the LORD giveth wisdom..." (1:6-9). Solomon did not want his son to go to the world or to some other insufficient source trying to find wisdom. He wanted him to go to the One who is all-wise. He knew that God would give wisdom liberally unto his son if he would only ask Him (Jam. 1:5). He knew this, because God had given him wisdom in abundance when he asked for it (I Kings 3:12; 4:29). By emphasizing that God is the source of wisdom, Solomon is again impressing his son with the worth of wisdom. You see, the worth of wisdom is seen, in part, in the One who sends it. This is a principle that we all understand in everyday life. A small, inexpensive gift that comes from a person we love is worth far more than a larger, more expensive gift from a person with whom we are not very close. Surely anything that comes from God is of great value, whether it is great or small, because of the One giving it.
Third, the worth of wisdom is seen in the SECURITY of it. In case the two previous truths concerning the worth of wisdom had not convinced his son, Solomon points out a third and final truth. He points out that wisdom will provide safety and security to those who possess it and follow it. He wrote, "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee" (2:10-11). Notice that Solomon points out that preservation and safe-keeping come from the wisdom that God gives. He goes on to point out two areas in which wisdom will provide deliverance and safety. (1) He points out that wisdom will provide deliverance from "the way of the evil man" (2:12-15). He points out that the evil man was once on the right pathway but in the course of time left "the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness" (2:13). He knows that wisdom will keep his son and others from making the same disastrous departure. (2) He points out that wisdom will provide deliverance from "the strange woman" (2:16-19). He describes the way of the "strange woman" as a pathway filled with broken covenants. She has broken the covenant that she made with her husband and with God (2:17). Solomon knows that wisdom will help his son to keep from being enticed by this covenant-breaking temptress. As the chapter closes, we are reminded of the security that comes with possessing wisdom. We read, "That thou mayest walk in the way of good [men], and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it" (Prov. 2:20-22; cf. Lev. 25:18-19; Deut. 12:10).
In this chapter we have seen the worth of wisdom in examining the seeking, the source, and the safety of wisdom. Sadly, Rehoboam, Solomon's son, failed to seek wisdom as his father encouraged him to do in this chapter. May we not make the same mammoth mistake in our own lives.
