We all know that Solomon was the wisest man in history. By far. But how did he get this wisdom? And how can we get it ourselves?
When we remember Solomon, we remember that God gave it to him in abundance.
“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29).
But what came before God poured out wisdom upon Solomon? It’s that Solomon sought it out. In a dream the LORD asked him what he would like as king, and Solomon replied wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15). And so God gave him wisdom, discernment and more.
The LORD was honored by Solomon because he didn’t ask for wealth or long life for himself, or for destruction of his enemies, but rather wisdom. And that’s what we see here in Prov 2. Seek wisdom above all the things of this world.
2 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
The gaining of wisdom isn’t a passive search. It is a pursuit of His Word. It is a prayer for more. It is a search in the heart of God. For God is the giver of wisdom.
Solomon says wisdom will protect you.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
And more specifically, it will protect you from these two:
1) Men who want you to drift into what is wrong (v. 12-15)
2) Women who want to sway your heart towards them (v. 16-19)
Wisdom will help you walk on the good path. Because the LORD blessed the righteous, but the wicked will be cut off from the land.
