Invitation to Seek Wisdom.
ADVANTAGES IN ACCEPTING WISDOM. — V. 1.My son, so Wisdom, as the proper teacher of all men cries out, if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee, laying them up in store, guarding them as a precious treasure, v. 2. so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, yielding a ready obedience, and apply thine heart to understanding, ready to accept it, to make use of the right discrimination in every situation in life; v. 3. yea, if thou criest after knowledge, calling and inviting it, and liftest up thy voice for understanding, in order to be able to distinguish between good and evil, between wise and foolish; v. 4. If thou seekest her as silver, with the same eagerness, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, with the avidity which avarice induces in a person digging for gold or jewels, v. 5. then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, making this childlike reverence for Jehovah, the outflow of faith, one’s most valuable possession, and find the knowledge of God, for the fear of God is the basis of all true wisdom, and its object is God Himself.
V. 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom, granting it as a gift of His free favor; out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding, it is a matter of revelation in His Word. The ability of having the right judgment in the various situations in life and of discriminating properly in applying this knowledge is a gift of the Lord.