Proverbs 2

Proverbs 2:1-22

Answering God the Father’s Call – As a believer, we must learn how to obtain wisdom. Wisdom calls, but we must learn how to answer that call. We answer the call of wisdom by applying ourselves to the study of the Holy Bible (Proverbs 2:1), by meditating on His Word (Proverbs 2:2), by praying for understand (Proverbs 2:3) and by making this search more important than the pursuits of this world (Proverbs 2:4). Only then will we find wisdom (Proverbs 2:5). God chooses this method of giving a man wisdom so that the wicked will not be able to find it, and in rejecting it, they increase their own judgment from Almighty God (Luke 8:10). This is because God’s ways are merciful, even to the wicked. This method of finding the hidden treasures of wisdom will deliver us from the wicked man (Proverbs 2:12-15) and from the immoral woman (Proverbs 2:16-20). Luke 8:10, “And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.” Outline - Here is a proposed outline:

1. How to Find Wisdom — Proverbs 2:1-9a. Develop a Hearing Heart — Proverbs 2:1-5b. Wisdom Protects Our Path — Proverbs 2:6-92. Wisdom’s Path of Escape — Proverbs 2:10-22a. The path of escape — Proverbs 2:10-11b. Escape from the wicked man — Proverbs 2:12-15c. Escape from the adulteress — Proverbs 2:16-20d. End results of wise man & fool — Proverbs 2:21-22

Proverbs 2:6-9

Wisdom Protects Our Path - We see in Proverbs 2:6-9 the divine protection of God. After years of serving the Lord and following His plan for my life, I have noticed that I do not have to frequent the altar calls for my deliverance during every church service. My life is peaceful and things are well with my soul because of God’s daily deliverance in my life. The Lord has delivered me from the counsels of the wicked one, so that I do not have to be in bondage and cry out for deliverance. Illustration – We can apply the principles of Pro 2:1-5 to a specific need. For example, if we have a financial need, we can read God’s Word on passages regarding finances (Proverbs 2:1), mediate on these verses (Proverbs 2:2), ask God to help us understand His divine principles in the area of finances (Proverbs 2:3), and then apply these principles to our lives as a priority (Proverbs 2:4). God promises us success using this method (Proverbs 2:5). We can come to the Lord with family needs, health needs, and any other area of our lives. This is how I have learned to conduct my life. I have learned that God’s Word applies to every area of man’s life, and that it has an answer if we will seek Him. Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6 — Comments - Of all the wisdom literature that King Solomon was exposed to, whether from Egypt or from the East, none compared to the wisdom that he found from the Lord. Scripture Reference - Note a similar verse: James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. Proverbs 2:7 — Word Study on “sound wisdom” – Gesenius says the Hebrew word (úּ ?åּ ?ùִׁ ?éָּ ?ä) (H8454) means, “a lifting up, that which is erect, aid, counsel, wisdom.” Strong says it means, “support, ability, help, undertaking, understanding.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 12 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “Wisdom 7, enterprise 1, thing as it Isaiah 1, that which Isaiah 1, substance 1, working 1.” Proverbs 2:7 — Comments - Sound wisdom, or counsel, is reserved for God’s children, for those who walk upright. It is not for everyone. The wicked have no access to God’s leadership, counsel and protection. Jesus refers to this divine principle when He taught by parables to the multitudes. When the disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables that were difficult to understand, said, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matthew 13:11) Proverbs 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Proverbs 2:8 — Comments – The upright will walk without the endless problems that face the wicked every day. King David knew God as his shield and buckler. He wrote, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalms 34:7) Job is the story of a man whom God guarded and protected so that he prospered. Proverbs 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. Proverbs 2:9 — Comments – As we follow the principles laid forth in Proverbs 2:1-4, of reading God’s Word, meditating, praying, and putting His Word first in our lives, we will begin to find wisdom everywhere, hidden from the sight of the wicked and simple, golden nuggets that guide us each day along the journey. We will find those seven golden nuggets of wisdom listed in the opening passage of Pro 1:2-6. In the phrase “every good path,” we could also read, “every good decision”; for every decision that we make leads us down a path. Another way to say this is that then we will begin to see life around us from a divine perspective.

Proverbs 2:10-22

Wisdom Always Provides a Path of Escape for Us – Proverbs 2:10-22 tells us that wisdom will deliver us from the paths of the evil man and the strange woman. Proverbs 2:10-11 gives us the method of escaping from the devices of the wicked. The lifestyle of allowing wisdom to enter through our minds, our eyes and ears, and into our hearts allows us to avoid the snares that trap other people. For the words of the wicked man (Proverbs 2:12-15) and strange woman (16-19) are the methods of trapping the fool. These words are carefully placed before their victims in order to gain entrance into their hearts. Once these words have been received into the heart of a man, they ensnare him.

But for the man of wisdom, he only receives words of wisdom into his heart. Wisdom will soon tell us to guard our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Thus, he protects his eyes and ears, which are the entrance into his heart. Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” One way that wisdom protects us is that it allows us to foresee problems ahead and avoid them. However, the simple continues on that course and is punished (Proverbs 22:3). Proverbs 22:3, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” For those who do not need wisdom’s call will give their labour and wealth to others and mourn at last when their bodies are consumed and they will say, “How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” (Proverbs 5:12-13) Outline – Here is a proposed outline:

1. The path of escape — Proverbs 2:10-112. Escape from the wicked man — Proverbs 2:12-153. Escape from the adulteress — Proverbs 2:16-204. End results of wise man & fool — Proverbs 2:21-22 Proverbs 2:10-11 — God’s Method of Divine Protection – The previous verses (Proverbs 2:7-9) promise God’s divine hand of protection to those who faithfully serve Him. His method of protecting us is stated in the next verses (Proverbs 2:10-11), which says that divine wisdom enters our lives and protects us.

In other words, God gives wisdom to avoid problems to those who seek Him. Therefore, if a child of God walks away from the wisdom given to him, he will encounter problems. He may ask God why such things happened to him, thinking God should be sovereignly protecting him. God’s system is to give His children wisdom, so that they become responsible for making sound decision. Proverbs 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Proverbs 2:10 — “When wisdom entereth into thine heart” – Comments - In order for wisdom to enter the heart of a man, the heart must become receptive. Jesus illustrates this truth by telling the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20). If the seed of God’s Word does not find good soil, the Word cannot take root and grow. The seeds of God’s Wisdom will die. We must open our hearts and humbly receive the Word of God, even when the Word is correcting and chastising us, even when our flesh is not comfortable. Scripture References - Note similar Scriptures: James 1:21, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Proverbs 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: Proverbs 2:12-15 — Escape from the Wicked Man – Proverbs 2:12-15 gives us warnings against following the call of the wicked man. These verses give away his secret of enticement, which are his words. He takes his victims by the words of his mouth, in the same way that the strange woman does (Proverbs 2:16-19). However, wisdom will deliver us from the wicked man. Proverbs 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Proverbs 2:12 — “To deliver thee from the way of the evil man” - Word Study on “froward” - Gesenius says the Hebrew word “froward” (ϊַּ ?δְ ?τֻּ ?λָ ?δ) (H8419) means, “deceit, fraud, perverse.” Strong says it means, “perversity, fraud,” and it comes from the root verb (δָ ?τַ ?κְ) (H2015), which means, “to turn, change, overturn, return pervert.” Webster says the word “perverse” means, “Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.” Proverbs 2:12 — “from the man that speaketh froward things” – Comments - Wisdom will teach us to discern the words of the fool that are used to entice us off of the good path. Discretion and understanding will also keep us from men who would otherwise speak horribly about us. We can avoid much slander and evil talk about us using God’s wisdom. Note verses that illustrate this proverb: 1 Peter 3:16, “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” Titus 2:8, “Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Proverbs 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Proverbs 2:14 — Comments - We see in Proverbs 2:14 that the evil man rejoices in his wickedness. In other words, a person can use the four steps discussed in Proverbs 2:1-4 of renewing the mind and transforming the heart towards wicked things rather than the ways of God. Instead of falling in love with the Word of God, a person can fall in love with sin. Such a person is in bondage and does not realize this bondage. Proverbs 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: Proverbs 2:16-20 — Escape from the Strange Woman – Proverbs 2:16-20 warns us about the strange woman. These verses give away her secret of enticement, which are her words. She takes her victims by the words of her mouth, in the same way that the wicked man does (Proverbs 2:12-15). Wisdom will deliver us from the strange woman. Within the historical setting of King Solomon’s court, who else would the young ladies in society desire more than these young, educated, handsome men who are being trained in the king’s courts and who are destined for a career as a leader in that nation. Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Proverbs 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. Proverbs 2:17 — Word Study on “guide” – Gesenius says the Hebrew word (ΰַ ?μּ ?εּ ?σ) (H441) means, “familiar, intimate, tame, an ox, the leader of a family or tribe.” Strong says it literally means, “familiar, friend, gentile,” but it carries several shades of meanings, such as “hence, a bullock, chieftain.” Strong says this word comes from the primitive root (ΰָ ?μַ ?σ) (H502) that means, “to associate with; hence, to learn, to teach.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 69 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “duke 57, guide 4, friends 2, governors 2, captains 1, governor 1, ox 2.” (1) It is used to describe a close friend. Psalms 55:13, “But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.” (2) It is also used to describe someone or something gentle, such as a bullock (as being tame). Psalms 144:14, “That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.” (3) It also carries the meaning of a chieftain, captain, duke, (chief) friend, governor, or guide. Zechariah 12:5, “And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.” Comments - The NIV interprets this strange woman to be an adulteress, who has forsaken her husband and forsaken her marriage vows. It reads, “who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.” Proverbs 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. Proverbs 2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. Proverbs 2:19 — Comments - The path of the strange woman (Proverbs 2:16-19) appears to be more dangerous than the path of the evil man (Proverbs 2:12-15). The Scriptures tell us, “Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh,” (1 Corinthians 6:16). Thus, the path of the strange woman involves more emotional and psychological bondages than the path of the evil man. Proverbs 7:26 tells us, “For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.” This is a very cruel path. A person may recover himself from this snare, but it will tear his heart out to do so. Proverbs 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. Proverbs 2:21-22 — The End Results of the Wise Man and the Fool – Proverbs 2:21-22 gives us the end results of the decisions made by the one who pursues wisdom and the one who becomes ensnared by the wicked man and the strange woman. The wise man will become established and take possession of the land while the sinner will be taken away from off of the earth. Proverbs 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. Proverbs 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. Proverbs 2:22 — Word Study on “cut off” - Gesenius says the Hebrew word “cut off” (λָּ ?ψַ ?ϊ) (H3772) means, “to cut, to cut off.” Strong says it means, “to cut (off, down, asunder), to destroy, to consume.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 288 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “cut off 145, make 85, cut down 23, cut 9, fail 6, destroy 4, want 3, covenanted 2, hew 2, misc 9.” Proverbs 2:22 — Word Study on “shall be rooted out” - Gesenius says the Hebrew word (πָ ?ρַ ?η) (H5255) means, “to pluck out.” Strong says it means, “to tear away.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 4 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as, “pluck 2, rooted 1, destroy 1.” Proverbs 2:22 — Comments - There are two ways to remove trees from a field. Some varieties of trees can simply be cut off without the stump being able to grow back into a new tree. Thus, the tree dies at the time of its cutting. But other varieties of trees must be uprooted in order to do away with it. For, if these trees are merely cut off, the stump will sprout a new tree. In a similar way, God simply cuts off some people, and that is remedy enough. Illustration: Exodus 12:19, “Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.” For others, God must uproot the wicked and his posterity as a necessary remedy. This is a more severe punishment from God. We see this example in the Scriptures when God removes some wicked kings, because these kings and their family were so rooted in their nation that a removal of the king alone was not enough to remove evil. God did so to Jeroboam, Baasha and Ahab. Note: 1 Kings 14:10, “Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.” 1 Kings 16:11, “And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.” 1 Kings 21:21, “Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,” God even cuts off cities, as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. He cuts off nations, as He did with the Amalekites and the nations that Joshua overcame in the conquest of Canaan. God even judged the entire earth and destroyed it with a flood during the time of Noah as a necessary remedy for evil.