“The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked the Gold Rush, arguably one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century. As news spread of the discovery, thousands of prospective gold miners traveled by sea or over land to San Francisco and the surrounding area; by the end of 1849, the non-native population of the California territory was some 100,000 (compared with the pre-1848 figure of less than 1,000). A total of $2 billion worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush, which peaked in 1852” (http://www.history.com/topics/gold-rush-of-1849).

I am always amazed by the treasures available in God’s Word. God help us to rush to His Word to find the better than gold treasures waiting for excavation. God exhorts us to “treasure” (תִּצְפֹּ֥ן) his Word. To “treasure” (תִּצְפֹּ֥ן) is to hide something away. Proverbs 7:1 says, “My son, keep my words and treasure up (תִּצְפֹּ֥ן) my commandments with you.” The word is used again in Proverbs 10:14, “the wise treasure up ((תִּצְפֹּ֥ן) wisdom.”

This concept and word are repeated in Proverbs 2.

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up (תִּצְפֹּ֥ן) my commandments with you,  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright the is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints” Proverbs 2:1–8.

We must value the treasures in God’s Word. Clement of Alexandria wrote:

But words are the progeny of the soul. Hence we call those who have instructed us, fathers. Wisdom is a communicative and philanthropic thing. Accordingly, Solomon says, “My son, if thou receive the saying of my commandment, and hide it with thee, thine ear shall hear wisdom.” He points out that the word that is sown is hidden in the soul of the learner, as in the earth, and this is spiritual planting.

(Clement of Alexandria, “The Stromata, or Miscellanies,” in Fathers of the Second Century: vol. 2, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885), 299.

As we have this “spiritual planting” of Gods Word, we also rejoice in spiritual fruit bearing in our lives and in the lives of others.

God has treasured up wisdom for us. It is there for the taking. We must run to the Word and then treasure up that wisdom in our own hearts, so that we may live the life blessed with the richness of wisdom.