Posted on 05/01/2022 11:31:08 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:6-8 KJV).
“For the LORD giveth wisdom,” now, when you find the knowledge of God as verse 5 says, then verses 6-8 will be the result. The Lord gives wisdom (James 1:5).
“Out of his mouth,” out of His Book, out of His prophets, out of His preachers, out of His Spirit “cometh knowledge and understanding.” There are three things in that verse of note. Wisdom—Knowledge—Understanding. Wisdom is what you know, knowledge is how you apply it, and understanding is relating it to God. “To depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
“He layeth up sound wisdom. . .” There are two kinds of wisdom over in the Book of James, godly and worldly. “. . . For the righteous,” “righteous” is a qualification. It is not just talking about somebody that is saved, but somebody that is doing right, and walking right—especially in the sense that it is an Old Testament situation. “He layeth up,” notice that expression. We lay things up for a rainy day. We often hear of folks laying something up for the future when they are going to need it. That is exactly what he is talking about—he ‘reserves” it—puts it away for you. Let’s look at some things about that.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal [Don’t put your heart there, don’t make that your life, because you’ll be disappointed]: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 KJV). Here we see that same expression, “lay up.” Lay up treasures in heaven. There is a bank in heaven. You can put things up there ahead. You can prepare for the next life in this life. We are told in the Book that if we “seek knowledge,” if we’ll “listen,” what that does is to put up in the heavenly bank “wisdom” and “strength” and everything you need for a future day. When will we need it? Look at Matthew 10.
The disciples were following the Lord Jesus Christ—what were they doing? They were listening to Him. What else were they doing? They were learning of Him, He said, “learn of Me.” What else were they doing? They were being like Him. They were walking after Him and doing His will. Notice what He said would happen, when He was getting ready to send them out.
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