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My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
-Proverbs 2:1-6

 

Proverbs is a foundational book on wisdom and how to attain it. Surprisingly, Proverbs doesn’t teach us that wisdom comes solely through possessing knowledge, but wisdom comes through our pursuit of knowledge. Wisdom doesn’t come from the possession, but through the pursuit. We learn to use the knowledge we gain through our journey receiving that knowledge. Proverbs 2 paints of picture of the Lord’s provision of knowledge towards those who seek Him. It comes from accepting words, storing up commands, turning your ear, applying your heart, calling out, crying aloud, looking, and searching. Gaining wisdom comes from a posture of pursuit.

Proverbs 9:10 tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” A healthy fear of the Lord leads us towards wisdom, but a healthy fear of the Lord is not possible without a pursuit of God and Who He is. You cannot fear what you have no knowledge of. And you cannot know what you do not seek to know.

In Narnia’s Prince Caspian, Aslan finally reveals himself again to Lucy after her desperate desire and longing to see him:

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”

“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.

“Not because you are?”

“I am not. But every year that you grow, you will find me bigger.”

In our pursuit of God, we find Him bigger. As we find Him bigger, we grow in our fear and awe of His grandeur. And as we grow in awe of Him, our wisdom grows. As we better understand God, we grow in wisdom. And this is a never-ending, beautiful, sanctifying journey. It is not a journey done in vain, but, as Proverbs 2 teaches us, is one that ends with understanding the fear of the Lord and finding the knowledge of God.

Oh, to know the depth of God’s goodness and grandeur! Truly, to know Him is to want to know Him more! May we always strive to be a people who seek God and find wisdom.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

-James 1:5