Proverbs Pt. 16 Getting Wisdom and Understanding is Vital!

This Saturday morning we woke to our first frost on our rooftops.  The crisp air is a reminder that Fall officially begins this week.  

We are going to see more of what King Solomon taught his son regarding wisdom. 

Wisdom & Understanding from God.

Proverbs 4:5-7  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7)Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 

The word "imperative" has two definitions and both apply in this text. First, the word means something that is vital or necessary. Second, the word means a command to do something. In this text there are seven imperatives because King Solomon emphasized the vital importance of wisdom, as well as commanding his son to do something about wisdom. 

The word "get" is a word that means to acquire something or obtain it by purchasing it. This word is used four times in this text as the king called his son to specific actions. Solomon wanted his son to do whatever it took in order to obtain wisdom and understanding. 

The word "understanding" refers to that part of our minds that receives and comprehends ideas  so the right understanding is reached. Understanding leads to the accumulation of knowledge. 

The word "wisdom" has been described as the right use of knowledge and understanding that a person has. Wisdom is using knowledge and understanding to do what is right and honoring to God. 

For example, we can read about prayer in the Bible.  We can begin to understand it and gain knowledge about it. However, we must choose to pray because we know that this is right and honors God. When we pray based upon what we know and understand from God's Word, then we are acting in wisdom.  

We can become full of facts and figures, names and narratives from the text of scripture, but until we act upon the understanding and knowledge that God gives us, we are not using wisdom. 

King Solomon began with two straightforward imperatives: get wisdom and get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 contains a repetition from Solomon to his son that he should get wisdom and get understanding as the King placed a strong emphasis upon this. 

There are two negative imperatives that follow. First, he told his son: "neither decline from the words of my mouth." The word "decline" means to bend away from something or to turn aside. It is the idea of your mind being spread out thinking about too many things instead of concentrating on this important subject. Essentially Solomon told his son "Do not turn away from my teaching and do not lose focus upon what I am telling you."

Solomon gave a second negative imperative to his son: "Forsake her not," The word "forsake" means to abandon the pursuit of wisdom by neglecting it, leaving it behind or apostatizing  from it. In essence, Solomon admonished his son "Never abandon your pursuit of wisdom, never neglect it because if you do you may fall into apostasy."

The last imperative in this text is the command to love wisdom. You probably noticed that wisdom is personified as "her" in this text. Thus the king said "love her."

Two blessings are promised to those who pursue wisdom and understanding. First is the promises that "she shall preserve thee." Wisdom in the sense that we have studied it here, will preserve our soul. It will protect us from the enemies of God. It will keep us pointed to the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. 

Second is the promise that "she shall keep thee." Wisdom from God will watch over those who pursue it. Wisdom will faithfully guard our soul from danger and stay close by us. This is like a faithful teacher who stays in close contact with a student to make sure that the student keeps going in the right direction and to give counsel when questions arise.

Proverbs 4:7  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 

Wisdom is the principle thing. King Solomon made sure his son knew that wisdom is the first and the best thing that he should dedicate himself to pursuing. The text below tells us that wisdom is better than gold and understanding is better than silver.

Proverbs16:16  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Thoughts to Ponder...

We see a continued emphasis how important wisdom, knowledge and understanding is that God will give to those who seek it. Although I have not mentioned this, you can probably make the connection between gaining understanding, knowledge, wisdom and the ministry of the Spirit of God in our lives. 

It is God's Spirit who indwells the believer and He is our instructor in the Word of God. John 14 & 16 tells us much about His ministry with the Word of God in the hearts of the believer, along with 1 Corinthians 2:9-14. 

Are we seeking understanding, knowledge and wisdom from God? Are we asking the Spirit of God to teach and instruct us in the Word? 

We also noted the force of the imperatives with regard to seeking wisdom to live by. Although Solomon was addressing his son, the Spirit of God moved the king to write this truth for us to apply in our lives today. We must love wisdom from God. 

Are we doing all we can to "get wisdom" and "get understanding?" Are we like the merchant man in Matthew 13 who found the pearl of great price and sold all that he had in order to buy it? 

The negative commands are that we should never forsake wisdom because it will preserve us. We must never turn away from the words of wisdom that God gave Solomon because they will keep us on the right path. 

Are we focusing on seeking wisdom from God?

We will hear about wisdom, understanding and knowledge many more times as we study the book of Proverbs. Solomon was the wisest man in the Old Testament according to God's own testimony. We benefit by studying what the King taught his sons and there are great benefits when we seek wisdom from God.

I pray that the Lord will help us grasp the importance of this father teaching his son about knowing who God is, what He says and what His promises are. I pray that God's spirit will help us understand heavenly truth, seek divine wisdom and change us so that we are more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Bob