10. ¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
11. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
We have seen the good that wisdom brings to us. (Verse 5.) Now see the evil, from which it preserves us. But observe its place — in the heart. Here only has it any light, life, or power. (Chapter 4:23.) Clear knowledge floating in the head is deep ignorance. While it only glitters in the understanding, it is dry, speculative, and barren. When it entereth into the heart, light beams out, all the affections are engaged; and how pleasant is it to the soul! (Chapter 24:13, 14. Job 23:12. Psalm 119:103. Jeremiah 15:16.) Religion now is no lifeless notion. It is handled, tasted, enjoyed. It gives a discreet and understanding direction to the whole conduct. It becomes not only an external rule, but a preserving, keeping principle (Chapter 4:6; 6:22-24. Psalm 17:4; 119:9-11, 104); like the military guard for the safety of the royal person. (1 Samuel 26:16. 2 Kings 11:11.) Before, it was the object of our search. Now, having found it, it is our pleasure. Until it is so, it can have no practical influence. It is “the man, whose delight is in the law of the LORD,” who is preserved from “walking in the counsel of the ungodly.” (Psalm 1:1-2; Compare chapter 7:4, 5.) Education, conviction, high moral principle, are at best only partially operative. The reclaimed drunkard may be true to his Temperance-pledge; but, if the “root of bitterness” be untouched, he may be a Socialist or a Chartist, or revel in some other equally ruinous course. External wickedness may be exchanged for decent formality. Vagrant affections may be turned from some object of vanity; yet not fixed upon the Divine centre of attraction. The mind may be disciplined from utter unprofitableness, only to indulge in the idolatry of talent, or the fascinations of poisoned literature. The folly of the pride of life may be resisted; yet pride in other of its multiform fruits tenderly cherished. In all these cases, the principle is unsubdued. The forsaken sin only makes way for some more plausible, but not less deadly passion. The heart, cast into the mold of the Gospel, is the only cover from those snares within and without (Romans 6:17, 18. 2 Corinthians 3:18), which so imperceptibly, yet so fatally, estrange us from God. Never, till the vital principle is implanted, is their mischief discerned. Never, till then, does the heart find its proper object, its true resting-place.
|