I’m thankful for the clear word pictures we have been given in the Bible. God knows exactly how to describe the fervor He wants us to have for Him! We continue on with Proverbs 2:4 as we read about the intensity of our quest.
Pr 2:4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Precious metals have been valued by all cultures since biblical times. The first mention of them in the Word is in Genesis 2:11 speaking of the land of Havilah where there is gold. Again in Genesis 13:2, silver and gold is mentioned as part of Abram’s wealth. Land was purchased with silver (Gen 23:15), people were purchased for silver (Gen 27:28), articles of silver were crafted, silver was used in the judicial system as payment for the guilty. Silver was used as an offering, as payment and in commercial trade; silver utensils, tables and bowls filled the Tabernacle. Silver was overlaid on the walls of buildings. Silver had to be mined, then it was refined with heat.
Read this excerpt from Wikipedia on the history of silver. “Silver has been known since ancient times. Silver is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, and slag heaps found in Asia Minor and on the islands of the Aegean Sea indicate that silver was being separated from lead as early as the 4th millennium BC. The silver mines at Laurium were very rich and helped provide a currency for the economy of Ancient Athens. It involved mining the ore in underground galleries, washing the ores and smelting it to produce the metal. Elaborate washing tables still exist at the site using rain water held in cisterns and collected during the winter months.”
Silver <keceph> means money. It was a form of money in ancient times. Today, silver is still sought after and has value.
Think about what people do for money. Often, money is desired above all else. The source of it such as fame and success is the primary goal of many individuals. In fact, we’ve all read or heard of stories about the crazy, often dishonest tactics used to procure money. Unfortunately, people will lie, cheat, steal, sell their bodies and illegal drugs, and even kill to feed their ambition of accumulating monetary wealth. There is a clear account of selling your soul for money in the Bible. Remember the bag of silver coins given to Judas as he betrayed Jesus?
Wouldn’t it be cool to take the desire and pursuit of money that this world has and transfer that same intense energy to a desire and pursuit of God? Where are you on your quest for riches – in the world or in the Word?
Job 28:12-20 “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? “Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ “Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, Nor can silver be weighed as its price. “It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx, or sapphire. “Gold or glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. “Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; and the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. “The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?
What does it mean to seek for something?
seek <baquah> to search out, to strive after – ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition …
What thoughts or pictures come into mind as you read the definition above? Modern technology has put information literally at our fingertips. We have things called search engines that allow us to gather information on just about anything with the touch of a few buttons, or with a verbal command. I have someone called ‘Cortana’ on my PC. I’ve never met her, I don’t know where she lives, but she is always ready to help me search. She even asks me questions, “Is there something I can do for you”? In fact there is a ‘click here’ notice that tells me Cortana can do much more than I use her for! Hmmm, I wonder, perhaps I should look into this: maybe she does dishes, laundry and washes the floor!! Hahaha, I don’t really know if this is funny or scary. In any case, all this searching takes time, and often, people spend excessive amounts of time in their quest for information. It’s like opening up a bag of potato chips, or in my case M&M’s :), it’s difficult to stop. One thing leads to another and you can get completely engrossed in the discovery of information.
I would like to propose that we all strive to develop this problem when it comes to studying the word of God. Let’s truly seek out His wisdom. Let’s follow His guidance as He leads us from one scripture to another. May we not be satisfied with just a taste of Truth! Let’s indulge in it! Let’s become engrossed in our desire to gain understanding. I would like to be accused of spending too much time seeking to understand my precious God!
Proverbs 2:4 not only describes seeking wisdom as for silver, but also depicts a picture of searching for wisdom as you would hidden treasures. Now this sounds like fun, right?! You may be interested to look at my blog on this website dated August 22, 2017 to read about how my Dad literally dug up hidden treasure!
Picture a big metal bin overflowing with treasure. A veritable pirate’s treasure chest! If you were told that in no uncertain terms you would find incredibly valuable treasure by carefully following a map you would be given, would you go for it? Would you be all in? Remember, there is absolutely no doubt or question to its authenticity – the treasure is a sure thing. Most of us would be eager to begin this adventure. We might even plan how the treasure would change our future.
Do you diligently seek the hidden treasure in God’s words? Our church’s women’s retreat last year focused on the treasure we’ve been given as God’s children. We have in our possession, the greatest treasure of all – God’s grace! God’s grace means we have been given all we need at the expense of Jesus’ death. God’s grace is accessible to His children because He loves us enough to have gone to the highest extreme of covering our sin with the sacrifice of His perfect Son. When Christ died he paid for all sin, when He arose, sins grip on us was loosed, it’s control banished. Where do we find God’s grace? In God, in His written word to us, in His miraculous work for us. Everything we could ever need or want within His will, is ours in abundance. We just have to be willing to dig for the treasure! Effort and diligence are needed to accomplish something of value. Take an honest look at where your time and energy is spent and you will get a good idea of what you value.
Mt 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
When we search the Word, we will find treasures, hidden riches revealed to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in us.
What treasures in God’s word have you found lately? Are you digging deep enough? Are you willing to give up your own goals and desires in order to follow after God’s commands?
Mt 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.
Php 3:7-10 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which [comes] from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
“[If thou seekest her as silver]. How do men seek money? What will they not do to get rich? Reader, seek the salvation of thy soul as earnestly as the covetous man seeks wealth; and be ashamed of thyself, if thou be less in earnest after the true riches than he is after perishing wealth”. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
Pr 16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
Ps 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.
Ps 119:72 The law of Thy mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
One last question God put on my heart: Once you find His treasure what are you doing with it? Are you simply storing it up and nothing more, are you inclined to only admire it and receive personal encouragement and direction, or are you reaching out to others, using it for God’s glory?
How intense is your quest for God?
