Sunday, January 3, 1999 This Week's Lesson:
In this week's lesson, which came from Proverbs 2:10-22, we learned about the importance of gaining godly wisdom and knowledge so that we can be kept from evil people and strange women and also be brought closer to good people. Solomon wrote much about wisdom and knowledge, and he described the acquiring of these qualities as something very good. With both, he said that the individual gains discretion and understanding. He said that discretion will preserve us and that understanding will keep us, and with such words, he made some very worthwhile promises. However, he also made those promises and blessings dependent upon some very basic conditions. He emphasized "when" wisdom has entered into our heart and "when" knowledge is pleasant to our soul. Then can we rely on the preservation power that comes with discretion and the keeping power of having understanding. The Hebrew word for discretion comes from the root word meaning to plot or purpose. When we allow wisdom to enter into our heart, our plots and purposes will work together for good in our life instead of evil.
Three other times in the Book of Proverbs, Solomon made similar comments regarding discretion and wisdom. In Proverbs 1:4, he wrote that studying Proverbs will give "subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion." In Proverbs 3:21-22, he said, "My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck." In Proverbs 5:1-2, he said, "My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge." When we allow God's wisdom to enter into our heart and when His knowledge is pleasant to our soul, then we shall be possessors of His discretion and understanding. Then shall our life have upon it the stability and comfort of God's tender touch. Wisdom and knowledge, discretion and understanding will deliver us from evil people. Wisdom and knowledge, discretion and understanding will deliver us from strange women. Wisdom and knowledge, discretion and understanding will bring us into the presence of good people. These are wonderful promises and great blessings given to those who put Christ first in their heart and life. Psalms 147:5 says, "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
When we seek God and His wisdom, we will automatically be spared many of the heartaches and disappointments of this life. We will be delivered from those who leave the paths of uprightness, walk in the ways of darkness, rejoice to do evil, delight in wickedness, and are crooked. We will be delivered from the woman who flatters with her words, forsakes the good teachings of her youth, and forgets her covenant with God. Best of all, we will be brought into the presence of good people. The overall results will be that we will walk rightly, dwell in the land, be blessed in our habitation, and grow and mature in the Lord. Because so much is at stake, may each of us do our best to be what God would have us be. As you go through the coming week, seek the Lord with all your heart and trust Him with all your life.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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