Proverbs 2:9: Believing and understanding in the proper order

“Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;”
-Proverbs 2:9

What wonderful goals these are. When I read this verse this morning, I think that’s what struck me first. What if we all lived like this.

So many organizations have sought these goals. So many people have made this their mission. Let’s take a look at these ideas.

Righteousness. Righteousness speaks of how we act in all situations. To understand this is to never say, “What should I do?” for the right way is ever before you.

Justice. To know justice is to know what people require and what they deserve. To act justly is to act fairly, to carefully weigh the actions and motives or others and to respond well.

Equity. To be equitable is to be evenhanded of all people. Race, creed, or position holds no sway over you. You favor no one because of that person’s power, beliefs, appearance, or anything.

Understanding. Let me go backward in the verse, for the gift of God here is the understanding of all these things. They are not merely lofty goals, but things that can be achieved.

Then. Let’s go back again, this time to the very beginning of the verse, because it tells us how to achieve these things. “Then” tells us that this verse is a reaction to the ones before it. And if we go back even farther, we learn how we get these things.

Is it by discipline? By going to conferences? Through diversity training? Do we have to study for a year? Go on missions to understand the plight of the third world? Deprive ourselves of chocolate? Tell me!

No. We have to believe.

You see, the whole first part of this chapter is about seeking the Lord, and the Lord will give us what we seek.

Too often do we seek righteousness, justice, and equity to understand God. We join these organizations, give time and money, hold rallies, study philosophy, and all to get a glimpse of the eternal. We have it backward. What the Bible tells us is to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Saint Anselm of Canterbury said it wonderfully: “Nor do I seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand. For this, too, I believe, that, unless I first believe, I shall not understand.”

We seek to know God by chasing His attributes. No, let us seek God first, and He will show us His attributes as part of His nature.

To show us more of Himself, God came down to earth in the form of a man, Jesus. Jesus came to bridge the gap between us and God, so that we would not have to seek Him merely by chasing after righteousness and justice (which cannot really be understood fully without God), but by knowing Him, and in knowing Him, understanding.

Our sin requires punishment, and in His death on the Cross, Jesus paid our price, so now there is no excuse for us not to come. No sin in our lives is too great for His loving sacrifice. He calls with open arms, ready to bring us His own righteousness, His own justice, His own equity, and His own understanding. Most importantly, His eternal life. Repent of your old ways and ask for His forgiveness and Spirit, that you may understand. It will not work to seek understanding so that you may believe. You have to believe first, “then . . .”