Proverbs 2:15–16 (KJV 1900) — 15 Whose ways are crooked, And they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

The ways (motives) of evil persons are crooked, and their deeds (paths) are perverse.

Wisdom and knowledge will not only deliver from evil persons, but from the “strange woman.” This can be a literal woman who entices to evil, or she may be a figurative representation of spiritual folly in contrast to wisdom.

Flattery is the first characteristic of the strange woman. Flattery means “false praise; commendation bestowed for the purpose of gaining favor and influence, or to accomplish some purpose” (Webster).

Psalm 12:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Proverbs 20:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

Proverbs 29:5 (KJV 1900) — 5 A man that flattereth his neighbour Spreadeth a net for his feet.

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Proverbs 2:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

The second characteristic of evil persons is that they can be identified by what delights them, by the things in which they rejoice. This is the precise opposite of love’s characteristics.

1 Corinthians 13:6 (KJV 1900) — 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

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Proverbs 2:13 (KJV 1900) — 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

The first characteristic of evil persons is that they walk in darkness. There is no middle ground between good and evil. A person either walks in the light or in the darkness.

1 John 1:6–7 (KJV 1900) — 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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Proverbs 2:12 (KJV 1900) — 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, From the man that speaketh froward things;

The second result of wisdom and knowledge is to know how to avoid being enticed by the evil and froward person. The word froward means “perverse, that is, turning from, with aversion or reluctance; not willing to yield or comply with what is required; unyielding, ungovernable; disobedient; peevish” (Webster). Wisdom and knowledge will enable a person to detect the error in the evil person’s way and words.

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Proverbs 2:11 (KJV 1900) — 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee:

The first benefit of wisdom and knowledge is preservation. Discretion here means sagacity, which is quickness or acuteness of discernment; readiness of apprehension; the faculty of readily discerning and distinguishing ideas and of separating truth from falsehood. It will keep an individual from making destructive mistakes. Understanding, which is defined in Scripture as departing from evil (Job 28:28), will also work to keep a person from being destroyed.

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Proverbs 2:10–22 (KJV 1900) — 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, And knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, From the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, And they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, Neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, And the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Lest we think that the blessings of wisdom an knowledge are merely mental, Solomon listed the practical results of these qualities. Wisdom cannot be head knowledge only; it must enter into the heart. It must become part of the person. And one’s relationship with knowledge cannot be merely academic; it must be pleasant to his soul. He must love knowledge.

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Proverbs 2:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, And equity; yea, every good path.

Not only will the eight steps outlined in Proverbs 2:1-4 result in understanding the fear of the Lord and finding the knowledge of God, but they will lead to an understanding of righteousness, judgment, equity — indeed, everything good.

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Proverbs 2:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, And preserveth the way of his saints.

God is the keeper of paths and the preserver of ways. The person who follows the Lord does not need to worry about the future. God is in control. The believer will discover that God makes no apologies for dealing with His children differently than those who reject Him.

Exodus 11:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

Four breeds of Egyptian dogs.

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Proverbs 2:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Those who are righteous may be certain that God has sound wisdom (as opposed to human wisdom) reserved for them. Those who walk uprightly may be sure He will be a buckler to them.

The buckler was a type of shield, a piece of defensive armor. It was made of wood, covered with skin or leather, strengthened with plates of metal, and worn on the left arm. In the middle of the buckler was a protrusion that was useful in causing stones and darts to glance off. The buckler was often four feet long and covered the whole body (Webster’s Dictionary, facsimile edition; 1928 [Anaheim, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1967], s.v. “buckler.”).

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Proverbs 2:6 (KJV 1900) — 6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

God is the ultimate source of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Christians should reject the myth that truth can be divided into two separate categories of secular and sacred. All truth is ultimately of God. Regardless of the academic discipline, truth is rooted in God Himself.

This understanding has profound implications for Christians in every field. Whether revealed in God’s Word, through His creation, or in the hearts of people, all truth finds its source in God.

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