Proverbs 8:17 - Seek and Find

Pro.8:17; Seek and Find

Prov 8:17 (KJV)  I love them that love me; and those that seek
me early shall find me.

Prov 8:17 (NRSV)  I love those who love me, and those who seek
me diligently find me.

Wisdom's eternal character is shown in 8:22-31 and ultimately
points to Christ, in whom is found "all the treasures of wisdom."
Christ, who is wisdom incarnate, is the ultimate wise man. [New Bible
Companion]

Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge; it is Christ in the word, and Christ in the heart;
not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us.... Seek
him early, seek him earnestly, seek him before any thing else.
[Matthew Henry Commentary]

To seek early or earnestly, to look early or diligently for.
[Brown, Driver & Briggs' Hebrew Lexicon]

This means to seek so diligently that one rises early in the
morning to press the search. Because of the distractions of worldly
affairs, and the deceitfulness of the human heart, persevering diligence
is required to maintain a saving relationship with true wisdom and
with God. [SDA Commentary]

Not merely in the morning, though he who does so shall find it
greatly to his advantage; but early in life-- in youth, and as near as
possible to the first dawn of reason. To the young this gracious promise
is particularly made: if they seek, they shall find. Others, who
are old, may seek and find; but never to such advantage as they
would have done, had they sought early. (Adam Clarke Commentary)

Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very
first work. Let your prayer be, "Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I
lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide
with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee." This is a daily
matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender
all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His
providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into
the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more
after the life of Christ.  SC70

Consecration (being dedicated to God's service) is our part;
sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God's part.
[In His Time; My Utmost For His Highest]

The word "early" sticks out in this verse:  does the Lord mean
early in the morning?  early in your life?  early in your Christian
walk?  Early seems to denote a time set aside before other things push
in ahead.  Could God be saying that He wants top priority in your
life?  Could the Lord want to spend time with you when you are fresh
and unencumbered from the cares of the day?  God is a jealous God.
He commands that you have nothing in your life that is more
important to you.  Are you in line with God on this?  Or do you need to
realign your priorities in order to seek Him early?  [In His Time; Walk
With Wisdom]

I met God in the morning,
when my day was at its best
and His Presence came as sunrise
like a glory in my breast.
All day long His Presence lingered,
all day long He stayed with me
and we sailed in perfect calmness
o'er a very troubled sea.
Other ships were blown and battered,
other ships were sore distressed.
but the winds that seemed to drive them
brought to us a peace and rest.
Then I thought of other mornings
with a keen remorse of mind.
when I too had loosed the moorings
and His Presence left behind.
So, I think I know the secret.
learned from many a troubled way.
you must seek God in the morning,
if you want Him through the day.
(source unknown)