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 10:29-31; Philippians 4:19, and 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, 9).
Whom He loves, He chastens, and of this the Hebrew Christians had to be reminded (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, 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 3:18).
God by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the deeps were broken up (see 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 25:14); 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, 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.