The Physics of Tranquillity
Read Proverbs 3:1–6
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Insight for Today
Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
The Supernatural Benefits of Wisdom
Read Proverbs 2:7–9
The Benefits of Wisdom
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
Wisdom is its own reward. Even so, Solomon predicted that the person seeking divine wisdom will enjoy significant advantages. Today we will consider the benefits of wisdom from within. Tomorrow, the benefits of wisdom from above.
1. Benefits of wisdom from within: further wisdom plus knowledge and understanding
For the LORD gives wisdom;From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6)
How to Seek Wisdom
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
If you genuinely desire God’s wisdom, rest assured He has promised not to withhold it. He declares, “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). Here are two additional disciplines that will put you in touch with God’s insight, knowledge, and understanding.
3. The discipline of prevailing prayer
“Cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding” (2:3).
Let’s Dig Deeper
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
This week, let’s level our gun barrels at shallowness. Let’s allow the sayings we just read to speak out against our times with forceful relevance. I should warn you ahead of time, this may not be easy. Solomon has taken us into a mine shaft, as it were, to a place of hard work, but he will lead us to a valuable discovery.
As I look closely at these nine verses in Proverbs 2, I find that they can be divided rather neatly into three sections:
Deep Impact
Read Proverbs 2:1–9
Asking God for Help
Read Psalm 142:1–7
David’s dark song, Psalm 142, concludes with a final request and a bold prediction.
Bring my soul out of prison,So that I may give thanks to Your name;The righteous will surround me,For You will deal bountifully with me. (142:7)
Confessing Despair
Read Psalm 142:3–6
In David’s dark song of depression, recorded as Psalm 142, the king confesses his deepest feelings of isolation and despair.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,You knew my path.In the way where I walkThey have hidden a trap for me. (142:3)
Opening to God
Read Psalm 142:1–2
The raw emotion of David’s prayer in Psalm 142 comes through clearly in his choice of words. In his Cave of Adullam, the beleaguered future king struggled with depression and shrieked heavenward.
I used to wonder why we ever needed to utter words in prayer since God already knows all our thoughts (Psalm 139:4). Then one day I stumbled across Hosea 14:1–2.
Crying Aloud from the Darkness
Read Psalm 142:1–2
David’s depression most likely resulted from an unusually long period of stress. The superscript for Psalm 142, identifying David’s circumstances as “in the cave,” probably refers to the cave of Adullam. To appreciate the context, observe the first two verses of 1 Samuel 22:
