He stores up sound wisdom for the upright
Proverbs 2:7 - Pursuing wisdom is a lifelong trek that is rewarding for those who maintain a commitment to living an upright life.
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“He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,”
Proverbs 2:7 NASB1995
Before I start exploring Proverbs 2:7, we want to thank all of our subscribers for making this always-free scriptural resource successful! We passed the 500 subscriber milestone a few days ago, and we thank God for all of you.
What does this short verse teach us? Let’s start by looking at the NASB95 translation (I usually prefer the NIV, but here the translation is closer to the meaning of the original Hebrew). God is providing sound wisdom — practical insight and understanding — as a treasure available only to those who live righteously. That insight and understanding leads in turn to a successful and godly life.
This may seem rather “circular”, which is why my brain (originally trained in engineering) interpreted it as feedback. Think of performance evaluations in a corporate environment. If you are a poor performer (unrighteous), you receive feedback telling you what you’re doing wrong and where you should improve. Hopefully, that feedback is taken as encouragement to do better in your job, and at your next performance evaluation you may receive positive feedback in the form of a raise or promotion.
For those who are already good performers — living righteously, so to speak — the feedback is glowing and results in a boost to one’s morale, position, and standing in the corporation.
So what’s all this about God “storing up sound wisdom for the upright”? The upright are those righteous people who align their lives with God’s commandments and have hearts committed to His ways. God stores up the abundant resource of wisdom, preserving it for those who seek it through studying His Word and living in line with His ways. In biblical times, the Hebrew word צָפַן (ṣāp̄an) was used to describe storing up grain, which was of course a valuable resource. Using this word in the proverb reflects God’s unlimited store of wisdom that the righteous can tap for spiritual sustenance and continued growth in knowing His heart and mind.
God is also “a shield to those who walk in integrity”. Here, the Hebrew word מָגֵן (māḡēn - shield) symbolizes God’s protection and security to those who adhere to truth and righteousness. How do we “walk in integrity”? We try to live a life that is transparent and honest before others, but most importantly, before God.
This proverb is a compelling reminder of the importance of both wisdom and integrity in our lives. Applying the message in this proverb to our lives, we can all benefit from the protection and blessings God has stored up for us. Pursuing wisdom is a lifelong trek that is rewarding for those who maintain a commitment to living an upright life.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, You are my shield and my source of wisdom. Thank You for storing up true success and blessing for those who walk with You. Keep my heart upright, my steps steady, and my trust rooted in Your protection. AMEN.
I was stubborn and ignorant but He still got through to me. Thank you Jesus for your boundless Grace and forbearance. The wisdom we receive for now is just a glimmer of what God will bestow on us.