Proverbs chapter 2

vs 1

I'm sort of assuming that the "my son" brings us back to Solomon, although it could also be the words of Wisdom, I guess, given the "my commands". I mean, Proverbs doesn't really read like commands from Solomon.

vs 2

That is, accepting wisdom means listening to it and applying it. I might point out at this stage that even Solomon only does half of that sometimes.

vs 3

So you've really got to want it...

vs 4

And if you really value it...

vs 5

We have here a flat out statement about wisdom being fear of God and knowledge of God.

vs 6

So wisdom comes from God alone. And that's fair enough, too. I mean, if God made everything, then ultimately he's going to know everything and about everything. So the knowledge of something, even if ostensibly self-discovered, has in reality come from God who has created knowledge.

vs 7

Again breaking that cause and effect chain, we see that God gives success to the upright, not simply the lucky or the numberchaser. He protects people who are blameless, as opposed to simply those who are weak (or strong).

vs 8

God value-adds to justice and faithfulness in a way that simple cause-and-effect does not generally do.

vs 9

If you seek God's understanding, you will receive it, and then see every good path of righteousness, justice and fairness. Remember, because wisdom is by its nature moral, these moral statements are intrinsic to wisdom. Something cannot be both wise and unfair.

vs 10

There is a pleasantness about wisdom - I guess it's like we're made for it. Wisdom is ultimately a positive and good thing. It's not neutral.

vs 11

So when God says that he protects the upright and such, one of the tools he uses to do that is wisdom. Of course, because true wisdom is godly, then godly people are more likely to have it.