PROVERBS Chapter 2
Introduction
Proverbs chapter 1 started off with the Purpose and Theme of Proverbs (v.1-7). And then warned us to avoid bad company and to be careful to not reject wisdom. Now, chapter 2 of Proverbs is going to show us that wisdom has moral benefits.
Table of Contents
Proverbs 2:1-15 - Seek Wisdom
- Proverbs 2:1-5
- How can we "... understand the fear of the Lord"? (v.1-5)
- If you receive my (writer of Proverbs) words.
- Treasure my (writer of Proverbs) commandments (word of God) within you.
- Incline your ear to wisdom (result of v.1). It seems that listening for wisdom gives you a thirst for wisdom.
- Apply your heart to understanding.
- Cry out for discernment and understanding.
- Seek wisdom as if it were silver or hidden treasures.
- Proverbs 2:6
- "For the Lord gives wisdom;"
- Where does wisdom come from?
- Does God dole out wisdom sparingly? Absolutely not.
- "From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;"
- What does this say about the character of God?
- What else comes from His mouth?
- Proverbs 2:7-9
- "He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice,"
- If you were to memorize the Bible, would you then walk uprightly?
- You need to exercise or use the knowledge so you may obtain wisdom / skill that can then be applied to any situation.
- In the same way, just because you have read books on golfing and have golf clubs, doesn't mean you are a good golfer. You need to practice playing the game.
- What about those who don't walk uprightly? They will walk unprotected against the world.
- Do you think your life lacks protection because you are not walking as uprightly as possible?
- Do you think your life is chaotic because you are not reading the Bible or praying enough?
- In Christ we are already victorious.
- Remember, you cannot have a victory without a battle. Many times we look at our trials as judgments instead of battles and we lose heart.
- Those who have wisdom will, "understand ... every good path". (v.9)
- What can you do so that you may know what God's path (or will) is for your life?
- Answers from section A1
- Walk uprightly
- Proverbs 2:10-15
- "When ... knowledge is pleasant to your soul" (v. 10)
- Why wouldn't knowledge be pleasant to your soul? Wouldn't you be smarter?
- What is your attitude when convicted?
- "It doesn't feel good, so it must not be true." OR You accept it with humility as good medicine.
- We all need to pray for humility and the opportunity to change in this area.
- How wisdom can help us.
- "Discretion will preserve you," (v.11) How?
- Without discretion, you may have difficulty with the following decisions:
- Should I play on the freeway?
- Should I walk through a dark alley in a bad area of town at night?
- Would it be fun playing with a Ouji board? (1Sam 28:7..., Deut 18:9)
- Should I open my mouth and give my boss a piece of my mind?
- "From the man who speaks perverse things," (v.12) Who is this man?
- Is this a man who is verbally abusive? Not necessarily.
- This could be a man who sounds good and has a following, but his words are perverse.
- Can you think of such a man in history? (Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, Timothy Leary, Jim Jones, Adolph Hitler)
- It takes wisdom and knowledge of God's word to prevent yourself from being sucked into a lie.
- "Those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;" (v.13)
- This can happen very subtlety
- You may have a friend who you share a hobby with and who is fun to be with. But this friend is not a Christian. Consequently a year down the road, you find that you really don't have time for church, or prayer, or reading the word - only the hobby.
- It is a lot easier to be dragged down by someone than to pull someone up.
- How about dating a non-Christian?
- "... rejoice in doing evil ... delight in perversity ... ways are crooked ... devious ..." (v.14-15)
- Who are these people? Rom 1:18-32
- When we hang out with people (or have some sort of friendship on some level), they become a little like us and we become a little like them. I think the important thing here is to use wisdom when choosing friends. Once again, it is harder to pull someone up than to be dragged down.
- How can we choose good friends? ---- Look at the results or effects of the their lives on themselves and others. Then decide.
Proverbs 2:16-22 - The Immoral Woman Trap
- Proverbs 2:16-19 THE IMMORAL WOMAN
- "... the seductress who flatters with her words " (v. 16)
- Prov 31:30 "Beauty is vain and charm is deceitful."
Need to keep this in mind when you fall in love with someone and start thinking marriage. Need to be sober.
- "Who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God" (v .17)
- Is this speaking of divorce? I believe this is more than divorce, but abandonment.
- I am amazed how many people I know who have been involved with another and forsaken their spouse and family.
- What do you think happens to someone who marries another after he abandons his family? Many times they eventually abandon the new family and continue the cycle.
- What is "the covenant of her God"? Could be her marriage vows or the law of God or both.
- "... her path leads down to death" (v.18-19)
- This may not be physical death, but most certainly spiritual death.
- Proverbs 2:20-22 (Remember these verses in conjunction with v.10)
- "So you may walk in the ways of goodness,"
- Do you want to live a good life? Then live by v.10
- Does a good life feel good? A good life doesn't always feel good, but in truth it IS good.
- "For the upright will dwell in the land, ... but the wicked will be cut off"
- This is a great promise.
- Do you ever feel like you are being "cut-off from the land"?
- Seek God and His wisdom, which will bring peace (or a change of direction if necessary).
