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Blog - Proverbs 2:6
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Proverbs 2:6
"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." (Pro 2:6)
Having revealed the method of obtaining the understanding, knowledge, and wisdom of God in the first five verses, in verse six the LORD reveals the source of them. While it is incumbent on men to diligently desire, ask, and seek for knowledge, it is not within their power to produce it themselves by mental effort; it is rather the gift of God, "for the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Pro 2:6). The LORD giveth wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to judge rightly in matters of life and conduct. It is the LORD alone who gives wisdom because He is the sole source of it in the universe, for He is "God only wise" (Rom 16:27) and "the only wise God" (1Ti 1:17; Jud 1:25). As Daniel said, "wisdom and might are his" (Dan 2:20). Not only is God singularly wise, "he is mighty . . . in wisdom" (Job 36:5). The "depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God [are] unsearchable . . . and . . . past finding out" (Rom 11:33). Though He has an infinite supply, God doesn't give wisdom to all men indiscriminately, but rather He "giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail..." (Ecc 2:26). To the man that seeks it with all of his mind and strength, the LORD gives wisdom, not merely makes it available. To give is to "hand over a thing as a present; to confer gratuitously the ownership of some possession on another person" (OED). The Almighty not only gives wisdom to those who sincerely ask for it in faith, but He gives it to them liberally (bountifully, freely, generously - OED) (Jam 1:5). Solomon experienced this gift of God firsthand when he asked the LORD for an understanding heart instead of earthly desires (1Ki 3:9-11), and, in turn, "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much" (1Ki 4:29). When the heart has been prepared with an attitude of meekness and godly desire, the LORD will impart wisdom into that ready heart, as was the case with Solomon whom "all the kings of the earth sought . . . to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart" (2Ch 9:23). The LORD doesn't limit His dispensation of wisdom to the aged, but gives it also to the young who seek Him with the whole heart. The older generation are usually endued with wisdom, but such is not always the case.
Job 32:7-9 - I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness" (Pro 16:31), but "better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished" (Ecc 4:13). A young child that believes, studies, and submits his life to the scriptures will receive more wisdom from God than those who are many years elder than he who do not.Psa 119:97-100 - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
In His humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ at a mere twelve years of age was "filled with wisdom" (Luk 2:40) and "increased in wisdom" (Luk 2:52) as He matured. Daniel, who had "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (Dan 1:8), and his three friends were but "children" when "God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom" (Dan 1:17). The LORD giveth wisdom . . . knowledge and understanding. Along with wisdom, the LORD also gives knowledge and understanding to those who zealously seek after it. Knowledge is "the fact of knowing a thing" (OED), and to know is to "have cognizance of something, through observation, inquiry, or information; to be aware or apprised of; to become cognizant of, learn through information or inquiry, ascertain, find out" (OED). To learn information through observation and inquiry requires that a man first possess understanding which is the "power or ability to understand; intellect, intelligence" (OED). To acquire facts without using the intellect to connect them logically so as to properly understand their relationship with each other is of little value. One can know the individual meanings of a group of words, but until those words are ordered in a purposeful way via the intellect to convey a thought representative of reality, true knowledge is not attained. Thus, the LORD gives a man understanding in order to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge; and once knowledge is obtained, He gives wisdom which enables the man to use his understanding to apply his knowledge to a particular situation, judge rightly what is the proper course of action, and choose the best means of accomplishing it. Out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. That God gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to the fervent seeker of truth has been firmly established, but by what means the LORD does so is only now revealed. The Almighty confers not these blessings upon a man by telepathically or miraculously transmitting them to his mind, but by speaking them to him from His mouth. This method of verbal transmission seems rather simple, but how exactly is it accomplished seeing that God is in heaven and we upon earth, and no child of God today receives audible messages from the Almighty, the claims of deluded charismatic "Christians" and madmen notwithstanding? The LORD does so, not by speaking directly to every man, but rather He speaks to men in general through the intermediary of His prophets and apostles who were holy men of God that spoke and wrote His words as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Heb 1:1-2 - God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
2Pe 1:21 - For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Sa 23:2 - The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
Isa 30:8 - Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
Jer 36:1-2 - And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
Jer 3:15 - And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Tit 1:3 - But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Deu 4:5-6 - Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
If a Christian desires to "get wisdom [and] get understanding," he must not "decline from the words of [God's] mouth" (Pro 4:5), but instead read the scriptures, which are, as it were, God speaking directly into his ear, imparting wisdom to him and enabling him to make wise decisions and "cleanse his way . . . by taking heed thereto according to [His] word" (Psa 119:9).