Articles
Knowledge Protected
Knowledge Protected
"That your lips may reserve knowledge"
(Proverbs 5:2)
At first glance, this statement might sound like something should be kept secret. Yet that is not the meaning. Instead, Solomon is saying that through teaching knowledge is kept safe. The word "reserve," means "to keep watch over, to protect." Perhaps it would be clearer if we translated this "that your lips may protect knowledge." This provides several important truths for us today:
God's word is not to be kept secret. Sometimes we do this by our silence. We should be saying something, but we don't. Maybe someone made an incorrect statement about the Bible. That is when our knowledge is not to be held in reserve. It is to be protected through our "lips." While speaking of the gospel, Paul said: "for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned" (2 Timothy 2:9). They might be able to lock Paul up in a prison somewhere, but that was not going to silence his preaching of the word. It was meant to be preached. Jesus told the disciples: "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops" (Matthew 10:27).
God's word is meant to be preached. The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles with "the whole truth" (John 16:13). What God wanted men to know was given to these men so they could preach it and write it down. Our Bibles are the word of God, inspired by God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This inspired word God wants us to preach (2 Timothy 4:2). He told the disciples to "go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). This is how the truth of God's word is "protected." This applies to every Christian, not just "preachers." Every child of God is expected to protect the truth of God's word by talking about it. The church, Paul said, is to be "the pillar and support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15).
God's word is what saves. Now we understand why the first two points are true. We can't keep God's word secret. We must preach it because it is what saves men's souls. James said: "Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). In the Parable of the Sower, Satan tries to steal the seed (the word of God). Why? "so that they will not believe and be saved" (Luke 8:12). God wants all men "to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
God's word will judge us in the end. While many today think they will be judged by how good of people they were, or perhaps by some other religious writing, the truth is that all will be judged by the Bible. Jesus said "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore, the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me" (John 12:48-50). In the great judgment scene in Revelation 20, all men are judged by the Bible books (20:11-15).
Since people will be judged by God's word, it must be "protected," by being preached - clearly, accurately, continually.
