Proverbs 22:17-21. 17Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. 20Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, 21to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?
Bible scholars see Proverbs 22:17-21 as an introduction to a new section of the book called “The Thirty Sayings of the Wise.” But these verses don’t just tell us how to approach a new section of this single book, they tell us how to approach all of scripture. They give us an outline for responding to all of God’s written revelation as the revelation of himself, especially in Jesus. These verses show us how to be wise in six specific ways as partakers of the holy scriptures.
First, we must pay attention to it – v.17 Incline your ear, and hear. We are called to read God’s word with purpose. With concentration and thoughtfulness. In Christ, we listen to the word preached to hear the Spirit of Wisdom. We hear the word in order to hear Jesus, our Shepherd-King, calling to us in love.
Second, we must apply what we hear – apply your heart to my knowledge. It takes more than just hearing about the wisdom of God in Christ, doesn’t it? We must take the time after hearing wisdom to apply our hearts to it by asking questions like, what does this scripture reveal about God, Christ, me, the gospel? Or, how would my life be different if I really trusted this?
Third, we must keep God’s wisdom inside of us – for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you. True heart application to the word requires meditation on the word, on Christ. Transformation occurs the more we keep the wisdom of Christ before us, constantly beholding his glory and fixing our eyes on his grace.
Fourth, we must practice sharing what we’ve read and heard in scripture with others – if all of them are ready on your lips. As we practice articulating the gospel in community, we will come to trust it far more than if we simply hear it or read it. Speaking the word of God creates something new in us – a new branch growing from the vine of Christ in us.
Fifth, we must constantly check our motivation for wanting to know scripture – That your trust may be in the Lord. This is the only reason for dedicating our lives to the Word of God that will sustain us. Trust in God. Trust in his Son. Trust in the gospel of grace. NOT trust in yourself. If your trust in Christ is not growing from your time in scripture, then you’re doing it wrong, or possibly for the wrong reason.
Finally, we must be able to proclaim the wisdom of Christ to all who are in need of the truth – that you may give a true answer to those who sent you. In Christ, we have been given the greatest of gifts, the absolute truth of the gospel. This is not a gift to be held on to selfishly, but shared liberally with a world that is desperate for truth. Wherever we are sent by God, may we always be ready to give an answer to those who ask us about the hope that is within us (1 Pt. 3:15).
You: Where are you in this six-fold progression of interaction with scripture? Can you see yourself living out all six steps?
You in Christ: How does knowing that we are united to Christ allow us to embrace these six steps from faith and not fear?
Christ in you: Which of the six steps do you need to begin focusing on today through trust in Christ?
Pray: Father, may I get the wisdom of Christ into my heart and out through my lips. Amen.
To Live is Christ 