A Heart for Wisdom

Go To Meeting

Eduardo Elizondo—December 19, 2020

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We know that wisdom is absolutely the principle thing. Wisdom is something that we need; it’s very, very important. It’s absolutely critical to our walk with God and our salvation. 

We know that the Proverbs are of Solomon, and we know that probably the first 9-10 chapters were actually written by David to Solomon. It’s interesting because it’s from a father to a son, and it’s the way that God the Father talks to us. So, we can interpret it in all those ways. 

Proverbs 4:3: “For I was my father’s son, tender and the only beloved in the sight of my mother.” That’s can be applied to: 

• us and God the Father
• God the Father and Christ Himself as His Son
• David and Solomon

We know that Solomon wrote all of this, but it was really the instruction of his father. That’s what it says: “For I was my father’s son, tender and the only beloved in the sight of my mother.”

That was true for Solomon and that was true for Jesus Christ, as well.

Verse 4: “He also taught me, and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words…’”

We know that the Word of God is Jesus Christ Himself. 

“…keep my commandments and live” (v 4). 

Jesus Christ Himself said that the words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are Life!’ If we hold fast His words and keep His commandments, we will live. But it goes beyond that. That is obviously the beginning: 

• to believe in God
• to believe God
• to believe everything He says
• to believe all His commandments
• to believe all of His words in the entire Bible 

What comes next is instruction that we should always have in our heart and mind:

Verse 5: “Get wisdom; get understanding; forget it not, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”

He already told us to hold fast His words, to keep His commandments, and then it goes a step beyond that. If we have His words and we’re keeping them, keeping His commandments, then we have to search for wisdom!

• we have to get wisdom
• we have to get understanding

We’ll see a little bit more about wisdom and understanding, and what this is and how we can get it, search for it, look for it and what it’s going to produce in our life and our walk with God.

Verse 6: “Do not forsake her… [wisdom] …and she shall keep you; love her… [wisdom] …and she shall preserve you. Wisdom is the principle thing…” (vs 6-7).

This can not be overstated! If there’s one thing that we are to get… We understand that there are many other things in the Bible and absolutely important, but all come together. The first and greatest commandments is loving the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and being! Loving God the Father and loving Jesus Christ!

But as far a something that we obtain, that we get, that we receive is wisdom!

Verse 7: Wisdom is the principle thing, get wisdom; and with all your getting get understanding.” 

God is telling us that if there’s only one thing, if you’re going to devote your entire life to getting one thing, it’s wisdom; it should be wisdom! And it should be understanding, because those two go together!

We’re going to spend quite a bit of time in the Proverbs if we’re talking about wisdom. This book is absolutely fascinating and is written in such a way that, yes, it is foundational and basic, especially for youth. Yet, it is deep and contains a lot of the secrets of God and the hidden knowledge of God. 

It’s not that it’s hidden, it’s just that we have to get it, search for it. In order to get wisdom we have to have a heart for it.

Proverbs 17:16: “Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, since he has no heart for it?

This is a very interesting question. God is telling us to get wisdom and understanding IF we hold fast His words and keep His commandments!

If we don’t have heart for wisdom, we cannot get wisdom. God is not going to put wisdom in a heart that is not ready for it, that is not searching for wisdom! What kind of heart is this? 

We’re going to see the type of heart that we need to have so that God can give us that wisdom, so He can put it our heart and truly give us this wisdom and understanding!

It doesn’t tell us here exactly what kind of heart it is, but it is clear that there is a certain type of heart that we need to have in order to get wisdom and understanding. 

It’s also a question here as to why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom. It almost reminds me of Simon Magus who tried to buy the Holy Spirit with money. The apostles told him that he could not buy this with money! You can have in your hand the price to get wisdom, but if you don’t have a heart for it, you’re not going to receive it. It’s almost irrelevant that you have a price and you want it. It has to be in a right and good heart!

Proverbs 16:16: “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold, and to choose understanding… [they go together] …rather than silver!”

I know that all of us would like to have gold or silver if we could. We know that it would help. Those are tools! Money/finances are tools that we can do lots of things with; not for ourselves, but especially for others. We would like to get that, but God is telling us here not to get that; ‘I have something so much better for you.’

• get wisdom
• get understanding

Those are the most important things! And it attests to it here in His Word! 

Verse 16: “How much better…” Like there’s no comparison of getting gold and silver to getting wisdom and understanding!

What wisdom and understanding gives is so much better than anything that gold or silver could ever give us, ever!

Prov. 17:3 is going to tell us a little bit more about that heart that we need to have in order to receive that wisdom. 

Proverbs 17:3: “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold… [connecting to what we just read] …but the LORD tries the hearts.”

Our heart needs to be tried as we have heard from the things that we’re sharing, the challenges that we’re facing. It is God Who is trying our hearts. None of those trials are taking Him by surprise. That is actually part of the plan! To try our heart!

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold…” To create a clean heart! To create those hearts that are sincere!

“…but the LORD tries the hearts”—that are loving, where wisdom can be found and be put on by God and given by God little by little, incrementally, to get wisdom and understanding as we grow in grace and knowledge. 

It’s not any wisdom. We know that there’s a wisdom from above, and there’s the wisdom of this world. This tells us that God tries our heart, that’s He’s preparing our heart and doing both things at the same time. He continues to work with our heart and continues to prepare it as He gives us more wisdom and more understanding.

Psa. 81 gives us more of the picture of what God is doing in our lives, and what He wants to do in preparing this heart for wisdom. 

Psalm 81:7: “You called in trouble, and I delivered you… [the testing of the heart] …I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested… [like silver and gold is tested] …you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.”

Stop and think; meditate on these things. We need to meditate on the tests that we’re going through, but also in the answers that we received from God. Sooner or later He always answers. What He’s most interested in is that heart that He can put that wisdom into. “…I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah….”

We read in Prov. 4 about getting wisdom, and with all our getting, get understanding. 

Verse 8: “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you will hearken to Me… [to His words] …there shall be no strange god among you; nor shall you worship any strange god” (vs 8-9).

This is the instruction; this is where it begins: with having nothing more important than having God in our lives! Nothing and nobody is more important than God in our lives!

Verse 10: “I am the LORD your God Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide… [He wants to bless us abundantly] …and I will fill it.”

Here is a little bit more of what happens when there’s a price in the hand of fool to get wisdom, but there’s no heart for it.

Verse 11: “But My people would not hearken to My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So, I gave them up to the stubbornness of their own hearts; and they walked in their own conceits” (vs 11-12).

They put themselves above God! They wanted to do what they wanted to do; God was not first! They were not subject to the will of God. 

Verse 13: “Oh, that My people had hearkened unto Me… [this shows the heart of God toward us] …and Israel had walked in My ways!”

This shows the desire of God toward us just as we read in Prov. 4; my son get wisdom, get understanding, that is the principle thing, but we have to hearken unto God. That is the desire, and He has the exact same desire toward each and every one of us! That we hearken unto Him. “Oh, that My people had hearkened unto Me, and Israel had walked in My ways!”

It’s a frustration! A longing! We can see a little bit of the heart of God saying: 

If you guys only knew everything that I want to do with you if you have this heart. If you don’t walk in your own conceits, but if you search Me, search My words, if you have a heart for wisdom. If you let Me work in your heart to give you that wisdom. 

Verse 14: “I would soon have subdued their enemies… [all their problems; all of these things] …and would have turned My hand against their adversaries.”

Like David who never lost a battle. Why? Because God had his back! God would always fight the battles for him!

Verse 15: “The haters of the LORD should dwindle away before Him… [if God truly lives and dwells in us] …and their punishment should endure forever.” They will not be able to prevail!

Verse 16: “And they also would have been fed with the finest of wheat…”

God wants to give us the best of the best; but that’s not the most important thing to Him. He wants to, physical and spiritual, that’s His desire. There is absolutely no doubt that God wants the best for us; the best physically and spiritually! If He could He would. 

He “…would have been fed with the finest of wheat…” Not just barely getting by, not with manna forever. He wanted to give them the best wheat, the best land, abundant fruit. The clusters of grapes from the ‘promised land’ were so heavy; so much abundance. He wants all that richness. 

But not above what He wants to do in our heart and mind. That is never God’s priority; never the most important thing.

“…and with honey out of the Rock I would have satisfied them” (v 16).

He would have given them honey out of the Rock, from Himself. Jesus Christ was the Rock. We have to have this heart for wisdom. This shows a little bit about what God really wants to do with us. That we will not walk in our own conceits. We don’t go our separate ways; we don’t search for our things; we search Him!

Psa. 84 shows a little be more of that heart for wisdom that God wants us to have. We will talk more about wisdom as we continue, but we can’t talk about wisdom in a vacuum. We cannot talk about understanding in a vacuum. It’s all about our relationship, all about the work that God is doing in our lives, in our heart and mind.

Psalm 84:5: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts.” That is the most important thing!

His ways have to be in our heart! In fact, that is wisdom; that is exactly what wisdom is. That is what understanding is. Understanding the Word of God a little more. We will never get to fully in this life, with this limited capacity that we have. This is exactly what He wants; this is where it starts. Your ways are in their hearts.

Verse 6: “Who passing through the valley of weeping… [the testing, the fiery furnace, all the trials of life that we go through] …make it a place of springs…”—turning the water into springs, turning sadness and all of those challenges!

Why? Because your trust is in God, because His ways are in our heart, they’re implanted in there. As Paul said, ‘All things work together for good to those who love God’; that’s where it begins. It begins with the love of God, loving Him above everything else; the first and greatest commandment, and from there everything flows.

Even though we may be “…passing through the valley of weeping, make it a place of springs…” We don’t make it, God makes it!Then it says, 

“…yea, the early rain also clothes it with blessings. They go from strength to strength…” (vs 6-7).

The more that we go through the stronger that we become! When we pass a trial and we’re on the other side of the trial, then we we’re stronger! It doesn’t stop because this is process. That’s why our trials don’t stop. Our trials will not stop! In a sense we don’t what them to stop. What we do want is: 

• that His ways are in our heart
• that our strength is in God
• that we’re dwelling in Him and He’s dwelling in us

Then we will “…go from strength to strength…”!

“…every one of them appearing in Zion before God” (v 7)—appearing on the Sea of Glass, being brought forth before the King!

That’s what we have to do! This is what we have to focus on! To focus on that our strength is in Him, that His ways are in our heart, exactly what we read in Prov. 4. Take heed to My words and do not let them go. Keep them and get wisdom and understanding!

• understanding of the Holy One
• understanding of God the Father and Jesus Christ
• understanding of the work that They’re carrying out in our mind and heart
• understanding of this way of life
• understanding how all these trials are shaping us

to be able to even rejoice in those trials!

When we’re going through the valley of weeping, we’re turning it into a place of springs, understanding that this is for good! This is to grow! That’s what valley of the place of springs does! That’s where things grow, and “…the early rain also clothes it with blessings.”

Ultimately, this is where it ends, “…appearing in Zion before God.” Ultimately, knowing that that’s the end result, being with God the Father and Jesus Christ! Being right before Their Thrones!

Once we understand this, this is where it comes from; it says:

Verse 2: “My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD…”

That’s how we can have our strength in God! If we’re longing for God!

“…my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (v 2)—everything about us cries out for the living God, because God made us that way! God made us to need Him! 

• to crave for Him
• to crave for His Word
• to crave for His direction
• to crave for His instructions
• to crave for His encouragement

Yes, His correction, too—everything—because we’re a work in process! We’re finished physically, but we’re in process spiritually!

This is the heart for wisdom is the one who cries out for the living God; the one who faints for the courts of the Lord, the one who can’t wait to be in the Kingdom of God. 

• then we’re aligned to His will
• then we’re on the same wavelength as God

Because we want exactly what He wants!

• we want to be in His courts
• we want to be in His Kingdom

above all else!

That is the most important thing; that we have this heart and cry our for the living God so that He can give us the biggest gift, which is wisdom and understanding. There is a warning as well. There is a warning that if we don’t do this, if we don’t have this heart for wisdom, we can see the contrast:

Proverbs 17:19: “He who loves transgression loves strife…” 

We all know people like this, and we sometimes are like this. I don’t know if this has happened to you, but sometimes you get in an argument and you can’t seem to get away from it and let go! It’s not easy to let go. It’s almost like this part of you—which it is part of us: human nature—that doesn’t let go. 

We don’t love transgression! We don’t love strife! We hate it and don’t want to do it, but it’s hard to detach from that. 

“…he who exalts his gate… [himself] …seeks destruction. He who has a perverse heart… [not the good heart we just read about] …finds no good…” (vs 19-20).

It’s like trial after trial, but instead of turning it into a blessing and turning to a place of springs, it’s for abatement, crushing and grinding, because God wants to do that with everybody. Even to the wicked to show them the results of their actions. With all of us, when we make mistakes, it’s part of crushing, because when we make we make mistakes we have to be crushed down first, broken first, and acknowledge our human nature; if we do not understand that God cannot start to build on a faulty foundation! He’s not going to do that! That’s why the Spirit of God operates in the same way! 

“…and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief” (v 20).

Sometimes with the world and people who are not yet called, this is what happens. We just read in Psa. 84 about how much more God would have liked for Israel to listen to Him, to listen to His words. 

Verse 21: “He who begets a fool does it to his sorrow…” 

Israel was a foolish people and nation at that time. We know that God still did something very powerful with them and will continue to do that. Israel is in His plans for the rest of His plan. It includes the 12 tribes, physical as well!

How much sorrow did the people of Israel cause God. He even said to Moses, ‘I’m just going to destroy them! I’ll make of you a great nation.’ 

“…the father of a fool has no joy” (v 21). 

How many times did they grieve God in the desert? Sometimes—many times—we do as well! We act foolishly! But there’s a difference if we are searching for God and want this heart and search God and yearn for Him, search Him, desire Him in everything! That is different, because then we start to have this heart that God can give us, and wants to give us. This heart for wisdom!

• He can put in wisdom
• He can put in understanding

Then we’ll no longer be fools!

But the foolishness is bound within us! It’s part of our human nature! We go away from God and immediately we become foolish and do foolish things! We will continue to do that, but hopefully less and less every time. Hopefully not the same mistakes so that He can continue to shed different parts of our nature, of every aspect of our being. This is what God wants, a heart for wisdom, to give  us wisdom!

Verse 24: “Wisdom is before him who has understanding…” 

This is what we’re looking at. Wisdom is in front of us. Why? Because our eyes will always be toward God, God the Father and Jesus Christ!

“…but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth” (v 24). 

Getting distracted here and there and with this and that, with the cares of this world. We muse with all kinds of that can be destructive, but it’s not His heart and mind and his eyes are not in the Word of God. Ours should be! God wants us to get wisdom.

Verse 27: “He who has knowledge uses few words; a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” That’s the Holy Spirit!

When we have understanding we don’t need to utter all those things. They continue to work in our mind as we meditate, as we pray, as God shows us all these things, because:

• we have this heart for wisdom
• we long for God

more than anything else

• we long to be with Him
• we want understanding
• we want that wisdom

This is exactly what God is doing in our lives! He wants us to have understanding!

Prov. 2—there’s a lot in these first few verses regarding wisdom and understanding, and having a heart for God:

• God is speaking to us
• the Father is speaking to Jesus Christ
• David is talking to his son, Solomon

Proverbs 2:1: “My son, if you will receive My words…”

The same words, the same thing in Prov. 4—receive My words—it has to come from God!

“…and treasure up My commandments within you” (v 1)—in the middle of our heart; in the middle of our mind!

Verse 2: “So that you incline your ear to wisdom…” That we incline our ear to God’s words! His words are wisdom!

“…and apply your heart to understanding” (v 2).

What does it mean to apply our heart? To put all our heart, all our desires into understanding!

• understanding God 
• understanding His Word—Jesus Christ 
• understanding Them 
  • not only understanding Their plan
  • not only understanding Their ultimate purpose
  • not only understanding about God and what They require
  • understanding Them
  • understanding Their mind
  • understanding Their heart

That a true relationship

• understanding how They think
• understanding how They are

Because we are to be imitators of God, as the Apostle Paul said! We cannot imitate somebody that we don’t really know in detail. Not just know about Them. 

If I hear something about a person, I cannot imitate that person. I can utter what they say; I can refer back to those things. But I cannot imitate them! In order to imitate somebody, we have to observe and know, really know how they think more and more every day. That is applying our heart to understanding!

Verse 3: “Yea, if you cry after knowledge…” 

That’s why we read the one who has knowledge uses few words and he’s of an excellent spirit!  

“…and lift up your voice for understanding” (v 3):

• understanding God Himself
• understanding Jesus Christ
• understanding Their purpose

That everything would be revealed from Their Word! But we have to cry after knowledge! Ask! Lift up our voice and say: 

Please, Lord, teach me what you want me to understand! Give me this knowledge. I want this knowledge.

But we have to have a heart for it! If our heart is just get our desires, that’s just not going to cut it. God can see into your heart very easily. Jesus Christ knows; He is a discerner of the heart. He knows because He is the Word of God, and the Word of God is as sharp as a double-edged sword, and it cuts through the intents of the heart.

“…if you cry after knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her… [wisdom, knowledge and understanding] …as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures” (vs 3-4). 

Just the way that we give our most to whatever we love the most. We’re looking, always looking, always thinking how. Where are we going to find it, where else, searching the Scriptures constantly! 

• IFwe seek her as for silver
• IFwe ask for wisdom

Verse 5: “Then you shall understand the fear of the LORD…”

This is amazing! Then we will understand what means to fear God because we know Him! Because we know Who He is. We know Who the Lord is! We know His power, His majesty, His mercy, His love, His compassion and His strength! Then we will understand Him if we search for Him as for treasures and silver with all of our strength and mind, which is the first and greatest commandment, loving Him that way.

As we search with all of our might, all of our being, He will give it to us, because we will be fulfilling the first and greatest commandment. Then we will understand the fear of the Lord. What it is to really know him and to really fear Him. 

And the most amazing thing in the universe; “…and find the knowledge of God” (v 5).

That knowledge we have, but in different measures; the measure that we’re yielding to Him! As we yield to Him, as we come to Him, as we search His Word, as we search for silver or hidden treasures, that’s the measure that He is giving us His knowledge.

There is nothing, nothing that compares to the knowledge of God, absolutely nothing! It’s a promise! 

Verse 5: “Then you shall understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”

It tells us why; v 6: “For the LORD gives wisdom…”

If we ask Him, He will give us wisdom! He will reveal Himself to us. He will manifest Himself to us! That’s what Jesus was telling His disciples, ‘I will manifest Myself to you.’ They asked Him how He was going to manifest himself to them and not to the world? Because they don’t have heart for wisdom, because their eyes have not been opened! They haven’t been called, yet, according to that purpose! But they will, everybody will have a chance! 

Verse 6: “For the LORD gives wisdom…”—but we have to have a heart for it!

“…out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (v 6)—and the most important thing is wisdom!

• that is the knowledge of God
• that is the understanding of God

Not only about God, but 

• of His very own heart
• of His very own purpose
• of His very own nature

which is what He’s working in you and me!

Verse 7: “He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous… [for us] …He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.” 

He will protect us! Not because we deserve it, not because we’re something great, but because we are His precious children whom His working something amazing! So, He will protect us because we are His works; we are His work in process!

We love Him and not loving ourselves; we’re loving Him! We’re not seeking to get things, we’re seeking to get Him, to get understanding of Him. For him to dwell in our heart and life. That’s why He will give us His wisdom IF—conditional—we receive His Words, treasure His commandments and incline our ear to wisdom and our heart to understanding. 

Verse 3—IF we: “…cry after knowledge and lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures” (vs 3-4).

IF we do all these things, He will give us wisdom!

If we literally pray, ‘God, please give me Your wisdom. Please give me understanding that I may know You.’ 

Just like Job! That was the conclusion of the whole matter. ‘My ears have heard of You, but now my eye sees You; now I know You! You spoke to me, You revealed Yourself to me.’ That’s exactly what He wants to do, but we have to have a heart for it! Even that comes from God! He has to give us that; we cannot generate it. 

We have to pray that He would first give us a heart for wisdom, and that He would give us wisdom. We can ask for it all at the same time. This is so pleasing to God if we do this. 

• this is exactly His desire
• this is exactly His will

There are the promises that ‘you ask anything of My Father and He will give it to you.’ Anything according to His will! We know for certain, without any shadow of doubt, that that is His will, that we will search for Him!

Proverbs 18:15: “The heart of the prudent gets knowledge…”

We have to have a heart for wisdom! The knowledge of God!

“…and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (v 15)—the knowledge of God, not the knowledge of the world!

That is not knowledge, because they’re just as confused as anybody else, even the great scholars. They know some things, they may know a lot of things, and it’s all mixed with other things, lies. Only the Word of God is absolutely pure as silver!

“The heart of the prudent gets knowledge and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” That’s what we are to do! Seek His Word daily for that knowledge, for that wisdom! Ask Him to give them to us; to give us that heart for understanding and knowledge.

We know that there’s ‘wisdom’ in this world; James 3:13: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him demonstrate his works through good conduct in the meekness of wisdom.”

As we know it has to bear fruit; there have to be works through good conduct. What we were talking about before, those are the works of God, which are good families, intact marriages that are growing. Their families are healthy and thriving and seeking after God, seeking to learn and to grow. Those are the works of God through good conduct. 

We are not perfect, yet; we are going to fail, that is a fact! But the works will continue to increase as we continue to grow in God’s knowledge. 

This is a very important part; it says: “…in the meekness of wisdom” (v 13). We cannot have wisdom if we do not have meekness, which is the ability to be led by the Word of God, by God Himself!

That’s exactly why Moses was the meekest person on earth, because anything that God said, he did, even though he had people complaining left and right all the time. Sometimes he even complained to God; he cried out to God and poured out his heart. He couldn’t bear it anymore. 

God Himself got to that point! He was going to destroy the entire people of Israel and make a nation out of Moses. But Moses, again putting God first, said: 

But what are they going to say about You, my Lord, that you couldn’t introduce us into the land? No, let it not be so!

He was the meekest person, and we have to ask for meekness. That God would give us that meekness, the ability to be led by His Word. The ability to be directed, be guided through His Word, through His Spirit. 

Verse 14: “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart… [if your heart is only looking for things for yourself] …do not boast and lie against the Truth.” Do not say that you’re wise in understanding!

If we come to God only so that He fulfills our fleshly desires, only that He makes things right and takes away suffering and pain. If we only come because He gives us a benefit, whatever it is:

• healing
• success in what we do
• financial resources

If we come to Him like that, with selfish ambition in our heart—that’s what it is—and we have bitter envy, we cannot rejoice in the blessings that God gives to others, it says:

“…do not boast and lie against the Truth” (v 14). Then we’re not going to have the wisdom from above, we’re not walking in the ways of God!

Verse 15: “This wisdom…” of selfish ambition, of the elite of the world that have everything that they have—billions and billions of dollars—think they own the world! Financially, maybe; but it says that this wisdom: 

“…does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual and demonic” (v 15). That’s what it is!

These people are not led by God. It’s not true wisdom. It may seem wise, and all pray them for this and that, but in reality that’s not who they are. There’s nothing there! In reality they oppress people and mistreat them and take advantage of people. Maybe not all of them; maybe some are well-intentioned, maybe some do good. As they do good, God blesses them, because those laws are automatic, and those laws do happen.

But we know that the elite of the world are in bed with Satan. It says “…sensual and demonic.” That’s the wisdom that they have!In the end they end up just as confused as the rest of the world, because this wisdom is not from above!

Verse 16: “Because where bitter envying and selfish ambition are, there is dissension and every evil thing.” 

You see the fruits in their lives and what they reap! It’s evil, anguish and their lives end up in the misery. Just like everybody else, financial blessings do not mean blessings from God necessarily!

Verse 17—this is what we’ve been called to: “But the wisdom from above is first pure…”—because it has to be from a pure heart! 

• it’s not coming to God with ulterior motives
• it’s not coming for it’s own
• it’s not coming from selfish ambition

It has to be pure!

“…then peaceful…” (v 17).

We’re not here to argue, fight and try to put our own doctrines and thoughts. No! It’s peaceful! 

“…gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits…” (v 17).

All of these are fruits of the Spirit, because this is the heart of God, the mind of God. This is the wisdom of God!

“…impartial and without hypocrisy…” (v 17). Absolutely pure! 

We cannot be hypocrites before God! We have to come with a pure heart, seeking nothing for himself. Seeking nothing but to do God’s will so that He can work His will, can develop our potential as human beings to get us to the greatest potential so that He can resurrect us into His Kingdom. 

Verse 18: “Now, the fruit of righteousness… [all His Law, all His Word] …is sown in peace for those who make peace.”

God wants to give us His wisdom, the wisdom from above, from God the Father and Jesus Christ if we have that right heart for wisdom.

Psa. 132 is absolutely amazing when we understand everything that goes on behind it. 

Psalm 132:1: “O LORD, remember David and all his afflictions, how he swore to the LORD; and he vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob: ‘Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids, until I find out a place for the LORD, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob’” (vs 1-5).

Here’s what he has in common with Moses and Abraham, and with every one of the men and women of God. They want nothing more than God. Their priority #1 is whatever God wants. That is their priority #1 in life and they see seek Him with all their heart. “…until I find out a place for the LORD, a habitation for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

God already told us, ‘I will come and dwell in your heart IF you keep My commandments and IF you love Me’ (John 14:23)—the Father and I, IF you keep My commandments and IF come and love Me, We will come and make Our abode with you, IN you!

This is what David wanted. He wanted to find a place for the Lord. God is saying, ‘Yes, in your heart I want a place, I want a place in your heart.’ 

Verse 6: “Lo, we heard of it at Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of the woods. Let us go unto His Tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool” (vs 6-7).

What David wanted more than anything was to just praise God and to be in His presence. To be taught by Him, to be led by Him. David understood that 

• God was the One Who fought the battles for him
• God was the One Who give him the wisdom to reign

That’s exactly why Solomon as for wisdom; it didn’t’ come out of nowhere! He knew and he saw his father’s wisdom. He knew that he needed to be like His physical father to be able to rule like he did. 

Verse 7: “Let us go unto His Tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool… [that’s all David wanted] …Arise, O LORD, into Your rest; You and the ark of Your strength” (vs 7-8).

• they understood the source 
• they understood the source of strength

Verse 9: “Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy.” That’s all of us! 

That’s the righteousness of God, not our own; the righteousness of Jesus Christ from His sacrifice and shed blood in us! Be clothed with that! That’s the heart that we need to have for wisdom! “…let Your saints shout for joy,” because of the promises! He is doing something amazing and we will not even be able to believe our eyes when we are on the Sea of Glass before the Throne of Jesus Christ!

Verse 10: “For Your servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of Your anointed.”

It wasn’t just David. It doesn’t say that this is a Psalm of David. But this is what he taught, and this is what the priest and Asaph and the sons of Korah all understood this. They all understood this! There is nothing apart from God, nothing good!

Verse 11: “The LORD has sworn to David in truth; He will not turn from it: ‘Of the fruit of your body will I set upon the throne for you. If your children keep My covenant and My testimonies… [hold My words (Prov. 4)] …which I shall teach them, their sons shall also sit upon your throne forever’” (vs 11-12). He’s telling David this!

Verse 13: “The LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.” 

He has desired your heart and my heart to dwell in! He has desired our heart for His habitation! That’s the heart for wisdom.

Verse 14: “This is My resting place forever…”

It says that He is going to be all in all (1-Cor.); that’s the purpose of mankind, of all creation, that He would be all in all. This is a prophecy of Him dwelling in our heart forever!

“…here I will dwell, for I have desired it” (v 14)—He has desired us! He has desired our hearts! But He has to work with it, and we have to be willing and meek and guided by Him. 

Verse 15: “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread…. [He will give us everything we need, everything] …I also will clothe her priests… [we are called to be kings and priests in His Kingdom] …with salvation… [that’s the promise for all of us, but we have to love God even above salvation!] …and her saints shall shout aloud for joy” (vs 15-16). Indescribable joy! 

Verse 17: “There I will make the horn of David to bud… [that seed] …I have prepared a lamp for My anointed.”

That’s the Light, Jesus Christ! He is the Light of the world! There is no light in us, it has to be Him in us!

Verse 18: “I will clothe his enemies with shame; upon himself shall his crown shine.” This is exactly what God wants us to focus on:

• this heart for wisdom
• having this heart for understanding

We are the Temple of His Spirit! (1-Cor. 6:19). We are the Temple of God!

This entire Psalm is about the dwelling place of God. We are the dwelling place of God! This heart is the one where God will dwell in each one of us. 

• IFwe have a heart for wisdom
• IFwe seek for hidden treasures
• IFwe take hold of those words
• IFwe take hold of His commandments
• IFwe take hold of the precious words of Jesus Christ and God the Father that He inspired

Proverbs 3:13: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding”—God! That’s what it means!

It’s the man who understands God! Who understands how He things, and understands His purpose!

Verse 14: “For the merchandise of it is better than the gain from silver, and its produce more than the gain of fine gold. She ismore precious than rubies; and all the things you can desire are not to be compared with her” (vs 14-15).

Paul said, ‘I count all of these things as dung for the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ because that is wisdom. It’s foolish to compare them!

Verse 16: “Length of days is in her right hand… [eternal life] …and in her left hand, riches and honor.”

Not for the sake of those things, but for the sake of the One Who made us! For God Himself!

Verse 17: “Her ways are ways of pleasantness… [into a valley of springs] …and all her paths are peace”—which is what God has called us to!

Verse 18: “She is a Tree of Life to those who lay hold upon her; and happy is everyone who holds her fast.” 

• Who is not going to be happy knowing God?
• Who is not going to be happy having a true relationship with God?

A relationship so strong that nothing can move us from Him! So strong that we know that even death ‘cannot separate us from His love,’ as Paul said. That is why “…happy is everyone who holds her fast.”

Verse 19: “The LORD has founded the earth by wisdom; by understanding He has established the heavens.” Because it’s the mind of Christ; wisdom is the mind of Christ!

Verse 20: “By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not let them depart from your eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they shall be Life to your soul… [Jesus Christ is the Life” (vs 20-22).

He says in John 17, this is the life that they may know You, the only true God, God the Father ‘and Jesus Christ Whom You did send!’ That’s what it says. That’s why He says, ‘It will be Life to you.’

“…and grace to your neck” (v 22).

Read the rest of this chapter; it would be great to read it all.  Everything that wisdom is and does, because it’s the mind of God.

Prov. 4 is proof that wisdom is knowing God, the mind of Christ and so much more! 

• it’s understanding His purpose
• it’s understanding Their will
• it’s understanding Their nature
• it’s understanding Their heart
• it’s understanding and knowing Them
• it’s having a true deep relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ 

That’s what wisdom is! We have to have this heart for wisdom! This is proof that that’s what it is:

Proverbs 4:8: “Exalt her, and she shall promote you; she shall bring you honor when you embrace her”—on the Sea of Glass! Bring you  honor in His Kingdom, but we have to: 

• embrace wisdom
• embrace our God
• embrace His Word

Verse 9: “She shall place upon your head a garland of grace… [a crown] …she shall bestow upon you a crown of glory.’

This is our destiny! That’s why it says to hold onto what we have so that know one may take our crown (Revelation). But if we have wisdom, we will have this crown of glory, we will have this garland of grace, because we will be like God! We will have His nature.

Let us all pray for this heart, and search for this wisdom as for silver and hidden treasures!

Scriptural References:

• Proverbs 4:3-7
• Proverbs 17:16
• Proverbs 16:16
• Proverbs 17:3
• Psalm 81:7-16
• Psalm 84:5-7, 2
• Proverbs 17:19-21, 24, 27
• Proverbs 2:1-7, 3-4
• Proverbs 18:15
• James 3:13-18
• Psalm 132:1-18
• Proverbs 3:13-22
• Proverbs 4:8-9

Scripture referenced, not quoted: 

• John 14:23
• 1 Corinthians 6:19
• John 16

EE:bo

Transcribed: 6/19/22

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