Beginning in Proverbs 2:5, Solomon gives The Result of the Pursuit found in Proverbs 2:1-4. In those beginning verses, Solomon used eight verbs to reveal to his son the responsibility of the son to comply with his father’s instructions.
The reason Solomon gave these Proverbs to his son is found in Proverbs 1:1-6, “To know wisdom.” In Proverbs 4:7, Solomon tells his son, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
However, “To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings (or riddles)” (Proverbs 1:6) – you must have the ability “To receive the instruction of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:3a).
But only wise men have the ability to “receive” (which is passive) this instruction. This ability is a man having “the fear of the LORD” in his spirit. This fear only comes in Regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 1:23 says, “…I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”
Solomon states several times:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7a)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10a)
“…the knowledge of the holy (or of God) is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10b)
Simply put, the Knowledge of God is the facts of; and the Wisdom of God is the understanding of the operation in one’s life of the facts of God. Or: it is the know-how, and the actual putting into practice, of what the believer knows to be truth. Or: it is the actual daily “overcoming” of sin in a person’s daily activities.
Solomon made a premise statement in Proverbs 1:7b, “but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” And in Proverbs 1:33, Solomon says, “But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”
The Reason for giving his son all these Proverbs (pithy, or concise, statements) is found in Proverbs 1:1-33.
The Command to his son is to “receive… hide… incline… apply… criest… liftest up” (Proverbs 2:1-3); and “If thou seekest… and searchest for her (Wisdom) as for hid treasures” (Proverbs 2:4).
The Result will be “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5). Solomon is telling his son: Then you will have perception of Spiritual Truths of God.
“The fear of the LORD” is not only a Position of Justification, but it is the understanding of that Position of the believer. It is an Experiential Knowledge (which is knowledge by experience) of the B eliever’s Position of Justification (or of being declared Righteous) in Christ.
This is what happens to a quickened sinner (who is made so by the direct work of God the Spirit; see Ephesians 2:1). That is, now the quickened sinner has the ability to “hear” and “see” Christ and the Law (Romans 7:15-24). He is being drawn by God the Spirit (John 6:44); and is being taught of his position in Christ (John 6:45); and is then brought to confession and conversion (Romans 10:9-10).
However, the converted sinner is in a continual growth pattern:
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3)
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)
Solomon wanted his son to know that the Source of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is Christ; for He is “the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; also see Proverbs 8:12); and that there is no wisdom outside of Christ.
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