IF AND THEN
I'm always encouraged and inspired by the "if and then" statements in the Bible where the Lord says "if you do this.... then I will do this". These 'if and then' phrases are mentioned in Scripture literally hundreds of times from Genesis to Revelation. Many will be familiar with the famous passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 where the Lord says, "If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
So many of these phrases are offered as an invitation. Putting it simply, He invites us to seek Him, walk in His ways, or turn from our selfishness and He promises as we take up this invitation, THEN He will protect, provide, comfort, bless etc.
When it comes to wisdom, an attribute which is often conspicuous by it's absence in today's society, there is another ‘If and then’ invitation found in Proverbs 2:1-9
My son, IF you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, IF you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, IF you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 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 stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. THEN you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. (Emphasis added)
We find in this passage 3 'if's' and 2 'then's'. Note this is an invitation to us. We get to choose whether we accept the invitation or not.
v2 If you receive my words... 'Receive' here is more than just hearing His words in our ears or giving mental ascent to them. It has within its meaning in the original language to seize, capture and take hold of, or apprehend. It is therefore far more than 'receiving them'. We are invited to take hold of them in an intentional way.
v3 If you cry out for understanding... 'Cry out' means to proclaim or utter a loud sound. This isn't a weak or passive crying out it is intentional and deliberate.
v4 If you seek (wisdom) her as silver... This is seeking to find. In other words a purposeful searching as if looking for something valuable that is missing. I was reminded recently this is how children 'seek'. We have several grandchildren and when they want something they 'seek' for it with persistence asking again and again and again. Children don't always take no for an answer and will persist and persist. This is how we are to seek for wisdom asking again and again for it seeking it out as precious treasure.
The promises flowing from each of these 'If' statements are very clear in this passage.
If you do these things v5 tells us "THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Literally we will have discernment, understanding, perception, prudence and discretion.
v9 THEN you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
We are promised we will have sound wisdom, protection (v7-8) and gain understanding in the vital areas of righteousness, & equity.
These are powerful promises given to those who earnestly seek for wisdom not through striving but the intentional diligence of looking for something so valuable the Bible declares the benefits of finding wisdom are better than the profits of silver and her gain than fine gold. Prov 3:14.
Let me encourage you to take note of the 'if and then's' in the Bible. Over and over the Lord issues the invitation to us. If you do this then I will do this making it really simple for us. Take up His invitation and watch His faithfulness bear great fruit in your life.