Proverbs 2:1-15
There is a real call for spiritual growth here. We are to accept God's words, storing up His commands, turning our ears to wisdom and our hearts to understanding (1-2). If we are to grow in the fear and knowledge of God, we must pray for insight and understanding. These blessings are greater than silver and hidden treasure (3-5). In the Christian life, there is both promise and warning. There is God’s promise - you will be led in a way that ‘will be pleasant to your soul’(10). There is His warning - make sure that you do not ‘leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways’(13). It is very important that we take time to read God’s Word, since it is ‘the Lord’ who ‘gives wisdom’. We must listen for God’s Voice, speaking to us through Scripture (6). As we listen to Him, we will be led in ‘every good path’- protected and victorious (7-9).
Proverbs 2:16-3:4
We read the warning about ‘the adulteress’: ‘her house leads down to death’(16-18). We also hear the warning of the Gospel: ‘the wages of sin is death’(Romans 6:23). We are told that ‘none who go to her return or attain the paths of life’(19). Left to ourselves, none of us would return to God, none of us would find the way to life (Romans 3:10-12). Some seek ‘prosperity’(1). They seek ‘a good name in the sight of... men’(4). We must not, however, make these things the be-all and end-all. There is more to life than material possessions, more than high ratings in the popularity stakes. There is eternal life - ‘the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’(Romans 6:23) - and the forgiveness of sins - ‘justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’(Romans 5:1).
