Week 21 Proverbs 2
Reading-through is a bit like a house with a basement and a couple of upper floors. On the basement-level I pretty much focus on reading-through. But then there’s this reminder from Solomon about an upstairs too. A chance to elevate my range. He says: if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, if you look for it as silver and search for it as hidden treasure…then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Ideas like accept store-up tune-in apply explore probe scrutinize understand – they’re upstairs reading concepts. Enhancements to basic reading-through.
If I stay on the basement-level I can just read through. And if reading-through is all I’m doing I don’t need to worry much about accepting Solomon’s words or keep them in mind. Don’t have to worry about turning-my-ear to wisdom or about applying-my-heart to understanding. No calling out for insight…no crying aloud for understanding…no searching for valuables.
But I’m curious about upstairs and so I try to keep it in mind. There’s nothing wrong with basement-level reading – it’s fine & good & necessary. It’s definitely my starting level. But eventually I begin nosing around upstairs. Do some investigative reading. Extend my scope. Tune-in. Apply. Explore. Understand. Like that.
Note: quote from Proverbs 2:1-5 (NIV)