This chapter is full of safe instructions for the right ways of life. The truly happy life is one of continual (not just occasional) dependence upon God, as every Christian ought to know, and many have proved in their own experience.
Seven rewards for living according to God's Word are named in verses 1-10 which also set out seven certain marks of the godly. Let us first weigh well the true marks of the godly which are named in these verses.
The first one is that God's Word is in the mind, not forgotten, and in the heart, kept, stored up. Depend upon it, if the Bible is one's treasured daily companion, the daily life will show it in many ways.
Verse 3 gives the second and third marks: Mercy (really loving kindness) and truth. These are admirable qualities surely, which should be shown out in every contact with our fellowmen.
Verses 5-6 give the fourth mark of a godly person: He confides in God with all his heart; he does not rely upon his own intelligence or discernment. In all his ways he looks to God as over him.
Verse 7 points out the fifth and sixth marks: the godly than is not puffed up about himself; he distrusts himself, indeed. And, fearing the Lord, he departs from evil; he separates himself from every wrong thought, word, way and companionship.
The last of the seven marks of a godly person is in verse 9: he honors God with what he possesses; he gives to Him; in His name he gives to the Lord's servants and for the Lord's work, liberally.
God has chosen these seven marks, by which those who trust in Him are to be known. Shall we not, each of us who love the Lord Jesus, earnestly seek to have all of these marks seen in us, constantly?
Now for the seven rewards, contained in the same ten verses. The first (verse 2) is length of days and years of life added. The Christian does not expect to die but looks for the Lord Jesus to end his earthly stay by His coming to take His heavenly people away to glory; nevertheless and in view of that a long life spent in the fear of God, and lived in the light of His Word, is full of testimony for the Lord, and is a great blessing. (See Isaiah 26: 3; 57: 21, also Philippians 4: 6, 7).
Favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man (verse 4) are the third and fourth in the list.
The fifth is in verse 6. God assures us all who confide in Him, a plain way; they will know the way they should go as they journey through life.
Verse 8 brings us the sixth blessing: health. Verse 10 gives the seventh, abundance of food and drink.
We can see that all of these seven blessings are earthly, and we know that it often pleases God to not let His children have every earthly blessing, in order that they may have their minds centered on the glorious future, eternity with the Lord Jesus. (But see Mark 10:29-3129And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. (Mark 10:29‑31); Philippians 4:19,19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) and Luke 12:22-3122And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Luke 12:22‑31)).
The word "chastening" in verse 11 is perhaps better translated "instruction"; it means also warning, correction or discipline, and "correction" at the end of the verse is rather "reproof." To "despise" the instruction or correction of the Lord, is not to make little of it, as though it were something of no account and contemptible, but the word used here has the sense of loathing, rejecting with abhorrence. The believer is not to refuse the Lord's instruction, nor be weary of His reproof. Obedience is a hard lesson for some of us to learn, and by nature we are disobedient. (See Psalm 32:8, 98I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. (Psalm 32:8‑9)).
Whom He loves, He chastens, and of this the Hebrew Christians had to be reminded (Hebrews 12:5-135And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:5‑13)), and so do we in this day who know Christ as our Saviour. It is the son in whom He delighteth that the father corrects.
We may compare this with the interest of the Father in the fruit bearing branches in John 15: 2, for the Father now judges His children; by and by the Son will judge the world.
Turning back to our key verse, chapter 1:7, we see the meaning of verse 13,
"Happy (or blessed) is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."
It is not the wisdom spoken of in 1 Corinthians 1:17, 19, 20, 22, 2617For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (1 Corinthians 1:17)
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:19‑20)
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (1 Corinthians 1:22)
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26); but that of verse 30 in that chapter. The gain of this wisdom and understanding is better than the precious things of this world for which men and women strive so hard all their lives (verses 14-15).
How alluring the description of this heavenly wisdom is in verses 15 to 18. "All the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her" (wisdom looked at here as a person), and all that makes for happiness and life—even everlasting life (verse 18) is found in her.
Shame on us who have confessed with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and believed in our heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, that we do not value nearly as much as we should this true wisdom. The people of this world are far more in earnest about the things the world has to give them, than the children of God are in seeking the things that concern Him (See 2 Peter 3:1818But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)).
God by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the deeps were broken up (see Genesis 7:1111In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11)), and the skies drop down the dew. This sound wisdom and discretion, garnered from the Bible, God's written Word, is the safeguard of the believer as he passes through a wicked world.
What security, what calmness, in such a troubled scene, is confidently assured to those who trust in Him, in verses 23-26!
Verses 27 to 31 speak of our relationships with men, for the knowledge of a Saviour God teaches us right ways toward our fellowmen as well as toward God.
God has a perfect judgment concerning the wicked; they are an abomination to Him (verse 32). His secret is however with the upright (see Psalm 25:1414The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. (Psalm 25:14)); they know Him and what pleases Him.
God distinguishes those that fear Him, and He blesses them, and gives grace to the lowly.
Verse 35 tells the end of the course, and here there are two classes still, but they are now described like the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13,1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1‑13) as "wise" and "foolish,"—wise, because they gave heed to God's Word; or foolish, because they scorned that Word, and met His inevitable judgment.