December 2, 2023 -- Proverbs 2:1-8 -- Studying the Word
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
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;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
Proverbs 2:1-8 ESV
Why read the Bible? Perhaps you read the Bible to please God. Maybe you read it so that you will be part of God’s family. To get His attention. To learn more. To be educated. Because it is something Christians are supposed to do. Consider what is being taught here in Proverbs 2. The one who reads the Bible is a son (or daughter) of God. A son is already part of the family and loved by God.
Notice the blessings the LORD our God confers on those who are diligent (those who make energetic effort) in studying the word of God. First of all, they realize the riches it contains. Relationship with God is built up—in difficult economic times, men will buy gold or silver as a protection of wealth. Those who invest time in their relationship with God are building up a treasure for life's hard times that will inevitably come to pass. Notice how Proverbs describes this treasure of knowing Him: He is a shield for His people Who guards and guides believers in the path of justice.
The world’s definition of what is true or right or just is constantly changing. The Word of the LORD stands as a lighthouse of Truth and by His Spirit He leads believers in wisdom, knowledge, and integrity. Tomorrow begins the celebration of the Advent season. Many people put up lights. They have no idea why, except it is habit and tradition. Jesus' appearance is for believers Light from Heaven. The Word is for believers light also. That is why Advent and Christmas are associated with light.
To be honest, many of us do not experience an urgent need to read the Bible. Many times we read a bit here and there and approach it with very little expectation. Notice the opening verses, those four verses are focused on believers praying for, asking for, and seeking wisdom. Appeal to God for the riches of His revelation. The most perfect revelation (Hebrews 1:2) is His Son Jesus Christ. He is to be found in every page of Scripture. Expect to encounter Him.
Notice that our Father in heaven stores up sound wisdom for the upright. Believers are righteous, or upright, because of their standing before God in Jesus Christ. He is all our righteousness. In our misery and struggles with sin believers know our Father in heaven has given His children a perfect plea—Jesus Christ and His accomplished work on the cross.
The result is that reading the Bible becomes a joy. An exercise of the heart and mind. Just like some days it is hard to go out and take in physical exercise, so too it is hard to take spiritual exercise. But the moment you do, you realize the benefit of it—on your appetite, on your general sense of well-being, and on your ability to fight fatigue. So too with the Word of God. He has packed it full so that those who trust Him, exercise their mind, body and spirit in the Word and find their appetite for it increases, and their sense of well-being anchored in Jesus is affirmed and their ability to fight spiritual laziness is increased.
Our Father in heaven let Your Name be honoured and praised among Your people. Rich and vast are the treasures You have given Your people in Jesus Christ the Living Word and in the written word. By Your Spirit’s work in us motivate us to mine the word for the treasures You have stored up for us in it. Direct us in wisdom. As You promised, shield us by the written word and the Living Word for all that is ahead of us. Guard Your people in the path of justice. We confess we are flabby with regard to Your Word and inclined to avoid exercising—renew in us a deep commitment to studying Your Word and digging deep to find the treasures You have stored up for Your beloved sons and daughters. Help us, Triune God, to encourage our fellow believers to dig deeply into the Word so that whenever we meet, we can share our joy in Jesus. Amen.
https://youtu.be/8_EjMrrW8CY?si=1ESkQVW4g1iKBLy3 “How Firm A Foundation”
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