“The Search for and Reward of Wisdom”

My theme for Proverbs 2 is “The Search for and Reward of Wisdom”. In this chapter, King Solomon invites his son who will be king to hear and heed the counsel of his father. Sadly, parents in our day have abdicated the challenge and responsibility of teaching their children.

Those who do not share a love for God or a passion for His Word have shaped the character of this generation by enabling, excusing and minimizing the sins of society. The heroes of our youth are sports figures whose lifestyles are too often immoral and narcissistic; Rappers whose lyrics glorify violence, rape and mayhem; and liberals who excuse the perpetrators of violence as victims.

Is their any wonder that our major cities are plagued by youth who have no respect for law and order? Should we be surprised that lawlessness and unprovoked attacks characterized as “knock out” games have become commonplace while the cry of victims for justice is scorned and derided?

The Book of Proverbs is a father’s plead for his son to follow the path of wisdom and scorn the folly of the foolish. The key verse of Proverbs 2 is verse 8: “He keepeth [continually guards] the paths of judgment [justice], and preserveth [guards, keeps a watch over] the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:8).

A closing thought: The words “path” or “way” occur nearly 100 times in the book of Proverbs.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exhorted the people, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).