Proverbs 2:5

The Explanation

Imagine a father kneeling down next to his son. He has something important to say, so he says it slowly. "My son," he begins, "if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you." That means: listen close, and keep what I tell you, like treasure in a box.

Then the father says something surprising. He says wisdom is like silver. He says it is like a hidden treasure. "If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures." Have you ever dug in the sand for something you dropped? You do not give up after one try. You dig and dig, because you really want to find it.

That is how the father says we should search for wisdom. Not lazy. Not giving up. Digging, searching, calling out loud for it, like you would shout for something you lost in the dark.

And then comes the promise, the treasure at the bottom of the hole. "Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God." If you search that hard, you will find something better than silver. You will find out who God is, and how to live close to Him.

What Does This Mean?

Here is the secret. Wisdom is not a thing you just bump into one day. It is not lying on top of the ground where anyone can see it. It is hidden, like treasure buried deep. That means you have to want it. You have to ask for it. You have to search.

Think of Goliath standing tall and loud, and David standing small and sure. David was not wise because he was lucky. He was wise because he knew God, and he trusted what God had taught him. That kind of knowing does not fall into your lap. It is dug for.

The father in this story is not trying to scare his son. He is trying to excite him. Somewhere out there is real treasure, and it has your name on it, if you will search.

The Common Thread

Who speaks and gives wisdom? The next verse tells us straight: "For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding." So the treasure is not hiding from you because God wants to trick you. It is hiding because God wants you to come close enough to find it, close enough to hear His voice.

Jesus once said that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, and a man sold everything he had to buy that field. Jesus himself is the treasure worth searching for with your whole heart. When you look for wisdom, you are really looking for God, and God is never far from someone who truly searches for Him.

For You

So what do you do this week? You search. When you read a Bible story, do not just hear it and forget it. Ask a question about it. When you pray, do not just mumble words. Really call out to God, like you are shouting into a cave to find an echo.

You could even dig for real. Find a small stone, bury it in the yard, and let a friend or your parents dig it up. While you dig, talk about what it feels like to really want to find something. That feeling, that is how God wants you to search for Him.

Talk About It

Have you ever searched hard for something you lost? How did it feel when you finally found it?

What is one question about God you could ask Him this week?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank You that You are not hiding from us to be mean, but so we will come close. Help us search for You with our whole heart, like digging for treasure. Thank You that when we look for You, we always find You. Amen.