2:3-6 Wisdom is both a God-given gift and the fruit of an energetic search. Wisdom’s starting point is God and his revealed Word, the source of “knowledge and understanding” (2:6). In that sense, wisdom is God’s gift to us. But he gives it only to those who earnestly seek it. The pathway to wisdom is strenuous. When we are on it, we discover that true wisdom is God’s and that we cannot create it by our own efforts. But because God’s wisdom is hidden from the rebellious and foolish, it takes effort to find it and use it.
2:9, 10 We gain wisdom through a constant process of growing. First, we must trust and honor God. Second, we must realize that the Bible reveals God’s wisdom to us. Third, we must make a lifelong series of right choices. Fourth, when we make sinful or mistaken choices, we must learn from our errors and recover. People don’t develop all aspects of wisdom at once. For example, some people have more insight than discretion; others have more knowledge than common sense. But we can pray for all aspects of wisdom and take the steps to develop them.
2:11 Discretion is discernment, the ability to tell right from wrong. It enables the believer to detect evil motives in men (2:12) and women (2:16). With practice it helps us evaluate courses of action and consequences. For some it is a gift; for most it is developed by using God’s truth to make wise choices day by day. Hebrews 5:14 emphasizes that we must discipline ourselves in order to have discretion.
2:16, 17 A “strange woman” is a seductive woman or a prostitute. Two of the most difficult sins to resist are pride and sexual immorality. Both are seductive. Pride says, “I deserve it”; sexual desire says, “I need it.” In combination, their appeal is deadly. In fact, says Solomon, only by relying on God’s strength can we overcome them. Pride appeals to the empty head, sexual enticement to the empty heart. By looking to God, we can fill our head with his wisdom and our heart with his love. Don’t be fooled—remember what God says about who you are and what you were meant to be. Ask him for strength to resist these temptations.