Proverbs 18:15-16, Divinity – The Queen of Sciences!

December 2, Proverbs 18:15-16

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Divinity – The Queen of Sciences!

Jesus pronounced blessed all who hunger and thirst after righteousness and after God (Matt. 5:6; 6:33). It was the cry of the Psalmist (42:1-2; 63:1-2). It was the heart’s longing of Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:10), and the motivation of every true Christian (2 Tm. 2:15).

1. The Divine Pursuit (v.15): And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge (15). The prudent, intelligent, has a heart to pursue knowledge (15a). He must get, buy or acquire it, for “theology,” the knowledge of God, “is a rational necessity” (A.H. Strong). It asks the basic questions of life, Who is God? What is man? He will do whatever it takes to get the answers to these questions. He is also the wise who keeps his ears open in his search for it (15b). What he learns from within comes from a heart instructed by God’s Word. He supplements this with what he gleans from without, through his ears. It is a search more valuable than panning for gold (Ps. 19:10). Tozer put it, “The secret of life is theological, and the key to Heaven as well.” Do not confuse this with mere knowledge about God. It was well said that “a little knowledge of God is worth more than a lot of knowledge about Him.” Since “man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever,” the only way to do that is to make the pursuit of God his main business in life. “To know little is bad; not to wish to know more is worse.” Yet how many have neither the heart nor the ears for that most divine of pursuits (17:16). Peter admonishes believers, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (1 Pt. 2:2; 2 Pt. 3:18). Are you a pursuer of, or trifler with, God?

2. The Divine Pleasure (v.16): Some think gift here is a bribe, as in 17:23, but the two Hebrew words are different. Here it may simply mean the power or blessing of liberality (19:6; 2 Cor. 8). A bribe is motivated by selfishness, and does great harm. This gift of true generosity has its own reward. It makes room for and recognition of good men. Eliezer’s gifts to Rebekah made room for him in her father’s house (Gn. 24:31). Jacob’s gifts to Esau broke down barriers of fear between them (Gn. 32:20; 33:10). Has not the gift of the humblest preacher brought him before great men for the advancement of Christ’s cause? Many other examples suggest themselves, but we need wisdom to prevent any evil effect of the gift. Jesus said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. The greatest example of giving is, of course, God’s great love-gift (Jn. 3:16). Apostle Paul speaks of Christ’s giving Himself that ye (all who trust in Him) through his poverty might be rich. We must not, in our concern for the body, neglect the soul. “We come to the Throne of God without money and without price. May His gifts make room for Him in our hearts” (Henry).

Love so amazing, so divine,
Shall have my soul, my life, my all.

Thought: The King of Glory makes room for the meanest and poorest.

Prayer: Lord, give me a passion to know Thee more.