Proverbs Experiment: Day Two

Proverbs Chapter Two:

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. (verses 3-4)

Even though there are some scholars who say that Solomon did not write the book of Proverbs (and he certainly didn't write all of it, because there are a couple of chapters where it says the proverbs were written by someone else), I like to believe that Solomon was the author, especially because of the above verses. If you remember the story of Solomon, God came to him in a vision/dream thing and told him that he could ask for anything in the world and God would give it to Him. Solomon asks for wisdom. This pleases God, and He tells Solomon that because he asked for wisdom, he will get everything he didn't ask for as well. It's kind of like The Price Is Right, where if you're in the Showcase Showdown and you get your price right within a dollar or something, you not only get all the stuff that you had to name the price for, but also everything the other person had in their showcase. (I had a friend in college who went all the way to the Showdown, but then lost. Sad.)

And so here is Solomon, telling the rest of us to seek wisdom and understanding like we would if we were a beachcomber looking for hidden treasure on the beach. It's reassuring to have Solomon tell us this, because he's been there. He's seen the results.

Solomon did become the wisest person the world had ever seen. But towards the end of his life, it's like he lost it or something, because he makes some extremely bad decisions in his own life. I wonder if he became such an expert in applying wisdom towards dealing with other people's problems (like the story where the two women come in, both claiming that a baby is theirs), that he forgot to ask for wisdom for his own problems and decisions.

The best example? 700 wives. Doesn't sound very wise to me, Solomon.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. (verses 7-8)

Promises like these make me a little queasy.

I think that I would have taken these promises at face value ten years ago, but now - not so sure. I think one of the reasons why is because I started receiving publications of an organization called Voice Of The Martyrs. VOTM is dedicated to helping Christians all around the world who are persecuted for their faith. These brothers and sisters are beaten, tortured, and even killed because of their faith in Christ. I look at their stories (as you can read them in several books, like Jesus Freaks and The Narrow Road) and wonder if these Christians, when they read verses 7 and 8, wonder where their protection is, where their guard is.

I can give you specific situations in my life where I felt God was protecting me, like when we went on this missions trip in the inner-city of Los Angeles, or when I went on a missions trip to Juarez, Mexico - but what about those who always feel like they're in danger? Who are being persecuted for their faith? I should take these promises at face value, I guess - but it's hard to do so. Again - if the writer is Solomon, I wonder if these statements he makes are pretty easy for him to make? I mean, he was the king. He didn't have to worry about protection, because he had soldiers and armies and bodyguards. Is it easier for him to say that God will protect the righteous, because that protection was in place, versus a Christian in present-day North Korea who is living in a small hut by themselves? I don't know.

Then you will understand what is right, just and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (verses 9-11)

This part, I do understand however. Wisdom is one of those things I wish I had more of. I think that one of the reasons I've moved around quite a bit in the last eight years is because I have made poor decisions when it comes to employment. I wonder if I'm not good at seeing the red flags until it's too late, or if churches are just good at hiding those red flags until they naturally come out.

Maybe this will be my "birthday wish" (no, I don't really wish for things anymore when I blow out the candle)- to gain more wisdom in my life. My wife would say at this point that asking for more common sense would be a good idea as well. I would agree with her on that one.