Proverbs 2:2 “making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding”
In 1992 I read for the first time Steven Covey’s book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I discovered what a paradigm was, and was immediately challenged in how little I sought to understand others, mostly pushing my own thoughts and agenda. I gained insight to the massive difference between what is urgent and what is important and was able to start restructuring my days around the important issues and values of life straight away. There was so much more that I learned and applied.
As a young senior manager working in Unilever, I had gotten to where I was simply by hard work, and I had actually for some time realised that I needed to upskill. I was a sponge for the principles that Covey taught, and as I applied these I quickly saw my influence and my opportunities increase.
If that is how I can grow by listening to a great worldly teacher, imagine the possibilities if I take my guidance from God here and genuinely “incline” my hearts towards understanding, towards knowledge and towards the wisdom of God.
To incline, means to be favourably disposed towards or willing to do something.
KNOWLEDGE
This verse in a way reflects the previous verse, as the writer emphasises his point, while adding a slightly different dimension. We move from receiving words, to being attentive, and from treasuring up, to inclining our hearts. The emphasis is on closeness, trust, relationship. It reminds me of the New Testament Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, “it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone” which originally comes from Deut 8:3 “And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, that he might make you that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”.
There is a sense where the voice in the scripture is calling to us, “come in close, even closer, as close as you can”.
How much do you depend on these words for your life – does it look like it, does the evidence of your life demonstrate an insatiable hunger for the word of God. If you were to go to court today to be prosecuted for being hungry in your life – what would the evidence look like, what do you spend your time seeking? The writer is calling for physical and emotional lean in – your body as a living sacrifice and your mind renewed as in Rom 12:1-2. The writer and the composer both already know what the benefits look like and they want you to experience these for your self.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
Let us look at “inclining” (pronounced “natah” in Hebrew), it has 38 mentions in the ESV Old Testament – every time this word is used (except once) it has either “ear” or “heart’ nearby. As we look to better understand what the writer means by “inclining” we pick up a sense of stretch, to extend and to spread out. We understand that this is a figurative use of the word that talks to us about what our attitude is towards God and every word he has spoken. We live always reaching, searching, seeking, to somehow know more of God, not as a one off event in emergencies, but wisdom is when we live like this, by faith, on the edge, every day.
WISDOM: what does your daily God stretch look like?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Learner – asks the best questions and is genuinely interested in the answers.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [pay as close attention as you possibly can to God, straining with everything within you, so that you can gain skills in life, business, competition, and spiritual life, that you can turn into action daily]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to remember each day that my source is you, and that you want to pour into me, so that I have something of value for others.
To chat to me as a professional coach/mentor – [email protected]
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me?
Incline your ear to hear what God has to say is something I continue to develop each day. That is why I value this method of understanding God’s words on an indepth level with your help Pastor Allan. It’s like you sought insights from Covey, which I also read years back and remembered how motivated I was by it. I didn’t realise that God’s message would have more impact and meaning than any of the books on motivation I diligently used when I was young. I ask myself now why I didn’t utilise God’s message for my life until now. Proverbs contains so much wisdom and insights on life. I am grateful Pastor Allan for this initiative of yours.
Thank you so much Allan for this word. I like the word incline – and how it relates to our ear and heart in the Bible. I don’t know if I purposely and attentively seek God each day but I do find his presence and answers when I call on Him. But attentively seeking to KNOW HIM more would something I should do. It will definitely help me to understand people better as well
My daily God stretch looks like leaning in to God, reminding Him (yes) of His promises to me like I am not alone, He holds me so close with His victorious right hand, He is my God and my constant help.
Grief is real and extremely painful at times. I t really is a ‘God stetch’ for me, running to Him, holding on to God’s words and truly leaning in, indeed He walks me through. Hallelujah!!
Very helpful, my challenge as a learner is to focus on deeper rather than more. Going for protein, rather than carbs!
Simple truth, thankyou Ps Allan. Can definitely stretch harder, this has encouraged and challenged me. 🙏🏻
Hi Ps Allan, thank you so much. I’m being reminded that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that come out of from the mouth of God. This means that that I should read the word of God always for me me to grow and to be fed spiritually. And that I should always remember that my body is a living sacrifice.
My daily God’s stretch….with so much going on and happening in my life….He is my only source of Hope, Life, Joy, Peace and my Refuge.
The journey that I have been through, I wouldn’t be able to make it without His firm and strong right hand holding me tight and secure.
Losing my beloved husband just right after our Silver Wedding Anniversary after long journey of illness, losing huge financial asset, shaky relationship with my children due to those two losses after one another, it was just unbearable for me as just a simple human being.
My Lord has always been there so so faithful, …..He has always been faithful since I knew Him from my childhood, however with the unprecendeted situation after one and another that I am facing in last few years recently, it is just proof to whom I should seek my Help….My help is come from my Lord….
Being in His presence and His dwelling is my only source of peace, calmness and beauty beyond anything in life.
Thank you so much ps. Allan for this opportunity to learn daily from your writing and chance giving comments here. God bless you more and more
This is a beautiful thought to “live always reaching, searching, seeking, to somehow know more of God”. Having a heart that is continuously Inclining towards the heart and voice of God, not just in emergencies, but as a way of life.
It truly is my prayer that the Lord would daily be my source and I’d have something of value to pour into others. That would be the most beautiful way of paying it forward.
Just beautiful! Thank you Pastor Allan!
Hi Pastor Allan, thank you for this. Interesting question, what does my daily God stretch look like? Looking at this scripture in TPT it says ‘So train your heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment ……’
My daily routine of reading God’s word and thinking through some of what I would have read. The way we have been doing these studies of Proverbs has been very helpful in how I now read and study each text.
This is such a great post. As we all desire to do better when we know better, this is a good time to reflect and reassess what I spend my time seeking. Am I learning and applying God’s wisdom in all areas of my life.
Definitely will apply the art of inclining my ear and heart and being intentionally attentive. So much in this verse.
As a Learner- I want to find out more and now equipped with a good way of researching and asking questions, I am excited for what is ahead.
Thank you. Loved this.
Getting closer to God just need Him want Him with your heart often we listen to people that are role models but if we put our hearts towards Jesus and love Him and see How wonderful He is wouldn’t we want to listen to the King the master of masters the creator of the universe the want that knows me to my depth and still loves me and He wants the best for us.
“Incline means willing to do something” that was my journey begins in search of God’s presence in my life when I became Christian. Now I’m more than inclined, I’m mindfully searching his voice, guidance and approval in everything I do! It’s not easy when God stretches you but I know his reward much greater for eternity!
Being attentive to skillful and Godly wisdom, and willingly directing my heart and mind to follow His instructions.
To live and go beyond the natural feels very much a stretch in our daily lives,
But when your heart in right with God it actually becomes an intentional act of love to live according to God’s instruction ,
We stretch beyond our own strength to love and reach out to others ,trusting in His grace always .
The thought of” giving something of value to others ”
Is so profound, !
Thank you pastor Allan
Incline .. seek God is something I need to do for my self my marriage and raising my children
God will have the right answers
When we attentively listen to Him and do as he says then we can rest in his peace knowing he is in control when we surrender.
Love this teaching thank you Pastor Allan !!
Thanks once again Pastor Allan for fresh bread to chew on!!
The God stretch reminds of a sprinter in the Olympic Games for instance stretching out at the finish line desperate to gain the advantage. I want to be that person inclining my ear & heart to know more of Father God & to be hungry to hear His voice because it will certainly be to my advantage in directing my life & hopefully in helping others.
I love the idea of straining and inclining towards what God wants me to hear. The stretching, the leaning in to , hanging on every word as if my life depended on it and in reality it does! Find this concept very challenging but also exciting. Thanks for stirring my thoughts tonight Allan
What a call to lean into and seek God! I love it, the invitation, the stretch, to reflect on where our hunger and trust is. Thanks Allan.
I really love your unauthorised version.
This really challenged me tonight “ We move from receiving words, to being attentive, and from treasuring up, to inclining our hearts.“ I feel like that stance could change everything.
“Our attitude “toward God is something that spoke to me most today. When I think about an attitude toward something it also comes back to how I feel about something or someone. Here I understand my attitude to God is to revere Him, Honour Him with all that is in my life with my words and thoughts deeds . And yet I still have to push through the distractions and things that take me away from spending time with him. And it is difficult . But I question myself , if God is so good, amazing and honourable (all the things we can be grateful for) why is there such a struggle to move in closer to Him … and He answers me with , because of the things of the flesh you are enticed .
Help me Lord to resist the time in the flesh and to reach for you Lord more . Amen
I find it interesting that God is concerned with our hearts and ears through much of the Bible.
Our ears allow what flows in and our hearts allow what flows out.
The Bible particularly makes continual mention of our hearts. The verse could easily read “and apply your ‘mind‘ to understanding” but instead mentions heart.
Our minds are seen as the rational decision making centre. Although our hearts don’t think; metaphorically speaking sometimes we make decisions based on our ‘heart’ rather than our ‘head’ meaning what seems logical (head) isn’t always what is right (heart) (just, fair, morally correct, Godly).
If I think of all the Bible stories what Jesus did was rarely logical.
For me this verse is saying that when we hear God’s wisdom it may go against what our rational minds want to do which is why he asks that our heart be inclined to understanding. For what flows from our hearts will be the wisdom that has entered though listening with our ears.
I think the saying ‘What would Jesus do?’ helps us to apply this verse. Jesus always spoke to his Father and received the wisdom to approach situations from his heart and not do only what was logical or made sense but something far greater ‘an understanding in your heart to make wise choices guided by the Holy Spirit’
Beautifully written, thankyou. Leaning not on our own understanding can sometimes feel quite a challenge.
God is so faithful. The more we know him, the more we understand & experience that, first-hand.
Blessings 🙏
Hi Ps Allan, thank you so much. I’m being reminded that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that come out of from the mouth of God. This means that that I should read the word of God always for me me to grow and to be fed spiritually. And that I should always remember that my body is a living sacrifice.
HI Allan
this verse reminds me to a certain degree Mark 10:15…….receiving the gospel like a little child. Seeking the word and understanding through The Holy Spirit everyday. Thankyou father for the Holy Spirit and its teaching Amen.
I can’t articulate, right now, how much your teachings are helping me. So many things have come to mind.
In some ways I almost feel overwhelmed, at times, but then our wonderful Saviour speaks to my heart & his all-sufficient grace stills my heart & prayer fills that space.
Your testimony & teachings never cease to amaze, encourage & bless me.
So appreciate you & your service for Our Lord.
Blessings 🙏💐
Thank you Ellie – that’s so encouraging! Bless you.
This article is very insightful and timely for me. I’m grateful for the encouragement to lean into God intently everyday through his word and the byproduct of that is wisdom, understanding and guidance, and of course a closeness with God. Thank you for sharing this, Allan!