Proverbs 2:1-22

 3 x if's in v.1 -4  ( v.1,3,4)  and 2x then's in the rest of ch 2 ( v.5,9) in this passage. 

The 3 if each has 2 verbs, receive/store up v.1, call out and raise your voice v.3, seek it like silver/search for it like treasure v.4. The intensity of acquiring wisdom is like crescendo in music. 

Then the result is you will understand v.5 (ability to grasp, discern or be sensitive to what it means to fear the LORD. NET) how to fear to the Lord v.5. We often want to know the will of God in seeking the counsel about our future path. Here my reflection is to ask myself ,"do I do the first 3 if?" Especially, the last one? How do one search for silver and treasure? Causally looking and flipping through the Bible quickly or spend time to read and then mediate upon its meaning? Obviously the later one. 

V.9 is the second then. From v.10-12 the wisdom will enter our heart to attract us or the moral knowledge (v.9 righteousness and justice and equity) will become internalize in us, then this will protect us from following the world or the wicked people (who has the evil internalize in them v. 14). 

Summary: if we want to be protected by God we need to search His wisdom with great intensity then the goodness about His words will attract us. Then it will internalized in us which in turn will save us from the way of the wicked people. 

Audrey