When we become wise, we receive heavy-duty protection and deliverance, but it’s important to realize how this protection works.
Discretion will watch over you,
Understanding will guard you (Prov 2:11)
It is not as though we may continue in our foolish ways and then hope for a sudden miraculous rescue from their consequences: “Lord, I cheated on my taxes and now the IRS is after me. Deliver me from their persecution!” Wisdom’s threat in Prov 1:28 should have rid us of any such misconception.
In Prov 2:11 it’s clear that the promised deliverance is more mundane than it is miraculous. It goes like this. When we listen to wisdom, God gives us discretion. He changes our hearts so that we desire what he desires. Then, when we act according to God’s desires – employing our God-given discretion to the daily decisions we face – we make different choices that result in different consequences. Instead of racing headfirst toward suffering and pain, we act in a more life-giving way. We will choose not to do evil, harmful things and to do good, stable things.
Over the next two Proverbs posts, we’ll see what such discretion delivers us from. After that, we’ll see what such discretion delivers us for. If you can’t wait, just read the rest of Prov 2:11-22 to see for yourself.
This post was first published in 2012 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.
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