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20. ¶ My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. {health: Heb. medicine}
These repeated injunctions (Chapter 3:1; 5:1; 6:20, 21; 22:17) are an admirable pattern to the Christian Parent or Minister. The desire of wisdom, the first step in the path, is encouraged. The means of obtaining, and the privilege when obtained, are pointed out. Eye, then, the treasure of wisdom habitually. A neglected Bible is the melancholy proof of a heart “alienated from God.” For how can we have a spark of love to him, if that Book, which is the full manifestation of his glory, be despised? And yet a superficial acquaintance with it is of no avail. If our ears were bored to the doors of the sanctuary; if the words never departed from our eyes; yet, except they were kept in the heart, our religion would be a notion, not a principle; speculative, not practical; conviction, not love. Nor even here must they possess the mere threshold. Let the word be kept in the midst of the heart. Here only can it be operative (Chapter 23:26. Psalm 40:8; 119:11); “for out of the heart are the issues of life.” (Verse 23.) Here it becomes lively and substantial truth. Here, then, let a home be made for it,† a consecrated sanctuary in the most honoured chambers of the heart. This inhabitation of the word is a covenant promise — the test of our interest in the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:33.)
This keeping of the word will be life to those that find it. (Verses 4, 10, 13; 3:18.) ‘Some medicines are good for one part of the body; some for another. This is good for all the body, and all the soul.’† Vigorous and healthy (Chapter 3:8) shall we be, in feeding upon this heavenly manna. We shall not then bear our religion as our cross — as a cumbrous appendage. We shall not drag on in Christian duties as a chain. Godliness will be to us an element of joy. Its functions will be free and lively. The spirit will be a vital glow. The mind will be enriched with Divine wisdom. The heart will be established with gospel grace.
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