Link
to David's Home Page
PROVERBS AND GODLY WISDOM
Lesson Five
Wisdom’s Protection
Text: Proverbs 2:1-22
Chapter 2 may begin with the voice of a wise father calling to his son, or wisdom (pictured as a person) calling to young men who wisdom wishes to make “my son.” Who is calling—the concerned father or wisdom personified—has little if any impact on the message that followed.
The message began with a basic understanding: if a person is blessed by wisdom, he must want to be blessed by wisdom. The wise person will not accidentally be wise. Wisdom’s commandments are treasured. Wisdom is listened to because the person wants an internal understanding. The person wants to distinguish between good and evil. The person is motivated to seek for wisdom as people seek for money (silver) or a hidden treasure.
There are five benefits given for seeking wisdom with such passion and determination. (1) Wisdom will teach you “the fear of the Lord” which is the key to discovering knowledge [verse 5]. (2) Wisdom will enable a person to recognize righteousness, justice, equity, and good directions [verse 9]. (3) Wisdom will protect a person from evil’s way [verse 12]. (4) Wisdom will protect a person from the adulteress [verse 16]. (5) Wisdom will enable a person to walk the route of good men [verse 20].
People who spent their childhood with parents who championed the values of godliness commonly look at life and the world differently—even if as adults they choose not to be Christians—than people who were not exposed to such values. Often the writer refers to this situation as the “duh factor.” If a person was deliberately dishonest, or deliberately deceitful, or deliberately thoughtless, or deliberately irresponsible, or deliberately selfish, etc. I want to say to that person (but rarely do), “And you expected what to happen?”
Amazingly, when people face the consequences of their decisions and acts, they often do not make the simplest connections between the consequences they face and the decisions they made or their past behavior. It is as though the consequences are some mysterious happening that have no justification for existing. Often such people say, “Why is this happening? How could this happen to me?” Never assume a person understands why “wisdom” is “wise,” not arbitrary.
The fear of the Lord and its knowledge acknowledges that God is the source of knowledge of life. An understanding of how to treat people and how to show respect in human relationships has its source in God. A knowledge of God improves human relationships. People who know and understand God (not just a system of religion) know how to act with discretion. Genuine godliness does not produce people who do not know the importance of keeping a confidence, who do not discern the value of being trustworthy. The words of a person who is not trustworthy are like a ricocheting bullet that wounds the innocent.
God places special value on those who are persons of integrity. He preserves such people. (It does not say such people never suffer—consider persons like Moses, Samuel, David, and the prophets who were preserved by God, but suffered.)
Wisdom is valuable because it is internal and thus results in the satisfying fulfillment of the person. It uses the discretion and understanding of the person as a protection.
Among wisdom’s protection is deliverance from perverse people who walk in the ways of evil. These people feel no loyalty to righteousness. They find their joy in doing evil. They follow devious ways and deceitful, hard to follow paths.
Proverbs has a special desire to protect young men from adulteress women. That desire can be seen in statements such as 5:3-6, 20-23; 6:24-35; 7:5-27; or 9:13-18. In this reading the adulteress is a flatterer, a covenant breaker, and death who makes it impossible to recover life. She makes a young man think he is something he is not, and she destroys his future. He will either be enslaved to his foolish behavior, haunted by his dread, or killed by a jealous husband.
However, wisdom will instruct the person in an enduring righteousness that will allow the person to live continuously as an Israelite in the land God gave them. Because the wicked are ignorant of God’s ways, they are temporary residents, not established citizens.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Chapter 2 may begin how? Regardless of who speaks, the speaker has little impact on what?
2. The message begins with what basic understanding?
3. What are the five benefits of seeking wisdom with determination?
4. Contrast adults who had parents who championed the values of godliness with adults who did not have such parents.
5. Explain the “duh factor.”
6. What should never be assumed?
7. The knowledge that comes from “the fear of the Lord” acknowledges what?
8. The words of people who are not trustworthy are like what?
9. Do people of godly integrity suffer? Explain your answer.
10. Why is wisdom valuable? What is one of the ways wisdom protects the wise?
11. Why is the adulteress such a danger to the young man?
12. Wisdom instructed people in what?
Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 5
Copyright © 2010
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ