Proverbs 2:1-6, 9-15
“1.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.and 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, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
9.Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.
10.For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11.Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
12.Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13.who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14.who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15.whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.”
The underlying idea in Proverbs is that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." This statement is found in Proverbs 1:7 and serves as the central verse that runs throughout the entire book. The core of wisdom is the spiritual insight that comes from knowing God. God is personal, good, and the source of life. Trusting in Him and believing in His goodness and power should be the foundation of our faith values.
If we believe in God's ultimate guidance through His goodness, we won't need to rush our small judgments. When Eve ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it was due to her distrust in God. The foundation of wisdom is deep trust in God. God is good and loves us justly. He is the God of power who moves the heavens and the earth even in the 21st century. Trust in God encompasses confidence in His goodness, love, and power.
Our prayers should be a way to restore our confession of trust in God. Trusting in God frees us when making life's decisions. Seek God today. Seek Him before seeking discernment. Embrace the core of His being and pray for His Spirit to govern us. Let's make faith-based decisions in our daily lives and develop these processes into habits.
Prayer: Lord, we seek You. We seek the fullness of Your life-giving character. We ask that Your Spirit and presence govern our inner beings and thoughts. We desire to live our lives on this earth with the trust that You love us, that You are good, and that You are mighty. We also pray that the decisions we make are grounded in this faith. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.