turning your ear to wisdom

Before they get into the collection of short sayings, Solomon's proverbs have a lot to say about wisdom.  There is a whole poem about desiring wisdom.

"If you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom 
and applying your heart to understanding - 
indeed if you call out for insight 
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure ..."

That is quite a picture of desperate desire to get hold of something.  I wonder how much I really want to be wise?  Is it worth it?
Well, the poet goes on to tell us what the result will be:
"then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God."
That seems a bit lame.  It wasn't what I was expecting.  All that searching and crying out was for WISDOM, where does God come into it?

The poet does not leave it there though:
"For the LORD gives wisdom
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
Now that is interesting.  Our world often despises spiritual things.  But Solomon believed that knowing God is where it all starts.