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Proverbs 19:8

The Value of Wisdom and Understanding

 

He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul

 

A.  The Man Who Gets Wisdom

 

  1. GET: Defined
    1. To buy, purchase, to get, acquire, obtain
    2. It is often used of obtaining wisdom. (Prov. 1:5; 4:5, 7)

 

  1. Wisdom Defined
    1. heart, mind, soul, spirit, self, i.e., the source of life of the inner person in various aspects, with a focus on feelings, thoughts, volition, and other areas of the inner life
    2. Thought functions may be attributed to the heart. In such cases it is likely to be translated as “mind” or “understanding.” To “set the heart to”
    3. I Kings 3:12 - This term is used of a “wise heart” 
    4. II Chron. 9:23 - And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
    5. Prov 16:23 – it is translated the “heart” of the wise (a wise heart)
    6. Thus, this term for “wisdom” is not the normal term for wisdom.

                                         i.    It is broader and speaks of the whole inner life of a person.

                                        ii.    Here is emphasizes the inner thought life and is thus translated “wisdom”.

                                      iii.    It implies a WISE inner thought life… and WISE inner attitudes… a wise heart.

 

  1. Solomon here speaks of the VALUE of obtaining a wise heart.
    1. It isn’t something that comes naturally. It has to be OBTAINED.
    2. All by itself, our inner heart life is desperately wicked!
    3. Jer 17:9 – The “heart” (inner thought life of a man – including the will and emotions) is desperately wicked.
    4. First of all, we need a NEW heart which only comes by means of regeneration… the new birth.
    5. And even then, our old heart can manifest itself because we still have the old nature.
    6. Our inner thought life can be just as vile as before. It does not improve – ever. It is incorrigible.
    7. That’s why we need to leave our old man on the Cross by faith… including the old heart… the old way of thinking.
    8. Thus, to men whose hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (incurably sick)… OBTAINING a new heart… a wise heart is extremely valuable!

 

  1. OBTAINING a wise and understanding heart  (Acts 15:8-9)
    1. First, one must be born again – receive a new heart by faith.  (The HS regenerates the heart)
    2. The Holy Spirit dwells within to continue to sanctify and purify the heart.
    3. This is ALL by faith – both justification and sanctification.
    4. For the believer today to obtain a wise heart, we must reckon self to be dead…

                                         i.    Keep the old man and his heart on the cross – crucified by faith.

                                        ii.    Then, we can experience the power of the resurrection in the NEW man… and in our new heart.

                                      iii.    The new heart, controlled by the Holy Spirit, will focus on things above…

                                      iv.    It will be looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

                                       v.    It will seek communion with Him through the Word…

                                      vi.    The Word will richly dwell in our hearts…

                                    vii.    And as we walk like that day by day, we will experience a wise and understanding heart.

    1. And you don’t have to be smart. You can be an average Joe like me… and obtain a wise heart.

                                         i.    That’s because a wise heart (though related to the intellect) has its real source in the heart relationship to Christ.

                                        ii.    In Christ is hidden all the treasures of wisdom.

                                      iii.    Average believers like us can have a wise heart… if we are yielded to God.

                                      iv.    We can obtain all the wisdom we need for life… because it is found in Christ.

                                       v.    The closer we get to Him… the wiser we will be.

                                      vi.    That is something we can ALL obtain… but only if we CHOOSE to do so.

                                    vii.    It is ours… but only as we are surrendered to Christ as Lord… yielded fully to Him.

                                   viii.    Why should He give wisdom when we are resisting Him?

 

 

B.  Obtaining Wisdom is Like “Loving One’s Own Soul”

 

  1. This is NOT to be understood in a negative sense (Narcissism or vanity – “I love me…”)
  2. Rather, this is a very positive statement.
    1. It is a way of saying, “This is good for you… it is beneficial for you… it is in your best interest.”
    2. Paul said in Eph. 5 that “no man ever hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it.”

                                         i.    It is natural to take care of oneself.

                                        ii.    It is good and right to want to avoid that which is harmful.

                                      iii.    That’s Solomon’s point here. In that sense, we ought to “love our own soul.”

                                      iv.    We do that by avoiding things that are harmful and seeking after things that are good…

    1. Prov. 8:35-36 – loving wisdom is like loving a good life… and it is beneficial. The man who rejects wisdom does WRONG to his own soul (life). It is spiritually damaging.

 

  1. Since obtaining wisdom is GOOD for you… then it is worth SEEKING after with the whole heart.
    1. There is much in Proverbs about this…
    2. Prov. 2:1-4 – seek for wisdom as you would seek for gold and buried treasure.
    3. Anything worth having is worth paying the price to obtain.

 

 

He that keepeth understanding shall find good.

 

A.  The Man Who Keeps Understanding

 

  1. Understanding defined:
    1. This term stands in contrast to wisdom (a wise heart) in the first part of the proverb.)
    2. Understanding means: understanding, intelligence, knowledge, skill, logic, reasoning, instruction
    3. This term is almost always translated “understanding.”
    4. It is used here as a virtual synonym for wisdom.
    5. Though a different term than “wisdom” in the first part of the proverb, the contrast is not so much between two kinds of wisdom/understanding… but rather the contrast is between OBTAINING and KEEPING wisdom.

 

 

  1. Keep defined:
    1. Zodhiates: to watch, to keep, to preserve, to guard, to be careful, to watch over, to watch carefully over, to be on one’s guard.
    2. To keep; to cause a state or condition to remain;
    3. Can also mean to observe or obey
    4. The concept of preserving or maintaining seems to fit best here.
    5. The term is also used of caring for sheep (I Sam. 17:20).

                                         i.    Sheep were handed over to a shepherd for safekeeping.

                                        ii.    It was the shepherd’s job to protect and maintain the flock that had been committed to his trust.

                                      iii.    If the shepherd was not careful and diligent, the flock could be diminished… by wolves… some get lost, etc.

                                      iv.    A shepherd had to MAINTAIN that which was given to him.

    1. In a similar sense, the one who has obtained wisdom… is to MAINTAIN it… to protect it… lest it be diminished.

 

  1. Thus, the contrast between the first and second parts of the proverb is a contrast between obtaining and keeping wisdom.
    1. It is one thing to OBTAIN a wise heart.
    2. It is another thing to MAINTAIN it over time.
    3. The danger is always present that once a certain amount of wisdom is obtained, the believer decides that “he’s wise enough and doesn’t need any more.”
    4. And if a wise heart is not maintained, it is lost.
    5. Prov. 4:24 - KEEP your heart with ALL diligence!

                                         i.    Here Solomon uses a different word for “keep” but it is a synonym. The meaning is the same.

                                        ii.    Keep: (Zodhiates) A verb meaning to guard, to keep, to observe, to preserve, to hide. The word refers to people’s maintaining things entrusted to them, especially to keeping the truths of God in both actions and mind.”

                                      iii.    Whatever the present condition of the heart, it needs to be continually guarded… preserved… maintained… or it will revert BACK to manifesting the OLD heart… which is deceitful above all things…

                                      iv.    This term for KEEP is used of the maintenance of a tree (Prov. 27:18)

1.   Fruit trees, bushes, and other valuable plants need to be maintained.

2.   Fruit trees and vines need to be pruned in order to continue to be fruitful.

3.   They require constant maintenance.

4.   So does our HEART… maintenance with all diligence!

5.   If it is not maintained, it will become UN-fruitful… it will lose its wisdom.

    1. So when God grants wisdom… treasure it… take care of it… value it… use it… practice it… don’t waste it!
    2. A wise heart is maintained through exercise… by putting that wisdom into practice.

 

B.  Shall Find Good

 

  1. Find: to find, attain, obtain, secure, acquire

 

  1. Finding GOOD: pleasant, proper, agreeable, beautiful, beneficial, prosperous, fruitful, etc.

 

  1. This expression “shall; find good” is similar in meaning to “loveth his own soul”.
    1. Solomon’s point again is that this is good for you… beneficial… valuable…

 

  1. His point in this proverb seems to be that it is just as valuable and necessary to MAINTAIN a wise heart as it is to OBTAIN it.
  2. Prov. 3:17-18 – Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
  3. Prov. 4:20-22 – words of wisdom are valuable. Find them… then KEEP them in your heart. Don’t let them depart.
    1. Wisdom is GOOD for us… she is a tree of life. It is good to obtain… AND to RETAIN…
    2. Obtaining and maintaining are both valuable… something worth seeking and maintaining…
    3. It is beneficial to your life… it is good for you… you will find good and good things will come from it…
    4. So rather than seeking beneficial things… rather than seeking for good things… put your energy and effort into this: obtaining and maintaining a wise and understanding heart!
    5. If you have found wisdom… learned some good and helpful spiritual lessons, then be careful that those lessons don’t fade away from your memory. MAINTAIN them… keep them fresh or you will lose them… and may have to learn them all over again – perhaps the hard way!
    6. The one who learns good lessons and maintains them… finds GOOD for his life. It is beneficial.