Verse 1. What a difference a bad conscience makes! Verse 3. God does not forget the poor, though we are very apt to think of ourselves first, and perhaps only. See how the poor are in God's thoughts in verses 6, 8, 11, 15 and 27.
"The poor always ye have with you." John 12:8. (See James 2:14-16.)
Verse 5. Note that it is "they who seek the Lord," who understand the judgments of God. The youngest believer knows that God does right, always, and those who are in the secret of His purposes are not necessarily people of great learning. But it cannot be said that all Christians make it part of their daily life to "seek the Lord." Verse 11 shows that the poor man that has knowledge-the light shed by the Word of God on the world, and the right way through it-searches out the rich man with his boasted wisdom.
The truth of verse 8 has been proved over and over again. Ill-gotten riches take wings, sooner or later.
Verse 9 comes from God, Who knows the heart. He is not deceived. His ear is always open to the prayer of faith, but drawing nigh with the lips while the ear turns away from hearing His Word is abomination to Him.
Verse 12 is better translated, "When the righteous triumph there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men conceal themselves." (See verse 28.)
Verse 13 tells an important principle with God. He is ready to show mercy to whosoever confesses and forsakes his sins, and whoever he be that hides his sins shall not prosper. Sin cannot be got rid of by concealing it. See Cain trying to cover his fearful sin in Genesis 4:9-11.
An excellent motto for the Christian is in verse 14, "Happy is the man that feareth alway." Abiding in the fear of the Lord, seeking to please Him in all of our ways is the way of happiness. And, on the contrary part, he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. This is a word for Christians too.
Those who are expecting the Lord's coming—the true Christian hope (Romans 8:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) do not look for long life here, yet if granted (verse 16 and 1 Peter 3:10-12), what opportunity may be given for spending it usefully in the service of the Lord and of His people! It should be with us all who love Him, as with the apostle in his letter to the Philippians (chapter 1:21), "to me to live is Christ!"
Verses 18, 20, 25, 26, 27 shed various light upon the important principle that the life of faith has great value in the sight of God. Every verse in these chapters is important and should be studied with profit.