"Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools." Proverbs 16:22

More than ever God's people must have wisdom and understanding in this age in which we live. Let's turn to the second chapter of Proverbs to see what it teaches concerning the security that wisdom brings. 

*A loving father speaking to his son: (look at the 'ifs') "My son if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; "For if you cry for discernment.
Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as a hidden treasures; Vs. 1-4

*Now see the 'then' (the result of that action):
"Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge of God." Vs. 5

*The 'for' tells us the Lord's response:
"For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Vs. 6

*What does the Lord do?
"He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Vs. 7-8

*Then (the result of the Believer's action increases):
"Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. Vs. 9

*Another God-given 'for':
"For wisdom will enter your heart,
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul, Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, Vs. 10-11

*The purpose; to keep you from evil and those who walk in darkness:
"To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things; From those who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; Who delight in doing evil, And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways. Vs. 12-15 *Also, "To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; That leaves the companion of her youth, And forget the covenant of her God; For her house sinks down to death, And her tracks lead to the dead; None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. Vs. 16-19

*And why cry out for wisdom, understanding and discernment?
"So you will walk in the way of good men, And keep to the paths of the righteous. Vs. 20

*The consequence of gaining wisdom, understanding and discernment:
"For the upright will live in the land,
And the blameless will remain in it; Vs. 21

*But not so with the unrighteous!
"But the wicked will be cut off from the land, And the treacherous will be uprooted from it." Vs. 22

Ask the Lord to open up all the spiritual meanings of these verses, for there are many!  Our Lord is in the midst! 

Thank you Lord for Your word that shows us the security that wisdom, understand and discernment brings.  We bless You and praise Your Holy Name!  Amen