week of 10-06-10 3rd recorded Bible study

The passage I read was Proverbs 2:1-15
You can find the passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%202:1-15&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:
Study the Lord’s words and apply them to your life. Search hard and without end for understanding and listen to the Lord’s wisdom. Then you will have understanding from God. This wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men. You will receive Discretion which can protect you and understanding, which will guard you. He gives these things to his faithful ones (the upright whose walk is blameless).
As I reflect:
My summary doesn’t do this passage justice in any way. Be sure to read it yourselves too. I see so “ifs” and “thens” in here. Like “if” – you accept my words…store up my commands…turn ear to wisdom…apply heart to understanding…call out for insight…cry aloud for understanding….search for is as hidden treasure, “then” – you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. So that communicates to me a condition for an offer. I could re word it in the form of a deal. The Lord offers us understanding how to live reverently before him and walkin in His knowledge, if we will put forth the effort to read and apply his Word to our lives and if we will never give up the search for his wisdom and understandings. The passage goes on to explain that The Lord gives wisdom and that knowledge and understanding come from His mouth, and yet we have a world that is fixated on hell with the thought that they can obtain wisdom and understanding without God. They look at the Word of God; the Bible as a book of words without application and power and life. They cannot understand how these words can change and help to mold someone into an entirely new creation over time. The Lord has allowed their hearts to stay hardened to the message because they yearn not for the knowledge of God, but rather they spend their lives seeking the knowledge of man. I am reminded that we will reap what we sow. If then, we seek after the Lord, we should harvest wisdom and knowledge and understanding.
I fell in love with verse 11 right away. It states, “Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.” I have seen this, experienced it first hand so often in life. There are so many times that there is simply not a map or guide to doing something the right or wrong way in life because it hasn’t yet been written down for that exact situation. But in remembering the many stories in the history of the Bible, I can always find someone who went through something similar and based on their experiences or their responses to God, I can best discern how to handle my situation also. I thank the Lord so much for the ability to discern. Though I may not always be right, discerning has certainly helped myself and many others and has been a most powerful tool when used correctly. The verse says this tool will protect you and along with understanding it will guard you. I couldn’t agree more. And so it is with wisdom. If we will but seek to receive and use the wisdom the Lord gives, we can avoid becoming captive to the evil ways of wicked people, and we can stay on straight paths and delight in doing right. How helpful would it be if I tried to lead you away from stealing while I stole? Or, what if I got high while explaining to you how you could loose the bindings of that addiction in your own life? I must first seek after wisdom myself, then use it to discern and stay off the dark and crooked paths, then I may reach to pull another from those ways. This passage speaks so very much information to the value of these tools and as plain as day says the source of them is in the Lord alone.
BTW: In the message version of the Bible, verse 9-15 read almost as poetry. It was really nice to compare that to the NIV.
My response to the Lord:
Dear God, your beauty is beyond the words I know of to define it. You constantly exceed in generosity beyond what I have ever asked. I thank you Lord for the tools and characteristics that you and you alone have provided me with. I thank you for your Word, the sword of the Spirit and your Son in Whom I have salvation. May I use these blessed tools properly to do your will Father. May I keep your words of wisdom on my heart constantly and discern throughout this life seeing with your eyes, doing with your hands, and going with your feet as you would have me go. I am your servant Lord. Let not my actions betray my words that I would be an evil witness, but rather protect and guard me in your knowledge and understanding that I would walk on the straight path as a proper witness for you. Use me as you will Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen