Proverbs 5:2 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 5:2

Comments

This verse brings us to another aspect of this. If we would have wisdom, we have not only got to make it one of the things which is of special interest to us, but it has got to come into our conversation: ‘that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.’ This has to do with not only noticing it, but talking about it. It does not mean discretion in the sense of holding in reserve what you say – you will be very discrete; it does not mean that. It means 'in your conversation, you will guard knowledge'. That is to say, that your conversation will be something which values and protects knowledge. It almost sounds here – which is by no means the meaning of the Hebrew – as though the writer is saying, 'Be very, very discrete. Do not let your knowledge slip out. Do not let anybody else get hold of it. Guard it.' It more means this: Imagine you have some subject which you are greatly enthusiastic about. It is a great interest with you, it is a passion with you, you will talk about it. Yes, but your conversation will also promote it. It may be some activity, some hobby, or subject of special interest. When you talk about that thing, you promote it, you defend it. That is exactly what is being said here, ‘that thou mayest regard’, have a tremendous regard for, discretion and that your lips may exalt, defend and protect knowledge.

Application

Now, it means this: I must not only be the sort of person who has a taste for wise dealings but my conversation will always include this area. For instance, supposing I have ten hours casual conversation with different people, over the course of a week. What I have to ask myself is this, 'Have I, for any reasonable proportion of that time, discussed things that would exalt and promote wisdom between us? Is our conversation all about trivial things, or just problems of the moment? Or do we ever discuss things that exercise our minds, that stimulate wisdom? Do we ever discuss the way things should be done, and affect and sharpen one another and deepen our mutual interest in wisdom and understanding? All too often it is the case with us that we can look back over a month of casual conversations and we can only say that we have talked about trivial things, meaningless things, problems and complaints; is there anything in my conversation which could be written down and be the slightest bit of value or use, worth preserving? For instance, you can even get into political conversation and you might have a conversation about the way in which for example a situation in India was handled umpteen years ago, if you have ever read anything along those lines. Yes, talk about it. But it is wisdom you are after. What did the men involved do? How did they think? Did they determine everything short sightedly, pragmatically? It does not matter whether you are discussing it via human affairs or spiritual situations.

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Proverbs 5:2 Commentary and Bible Study