Proverbs 2 "Inhabit the Land"

Devotional - Proverbs 2 “will inhabit the land”

What will it be like to “inhabit the land” of Prov 2?

In the context of Solomon who wrote this proverb, "the land" was an important part of the covenants and God's blessing to His people.  It symbolized the culmination of dwelling with God. A place of security and prosperity, characterized by both privilege and responsibility. (1)

For us today, does that mean heaven or His kingdom on earth?  It may mean both – the power of God living in us and through us here on earth, and our eternal home of heaven.

Proverbs 2 tells us only His saints will inhabit this land and no one who forsakes God will dwell with us in His spiritual kingdom on earth, and once we get to heaven the wicked will be cut off.  Imagine it, living without evil!

But what must we do for God to reward us with inhabiting His land, this place set apart? How do we apply this to, and obtain this in, our everyday lives today?

The structure of this Proverb is beautifully simple in that it starts with a relatively small IF statement, that’s our part, 

if  you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if  you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if  you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure

and then continues with what God will do in response with the first THEN statement.  

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Once we receive those blessings, God through Solomon continues to provide yet another THEN statement that heaps blessings upon blessings, 

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

which ultimately lead to a grand SO statement that we will inhabit the land and gather all of its blessings.  

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

Each level builds upon the other and it starts with our call to action and God responding, not just once like in human terms but threefold in God’s abundance.

   

Receive, treasure up, making attentive, inclining, call out, raise your voice, seek and search.  These are active words (the verbs) that presuppose belief, faith, and a strong desire to know God, keep (treasure up) His commandments, and be in relationship with Him – on HIS terms.  This is the essence of what the Old Testament calls "fear of the Lord."

In that first level of response then God gives us knowledge about and respect for Him.  Once we receive that, then the bounty breaks open and we receive His wisdom and more knowledge and understanding.  God will be our shield, who guards us and watches over us, and shows us the correct paths.

From that flows every good path, understanding of righteousness and justice and equity – flowing to us and from us as part of His kingdom.  We’ll receive wisdom, knowledge, discretion and understanding.  He’ll deliver us from the wicked who will be cut off from these treasures, both now and in the future.

All this SO we will remain in the "land," with Him, forever.

As this proverb was written under previous covenants no longer applicable to today's Christians, we must understand that under the new covenant of Jesus's blood shed once for all (Matthew 26:28), it is our faith in Jesus alone - our acceptance of His Words -  that is now included in our part (the IF statement) that allows us to be in relationship with Him and therefore dwell in His Kingdom that He ushered in with His death and resurrection (Mark 1:15).  The rest of it still applies to us (John 14:21), but comes through Jesus (John 14:23).  His Kingdom is so much more than the land ever was (Matthew 13:31-32)!

Dear Lord, I pray I have received Your words and treasured them up in my heart as I call out to You for understanding and insight to know You through Your Word.  Help me to find You, to lay aside my will as I seek You, and treasure up Your commandments so that I may be upright in Your eyes and inhabit Your Kingdom.  I pray this in the Name of Jesus, amen.

For more on how Jesus fulfills the covenants, read my post "A Synopsis of the Bible in 1200 Words."