PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy” (Proverbs 30:3).

From verse 2, we see that Agur has a real humble attitude, “I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.” Back in Proverbs 9:10 it says that, “The knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

There are two definitions given in the Bible of what real wisdom is, and this is one of them. In 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” so it's based on fearing God, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Understanding is really more important than, and above, wisdom. Men can have wisdom, James chapter 3, but no unsaved man has understanding. “Understanding is the knowledge of the holy.” Job 28:28 says that “to depart from evil is understanding.”

Now you see, earthly men and carnal men and unsaved man can know things. They can accumulate facts, which is what knowledge is. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts. Wisdom is how you use what you know to profit yourself or someone else. That's wisdom. Now, if you use it for yourself, that’s sensual wisdom. If you use it to profit someone else; that's divine wisdom. You'll find both wisdoms defined in James chapter 3:11-12 and 3:13:14. There's two different types of wisdom: earthly wisdom and sensual wisdom. There is a devilish wisdom which comes from below, and then there's the wisdom from above: “which is first pure then peaceable.”

How a man uses what he knows is wisdom; but spiritual Christianity goes one step beyond that. It teaches a person understanding; and that's more than just applying what you know for your benefit or somebody else's benefit. It is applying what you know in relation to a holy God and in fellowship of the holy God—to please a holy God. See, it's the fear of the Lord as the knowledge of the holy; and it is to depart from evil because you know what it does to God, and your relationship to Him.

So, understanding is what we need. He said, if you get anything, get understanding. You take the facts you know, you learn how to use them, and then thirdly, you begin to apply them to your walk with the Lord. That's real understanding. A lot of people have wisdom, and they make a living and get by; and they can be a blessing to other people but what are they doing in relation to the Holy? What's your knowledge about the Holy? and he said here in Proverbs 30:3; we have not learned that knowledge of the holy, that's something that's revealed to us in a supernatural revelation.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

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Good Morning Pilgrim’s Progress...
What a wonderful wonderful devotional on Proverbs 30!
Wisdom and Understanding God’s Word is something I truly have been seeking.
Our family verse for the year is Jeremiah 33:3
“Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not....”

Our God of all wisdom and understanding is available and ready to show us and teach us if we call to Him.
Lord may we be teachable children today , is my prayer.

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