Study This Friday, Feb 24th, at Moore's House

Proverbs 2.2

Proverbs 2:12-22

This week we will be looking at the second half of Proverbs 2: verses 12-22. As usual, please read over Proverbs 2 several times before the study and pray over any questions you might have. Again, we will be looking at Proverbs 2 and I would like to keep the focus on this chapter and how it relates to our lives, so I will not be deviating from it to other scripture.

Here are some review notes and questions to help keep the context in mind for this week.

Verses 1-4 form the "if" part of the larger if/then statement that spans the first 9 verses.

Verses 5 & 9 are the "then" part of the if/then statement.

Verses 6 & 10 explain how and why "you" will receive what is promised. In other words, the “for” acts somewhat like a “because” in these verses.

From verses 6-8, what reasons do you have for believing that if you look for

wisdom you will receive it? How would this proverb change if verses 5-8

were not in it? In other words, what would be missing if the proverb went from verses 1-4 directly to 9 and following? What then can we learn about the relationship between searching for wisdom and finding it?

In verses 11 & 12 we see the fruit, or the results of, this wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding. All these terms – wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding – are used somewhat synonymously. What words are used to describe the relationship between “you” and these things? e.g. How do “you” view wisdom and knowledge; what does discretion and understanding do for “you”?

In verse 12, what are “you” delivered from? To see what this means, let's look back at what it is contrasted with in verses 7-9. What type of imagery is used

in verses 7-9 to illustrate what God protects? e.g. v7 to whom is God a

shield; v8 what does he guard; what does he watch over? In verse 9,

what is the final thing that you will understand? Is this more than a promise that God will protect his saints from evil? How would you explain your answer using this text?

In verse 12, what is the second thing “you” will be delivered from? How are men in verses 12-15 contrasted with son in verses 1-4? If you had to describe the son in verses 1-4 with only one phrase, what would it be?

Wisdom keeps us from walking in the way of evil. In verses 16-19 we see that in keeping from the way of evil we are delivered from the forbidden woman as well. If you are interested to see what happened to Solomon because of the forbidden women he kept, look at 1 Kings 11.

In verse 20 we see the positive side of wisdom. It not only keeps us from the forbidden woman, but it causes us to... what? This is contrasted with the “way of evil” in verse 12. Is this different than simply being protected from evil and evil men? If so, how? Where does this keep our focus?

I hope these questions are beneficial to you in helping you read and understand the text before we get together. As usual, if you have any question or comments, please let me know.

Jacob

I look forward to seeing you all on Friday.