Proverbs 2:1-22


The divisions of the chapter


The Positive Results of Hearing God’s Wisdom


Verse 1-9, My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; {2} So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; {3} Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; {4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; {5} Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. {6} For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. {7} He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. {8} He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. {9} Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

  1. Verse 1-4 – Our part in obtaining wisdom.

    1. Notice the word “if” in verse 1,3, and 4.

      1. The word indicates:

        1. There is a possibility it will not be done.

        2. There is an unseen blessings to all who do it.

    2. Notice the action verbs.

      1. receive – Has to do with accepting that which is offered.

        1. My words – the word of God, not the words of another.

        2. There must be attention paid to the words of God and a determining by the power and strength of God concerning which words belong to God and which words belong to another.

      2. hide – Has to do with storing up for future use, not of keeping others from this treasure.

        1. There is a particular thing we are to hide – the commandments of God.

        2. The commandments of God are the ordinances, the laws, the precepts of God.

        3. It is good to continually remember the Ten Commandments of God, even if the courts of our land have declared them unconstitutional.

        4. Many today would disregard the commandments of the Old Testament, declaring we life in the age of Grace, not in the age of law, yet:

          1. 1 John 3:4 – Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

          2. Matthew 7:12 – “The Golden Rule” – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

      3. incline – Has to do with paying attention.

        1. Incline thine ear to wisdom.

        2. Be sure and listen and reason with Godly reason.

      4. apply – Has to do with using what God declares everyday.

        1. Our heart needs to be applied until Godly understanding.

        2. Today, the cry is “follow your heart”, yet Jeremiah 17:9 states, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

      5. criest – Has to do with a great longing for another to give to you.

        1. This is not crying, as in weeping, but crying out of longing and anguish of heart for that which we do not possess.

        2. This is verbal, our voice is heard by others, not that we might be heard, but that God might hear us.

        3. We are so much in anguish for Godly learning, we are not ashamed of our lack of Godly understanding.

      6. liftest – Has to do with openly declaring to God your earnest desire for his wisdom and understanding.

        1. Again, our voice is heard as we cry for Godly understanding.

          1. Daniel was not ashamed to publicly cry to God for understanding, as he prayed before his open window three times a day.

          2. Daniel did not pray to be seen of men, but he was not ashamed for others to understand his wisdom came from God, not from himself.

        2. We seek more than just knowledge, we seek understanding.

        3. We seek not just to know the facts, we seek to know why the facts are facts, and how they work.

      7. seek – Has to do with working to learn that which God desires for us.

        1. We seek understanding as some seek riches.

        2. Their riches shall pass away one day, but the understanding God gives to us will forever be a blessing to us.

      8. search – Has to do with going to great difficulty and discerning to discover that which God has promised.

        1. Some things are not open, some are hidden.

        2. Some understanding comes only by diligent effort, while some understanding is apparent to all.

        3. We are not satisfied with that which is apparent, but we desire to understand the hidden treasures of God.


  1. Verse 5 – What God will do after we do our part.

    1. Note the word “then”.

      1. It is only after we apply ourselves that we understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

      2. These two things are not given to the casual believer, but to the believer who diligently applies himself to the things of God.

    2. The fear of the Lord seems to be the grace of God, coupled with his mercy toward us, and the application of it all toward us forever.

      1. The word “fear” speaks of the respectful terror and awesomeness of God.

      2. Those that do not understand the fear of the LORD will not take his worship seriously.

      3. They will approach the throne of God recklessly and will face the consequences of their rashness.

      4. Esther was very careful to approach King Ahasuerus, even though he was not always wise in his kingdom.


  1. Verse 6-8 are all the things God does after we do our part, as revealed in verse 104.

    1. “For” – or because.

      1. The Lord giveth wisdom (real wisdom) - not a natural or “horse sense” type of understanding.

        1. Wisdom is a gift from God.

        2. We do nothing to earn wisdom, although we must seek wisdom.

        3. We must seek Christ for salvation, but there is nothing we can do to earn salvation.

        4. Salvation is also a gift from God.

      2. James 3:13-18 - The difference between earthly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.

    2. Notice the various words that describe what God does in giving us his wisdom.

      1. Verse 6 – giveth – Wisdom is a gift from God, nothing we earn.

      2. Verse 6 – cometh – Wisdom comes from the mouth of God, or from his word.

        1. We do not get wisdom by education or by studying the philosophers of this earth.

        2. God will put his word in our hearts, minds, and make the application in our lives, if we will only seek him.

      3. Verse 7 – layeth up – This indicates God hides his wisdom in us.

        1. Layeth up - Reminds me of putting up treasures - Matthew 6:19.

        2. It is wisdom to us, not to others, even though others may get the benefit of our wisdom.

        3. Every person must seek wisdom for themselves, and God will hide his wisdom with them.

      4. Verse 7 – Buckler – A buckler is a personal shield, which surrounds us.

        1. The buckler is a portable shield, a shield for the entire person.

        2. The buckler is available only to those who walk uprightly: put into practice what wisdom dedicates they should.

        3. Ephesians 6:16 - Shield of faith.`

        4. Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

      5. Verse 8 – Keepeth – Our ways are guarded by God himself. “Path” speaks of the short term.

      6. Verse 8 – Preserveth – Our ways are guarded by God himself. “Way” speaks of the long term.

    3. Out of His mouth - Word of God.

      1. Revelation 19:15 - God smites the nations with the sword of his mouth. (He saves us with the same sword.)

      2. Ephesians 6:17 - The sword of the spirit is the Word of God.

      3. Hebrews 4:12 - Definition of Word of God.

    4. Cometh knowledge and understanding.

      1. I Corinthians 3:6-11 - The things that happened to Israel were for our example.

      2. We should learn from their mistakes.

    5. Verse 8.

      1. Keeping judgment - Genesis 28:15 - blessing to Jacob - God will keep him.

        1. Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, provoke not children to wrath. (This is the same principle as is talked about in Genesis 28:15.)

        2. Psalm 24:20 - Keeping all bones of Christ from being broken.

        3. John 17:11 - Kept in Christ.

        4. Philippians 4:7 - Christ is guard of heart and mind.

        5. II Thessalonians 3:3 - God keeping us from evil.

        6. II Timothy 1:12 - God keeping us until the judgment.

      2. Preserveth way of saints.

        1. I Samuel 2:9 - Hannah praying God keeping feet of saints.

        2. Psalm 73:2 - David - feet well nigh slipped. (The saints are saved people, Rom. 1:7.)


  1. Verse 9.

    1. See the word “then”.

      1. It is only after we seek the wisdom of God (verse 1-4), that God freely gives us wisdom (verse 5-8) that we understand righteousness, judgment, equity, and every good path.

      2. Any attempt to find out the principles of God without God will lead to final destruction.

    2. Spiritual understanding - Ephesians 3:19 - Know that which passes knowledge.

    3. Righteousness, and judgment, and equity

      1. righteousness – that which is just, or of good judgment, that which is right or normal in the sight of God. This informs us what is good and right in the sight of God, regardless of what the laws of men say.

      2. judgment – that which is right according to ordinances and laws (especially the laws of God). This informs us what the laws of God requires, whether the laws of men confirm or reject them.

      3. equity – uprightness, equal, evenness, or smoothness. This informs of to treat all the same, whether we like them or not, whether they are rich or not, whether they can repay us or not.


Verse 10-22

Verse 10 – Two Means of Deliverance

Verse 11 – Two Methods of Deliverance

Verse 12-19 – Two Evils Delivered From

Verse 20-22 – One Righteous Path for Life


  1. Verse 10 – Two Means of Deliverance. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

    1. When wisdom entereth into thine heart

      1. Definitions:

        1. Wisdom is seeing things as God sees them, or the practical application of knowledge.

        2. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts – as God sees facts.

        3. Heart is the inner man, mind, will, understanding, the most God ward of the three parts of man: spirit, soul, and body.

        4. Soul is the life, or living being, the desire, the emotion, the passion that makes us living creatures, having the breath of God.

      2. Wisdom must enter into our hearts.

        1. The entire human race lost Godly wisdom at the fall.

        2. Adam thought he would understand good and evil, but discovered he had a positive inclination toward evil and no inclination toward good, and was unable to come to Christ.

        3. It is clearly seen that humans do not have wisdom, unless God gives wisdom.

      3. God must give wisdom, but we must seek wisdom.

        1. Luke 24:45 – Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

        2. The disciples had traveled with Christ and been taught by him for more than three years, yet they did not have understanding.

        3. Regardless of how long we have been saved, how long we have been a Baptist, how much we have studied the Bible, we will not have understanding until God gives us understanding.

    2. Knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul

      1. When wisdom enters into the heart three things happen.

        1. Knowledge become very pleasant to the soul.

        2. Discretion will preserve us.

        3. Understanding will keep us.

      2. Verse 10 - Is this salvation?

        1. NO!

        2. Wisdom and knowledge come as a result of a diligent Bible study as God opens our understanding.

        3. Salvation is a gift from God, not something we study to obtain.

      3. Wisdom enters our heart (becomes a way of life to us) when we mediate on the Word of God, asking God to give us his understanding, and forsaking our understanding.

      4. Knowledge becomes pleasant to us.

        1. The desire of our life is to learn more and more about Christ.

          1. We will spend all eternity learning more about Christ.

          2. Ephesians 2:7 – That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

        2. There are many things we learn and have pleasure in during this life.

          1. It is not wrong to have pleasure in understanding how God made things to work.

          2. But it is wrong when the chief end of our lives is to learn for the sake of satisfying ourselves, or showing ourselves intelligent to others.


  1. Verse 11 – Two Methods of Deliverance.

    1. Discretion shall preserve thee,

      1. Discretion is thoughtfulness.

        1. Discretion is thinking about things before you do them.

        2. Discretion is thinking about the circumstances of our live and trying to discover what God is saying to us through circumstances.

        3. Understanding is the result of Verse 9.

        4. God gives us this understanding.

      2. There are many situations in life we will stay away from because God will reveal to us the evil in that situation.

        1. Genesis 45:5-8 and 50:19-21 - Thoughts about God’s purpose in him being sold by his brothers into Egyptian bondage kept Joseph faithful to God and in love with his brothers all those years.

        2. Genesis 39:7-12 - Joseph refusing the “offer” of Potiphar’s wife because it was a sin against God.

    2. Understanding shall keep thee

      1. Understanding is intelligence, but it is more than mental intelligence; it is spiritual intelligence.

      2. Joseph had spiritual intelligence concerning the end result of the “offer” of Potiphar’s wife, therefore was able to refuse.


  1. Verse 12-19 – Two Evils Delivered From.

    1. Verse 12-15 – Deliverance from the way of the evil man – To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; {13} Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; {14} Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; {15} Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

      1. It is not just the evil man we will be delivered from: we will be delivered from his way.

        1. We will always have evil men surrounding us, or we must go out of the world.

        2. God did not intend for his people to isolate themselves from the world, but to keep themselves unspotted from the world.

      2. Verse 12 - Froward means perverseness, or evil.

      3. Verse 13 - Who leave.

        1. For these evil people to leave the way of God, they had to be in the way.

          1. Adam was in the way of God, yet left that way and brought upon himself and the entire world much evil and destruction.

          2. 1 John 2:19 – They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

          3. Acts 15:24 – Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

          4. I Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

          5. Jude 3,4 – Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

            1. there are always those who leave the truth because they did really believe it.

            2. It will show up in time.

            3. Let us not follow men, but God.

        2. There is a radical difference in the paths of righteousness and the ways of darkness.

          1. We must learn to serve God regardless of what anybody else does.

          2. We learn to discover God’s will for ourselves and not let anybody else discover God’s will for us.

          3. We learn not to look to man for leadership, but look to God for leadership from man.

      4. Verse 14 - Rejoice to do evil - love to do evil.

        1. Psalm 52:3 - David concerning Doeg the Edomite.

          1. Doeg loved evil and lying more than doing right.

          2. There is an earthly payment and an eternal payment for doing evil.

        2. Jeremiah 14:10 - Israel loved to wander – They stood in danger of judgment.

        3. II Thessalonians 2:11,12 – Those that love unrighteousness more than righteousness, will in the day of judgment be eternally lost.

      5. Verse 15 - Crooked.

        1. Job 26:13 – By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

        2. Psalm 125:5 – As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

        3. Compare to Matthew 7:14 – Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

    2. Verse 16-19 – Deliverance from the evil woman – To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; {17} Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. {18} For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. {19} None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

      1. This strange woman is not an “odd” woman, but a woman who knows not God.

      2. She flatters or says nice things whether she speaks the truth or not for the purpose of getting her own way.

      3. She has forsaken the guide of her youth.

        1. When she was young, she was taught the right way by those who loved her.

        2. When she grew up, and began making her own decisions, she forsook that right way and went her own way, because she does not have the wisdom of God in her heart.

      4. The end result of her flattering ways.

        1. Her house or dwelling place inclineth or “heads toward” death.

        2. The way of her life “heads toward” the dead, not just those that are physically dead, but also toward those that are spiritually dead.

        3. None return again.

          1. This does not mean the person cannot return to righteousness, but they will be forever scarred by the strange woman.

          2. David’s sin with Bathsheba left him with permanent scars, which he paid for the rest of his life.

          3. This fact is true for all: Old and New Testament saints; Spiritual leader or spiritual follower.

        4. They do not take hold of the paths of life.

          1. Not as they held to before their sin with the strange woman.

          2. Their sin will be always before them and those who know.


  1. Verse 20-22 – One Righteous Path for Life – That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. {21} For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. {22} But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

    1. There are many true believers in the path of righteousness.

      1. God calls those that walk in his paths good men.

        1. The world often calls Godly people evil, as it is prophesied in the end days.

        2. Isaiah 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Sometimes, we might think we are the only ones trying to be true to God.

      2. But if we will look around us and seek righteousness, God will reveal thousands that he has reserved for himself.

        1. I Kings 19:18 – Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

        2. Elijah thought he was the only one left standing for God, yet God knew these 7,000 he had reserved for himself.

        3. This is also true in this life.

        4. There may be only a few that we know of, but God knows many more.

        5. Sometimes we do not know of others because we have limited our fellowship.

        6. In the end, only the righteousness shall continue to dwell in the land.

      3. At this present time, the holy and profane dwell together in the land, but there is coming a time of separation.

        1. In Matthew 13:30, Jesus commanded both the wheat and tares grow together until the harvest, then the angels shall separate them.

        2. Daniel 12:2 speaks of this separation.

      4. Do not be discouraged because evil continues to dwell in the land, because that is what God prophesied would happen.

        1. Matthew 13:31-32 speaks of the kingdom of heaven being like a grain of mustard seed, which when grown, is filled with the fowls (demons) of the air.

        2. Matthew 13:33-33 speaking of the kingdom of heaven being like hidden leaven, encourages us to continue faithful because the kingdom of heaven will finally permeate the entire world, and the entire world will be affected by the faithful.

    2. Verse 22 mentions two things concerning the final outcome of the wicked.

      1. The wicked shall be cut off from the earth.

        1. As plants are cut down and harvested, so the wicked shall be cut off.

        2. There is a difference between cutting down a tree and pulling up the roots.

      2. The wicked shall be rooted out of it.

        1. When the wicked are rooted out of the earth, there is no possibility of their return.

        2. It will be impossible for any of the wicked to ever return, and spoil the eternal kingdom of God. ``