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18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: {lead: or, walk}
21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
What a treasure do early seekers find! This fading world is too poor a portion. (Psalm 17:14, 15.) Theirs are durable riches of eternity (Matthew 6:19, 20. Luke 10:42. Revelation 3:18); the honour of “reigning” as kings “in life” (Romans 5:17; 8:17. Revelation 1:6); a righteousness, in which they are accepted with God, and conformed to his image. (Romans 3:22; 13:14. Ephesians 4:24.) Is not this fruit and revenue better than choice silver? (Verses 10, 11; 3:14, 15. Ecclesiastes 7:12.) And then, when our way is shut up, how valuable is Wisdom's counsel! (Chapter 3:6; 4:11, 12; 6:22. Isaiah 48:17; 49:10) so carefully leading in the midst of the paths; ‘at a distance from the extreme’† on either side of the narrow way. The sober-minded Christian is equally remote from formal service and enthusiastic delusion. His apprehensions of truth are alike distinguished from the dryness of system, and from lose unconnected principles. The intelligent and spiritually-minded Churchman is alike separate from exclusiveness or idolatry on the one side, and from indiscriminate Christianity on the other. He values highly his Scriptural ordinances; yet he neither mistakes them for the substance of the gospel, nor does he substitute self-willed effervescence in their room. This is the Via Media — Christian unity, consistency, and fruitfulness. Here also is substance — things that have a being, in contrast with “things that have not” (Chapter 23:5. Psalm 39:6. 1 Corinthians 7:31); solid realities (Isaiah 29:8, contrasted with Isaiah 55:2); “faith substantiating things hoped for.” (Hebrews 11:1.) Sin pardoned: the Father smiling acceptance; the Comforter witnessing our peace; a new molding of our mind and spirit. Here is no yawning vacuum, but a grand object to give interest to life, to fill up every vacancy in the heart — ‘perfect happiness’† All that we could add from the world would only make us poorer, by diminishing that enjoyment of God, for the loss of which there is no compensation. There is one point — only one — in the universe, where we can look up, and cry with the saintly Martyn — ‘With thee there is no disappointment.’†
Now contrast the portion in this life — of the men of this world. Mark how the word of God pictures it — a fashion (1 Corinthians 7:31) — a dream (Psalm 73:20) — a nonentity (Chapter 23:5. Amos 6:13) — a lie. (Jonah 2:8.) Thus men are spread over the world, “feeding upon ashes, a deceived heart turning them aside.” (Isaiah 44:20.) The inlet of their misery is, that they walk in a vain shadow, and “therefore they are disquieted in vain.” The child of God finds substance in “returning to his” true “rest. Now Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” (Psalm 39:6, 7.)
But how does he come to his portion? Has he any part in deserving it? Far from it. Free grace, not free will, is the procuring cause. It is an inheritance, now indeed “obtained,” while “the earnest” is in hand (Ephesians 1:11); but to be fully enjoyed at the great consummation-day. Then, indeed, what here he promises will he fully make good. His joyous welcome “to them on his right hand” will indeed be causing them that love him to inherit substance (Hebrews 10:34) — eternal, unfading. (Matthew 25:34.) Even now from his royal bounty does he fill their treasures. But what will be the burst of joy at that day — what the unbounded delight throughout eternity, when, endowing them with such a royal — yea — Divine bounty, the glorious Giver shall proclaim — I will fill their treasures! (1 Peter 1:4, 5.) And the countless throng of the redeemed shall unite in the testimony — One Christ hath abundantly filled us all!
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