THREE QUESTIONS
By Jay Pearson
- How many of us desire to know the Lord more fully?
I mean, honestly, to the point of doing something about it. - How many of us desire the wisdom of God to handle the situation that we encounter affecting us and others in our daily lives?
I mean, honestly, to the point of doing something about it. - How many of us desire to know what the Lord would have us to understand?
I mean, honestly, to the point of doing something about it.
Psalm 37:4-5
4
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
God is, absolutely, faithful to keep his word and his promises. Now it’s up to us to follow his direction and the desires he has placed within us. His commandments and the doing of them from the heart, issues in his promises realized in us because of his faithfulness to perform.
Now let us go to Proverbs chapter two and read his word with emphasis:
Proverbs 2:1
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
There are two actions associated with the 'if' in this verse: receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee. You know when you receive something you hear, you don’t let it go in one ear and out the other. You take hold of it. Also, if you hide something you don’t leave it laying haphazardly around in the open. You secure it for your use and purpose.
Next, we read in verse 2 of Proverbs chapter 2, also with emphasis:
Proverbs 2:2
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
In this verse there are two reasons for receiving God’s word and hiding his commandments with us: incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our heart to understanding are those two reasons.
Now let’s look at verse three, again with emphasis:
Proverbs 2:3
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
There are two actions associated with the 'if' in this verse. To cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding are the actions required to receive this promise. The response most certainly isn’t like the common phrase used today, “Whatever”. You abandon all self-centeredness and cry-out in humility and desire. You want knowledge and understanding in the biggest way.
There are two additional actions required in the next verse for the promise, here shown with emphasis.
Proverbs 2:4
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
These two actions associated with this 'if' and toward the promise are to seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasure. Silver is valuable. Hid treasure requires digging for it. It’s not out is the open for all to see and do with as they wish.
The next verse contains the promise:
Proverbs 2:5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Wow. This is not complicated at all. Even this country boy can understand what the Lord is telling me. But then I have a lapse. How does this happen? Where does it all come from? Where is this hid treasure? (I guess I should have named this sharing "Six Questions" instead of three!) The next verse, again shown with emphasis, answers these questions.
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
God gives wisdom in the form of revelation. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding in the form of his written Word. It is the hidden treasure. To fully understand this written Word requires revelation from the Holy Spirit. It is provided according to the will of God and not man’s will and/or intellect.
God answers our questions when we ask him honestly. Those questions he would have us to know. He does it according to his will and when he chooses. Not everything is for you to know now.
Acts 1:7:
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Let’s receive God’s Word and hide his commandments with us. Let’s Incline our ears unto wisdom and apply our heart to understanding. Let’s get excited and cry after knowledge and lift up our voice for understanding. Let’s seek wisdom as it were silver and search for her as for hid treasure. Father, may we understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Amen.
Presented in Baton Rouge on February 18, 2018