Proverbs 2:5
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Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
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Understanding the fear of the LORD is possible. Finding the knowledge of God is possible. Both of these great blessings can be obtained. But neither is possible without the right approach. No earthly price or human means will get them for you. God must give them to you, and He will only give them to those who seek them rightly.
A man understanding the fear of the LORD and finding the knowledge of God is blessed indeed (Ps 77:11; 112:1-3; 128:1-6). These two wonderful things have been hid from most, and the rest generally fail to use the means for obtaining them. Here are two things worth selling all that you have in order to obtain the field holding them (Matt 13:44-46).
Our proverb draws a conclusion to a short list of requirements necessary for obtaining wisdom (2:1-5). And it is every man's failure at one or more of these conditions that keeps him from obtaining a treasure exceeding any other on this earth. Great men have desired divine understanding and knowledge, but only a few have ever found them. They are available to any man who will meet the simple terms.
"If thou wilt receive my words" is the first condition (2:1). A teachable spirit is necessary for learning. All learning requires instruction, yet men find it difficult to listen to others. They believe their opinions are better! They want to teach instead of listening! They prefer to question, argue, debate, and resist. Only a few are noble enough to listen and receive teaching. Cornelius and the Bereans are two examples of nobly receiving instruction (Acts 10:33; 17:11). A man with this character will love preaching - and the harder the better (Neh 8:1-12; I Thess 5:20; II Tim 4:3-4).
"Hide my commandments with thee" is the second condition (2:1). Once you are taught something, you must retain it. Many men have heard wonderful things, but it passes right on through their empty minds. It does not stay. You hide God's word in your hearts by reviewing it enough to remember it (Ps 119:11). We cannot let the good things we hear slip away (Heb 2:1-3), or we will lose the benefit of them (I Cor 15:2). Paul rebuked the Hebrew saints for needing to hear the elementary facts of the gospel again (Heb 5:12-14).
"Incline thine ear unto wisdom" is the third condition (2:2). Hear submissively, by taking correction meekly. Learning and wisdom require you to admit you are wrong. Humble yourself; get down; and soberly identify the faults in your life. Apply correction to yourself, not to others. Bend your heart and ear to the reproof and rebuke of the wise. Only scorners on their way to destruction hate correction (9:8; 13:13; 15:31-32; Eccl 7:5).
"Apply thine heart to understanding" is the fourth condition (2:2). Wisdom is the greatest pursuit of life, and it deserves and requires fervent dedication. Your heart is the seat of your affections, and you should be passionate about obtaining understanding. A careless attitude toward wisdom will not work. You cannot sleep in this class and expect to pass. Love of wisdom is necessary (8:17,8:17; 18:1; Eccl 1:13; Dan 10:12; II Thess 2:10-12).
"If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding" is the fifth condition (2:3). Wisdom is the gift of God, and He will give it liberally to those who ask (Jas 1:5). But few truly cry out for wisdom. The dream offering any desire to Solomon was no more than His standing offer of wisdom to those who ask for it. Even in the study of God's word, which is neither purely science nor art, the man of God is dependent upon the LORD opening his eyes to behold the wonders in it (Ps 119:18; Eph 1:17).
"If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures" is the sixth condition (2:4). God hates sluggards, who do not even show the wisdom or zeal of ants. He will not give a lazy man anything. He commands that lazy men should be starved to death (20:4; II Thess 3:10). Study is laborious work (Eccl 12:12; II Tim 2:15). But the reward is well worth the effort! Reading, reviewing, meditating, memorizing, and praying are hard work; but what hidden treasure was ever found just lying on the doorstep!
Reader, there you have six simple steps to understanding the fear of the LORD and finding the knowledge of God. Listen, review, submit, desire, pray, and seek for wisdom. You will obtain. Neglect one or more of these conditions, and you will not obtain them. What in your life keeps you from wisdom? What in your soul keeps you from wisdom?
Too proud to listen? Too lazy to review? To stubborn to submit? Too carnal to desire it fervently? Too busy to pray? Too distracted with pleasure to seek it? Then die foolish! Wisdom will not be mocked; your calamities are coming; and there will be no mercy from heaven (1:20-31). He will even remove what you think you have (Luke 8:18). See the comments on 1:26.
Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, even as a child, applied himself in these very same steps (Luke 2:42-51). And by these He grew in wisdom and favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). If you follow His example and learn of Him, you will find and know the great mysteries of the universe and the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-3).
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