Accept, store, apply
Mar 12
Proverbs 2: 1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,3 and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.6 For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Chapter 2 starts with an If…then. If you will accept my words, and store up my commands within you, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
There is a choice to accept the words of knowledge and wisdom. It is interesting that it says in vs 6 that from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. The words that God speaks are alive and fill of knowledge. The word of God, the Bible, and the Word who became flesh (Jesus) are the source of all knowledge. If you want to be wise, read the Bible. That is really what it is saying. But one can read the Bible and not accept it. The if, is that you must accept the words of scripture, because only when will you have a chance to gain wisdom. But it is not only accepting them, it is also storing them up.
So first we need to read and hear the words of God, then we need to accept them, and then we need to store them up. Storing them up is learning and remembering, and that takes repetition. You must read it over and over and then try and learn the verses you find will assist you in your life and faith.
You must then apply your heart to understanding, because it is no good to just read, accept and then store, if you do not process what the words mean for you in your life. You need to apply your heart – this is an act of faith, it is a conscious effort that each person must make to understand the scriptures.