Proverbs 2:7 (ESV)
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Proverbs 2:7 (NIV1984)
He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
In chapter two of Proverbs Solomon is outlining the benefits of wisdom. In the above proverb he gives us the blessing of a life that is believed in God and the gospel and been declared righteous (upright). Whenever the proverbs talk about the righteous, it is referring to those who have been declared righteous by God through faith in His Son, no matter the time frame. Salvation is always through faith in Christ. AND, as the righteous we have the blessing of having God put up in wisdom in store for us and God becoming a shield for us. When I go to the store there a lot of things I would like. But, none of it is mine unless I purchase it. God has purchased wisdom and put it in the store for us to simply come and withdraw as needed (James 1:5). God wants us to ask for wisdom and He delivers it because He has put it in storage for any believer who asks for it. He also says He will be a shield for us. When we walk in integrity (walking in the Spirit) we have Him as a shield. Nothing can get to us. God has surrounded us. Here we have the two-fold protection of God. Like Paul's armor in Ephesians 5, by faith we have protection by God and insight and discernment from God. We can walk in integrity (the second line above) because we are given wisdom to do so (the first line above.) When we use these two aspects of the believer's benefits we have a victorious life. We can rejoice in the victory of the day because He gives us wisdom to see the danger and the shield to stand behind. He is in us through wisdom (Christ is wisdom) and around us. That is the formula for victory.
Does God want us to live in defeat or in victory? Obviously He wants us to live victorious lives. This proverb tells he does. He “holds the victory in store” tells us it is on lay-away, just waiting for us to pick it up. The fact that He is a “shield” to us, tells us what that victory is all about. It won’t be that we will have no battles, but he victory is that during the battle He is our shield. All this is in store for the believer who walks in “upright” ways and in “blameless” fashion. It is not reserved to those who are perfect (none of us are) but it is available to those who follow His ways and walk according to His word. When are walk matches His ways we have Him as our shield and can live a victories life. You have to stand and walk behind His shield, however, to experience the victory of His shield.
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