He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
He keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of His saints, watching over just paths and guarding the course of right judgment for the faithful and upright who belong to Him and walk uprightly. This guarding of just paths and preserving of His holy ones is the keeping of judgment's paths and the protection of those faithful to Him. The promise belongs to those who earnestly seek wisdom from God by inclining the ear to wisdom, applying the heart to understanding, receiving His words, seeking understanding as silver and hid treasures, valuing it above gold and silver, and relying on the wisdom He gives. His wisdom and understanding are gifts to be sought earnestly, and seeking wisdom from God in this way is following on to know the Lord.
This seeking is not standing in a negative, waiting position, but active learning in the school of Christ that weighs carefully all sides of a question, steps firmly forward by faith, and labors together with God. Such seeking gives understanding of the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, with understanding of righteousness and judgment and fairness and equity and every good path and right conduct and the right way to live. Wisdom then enters the heart, knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul, and discretion and understanding watch over and keep the seeker. In the setting of the surrounding verses, this seeking of wisdom leading to understanding of righteousness and good conduct is what brings the guarding of the paths of justice and the protection of those who belong to Him.
The wisdom and understanding thus given preserve from evil paths and from leaving the upright path, keeping the seeker from following impulsive conjectures and personal judgment. Those who seek His wisdom and walk uprightly are kept from the danger of relying on their own judgment, and obedience to His revealed word is their safety. The experience so gained does not wash out in the heat of summer but is tested and endures trial, giving constant perseverance in the right direction and a standing place. Mere acquaintance with facts and theories is of little value unless put to practical use, but earnest seeking feeds the soul with food that nourishes and stimulates spiritual life. Heeding these words builds upright character and prepares a person to be trusted with responsibilities.
For workers in needy fields this means they are not required to carry the whole load or to disqualify themselves physically, morally, mentally, and spiritually by overdoing, since God does not lay on burdens too heavy to bear without such sacrifice. It therefore calls workers to keep fresh in order to teach others how to work, to avoid discouragement, and to be prudent in speech and planning, with assurance that divine wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and protection sustain upright service. In the setting of the surrounding verses, the passage speaks to mothers and fathers about the education and training of children, showing that parents are laborers together with God whose efforts He joins. By meeting the divine requirements themselves they can accomplish a work for others, and children are to be treated as younger members of the Lord's family and taught to be true and faithful to God who gave His life for them.
He keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of His saints, watching over just paths and guarding the course of right judgment for the faithful and upright who belong to Him and walk uprightly. This guarding of just paths and preserving of His holy ones is the keeping of judgment's paths and the protection of those faithful to Him. The promise belongs to those who earnestly seek wisdom from God by inclining the ear to wisdom, applying the heart to understanding, receiving His words, seeking understanding as silver and hid treasures, valuing it above gold and silver, and relying on the wisdom He gives. His wisdom and understanding are gifts to be sought earnestly, and seeking wisdom from God in this way is following on to know the Lord.
This seeking is not standing in a negative, waiting position, but active learning in the school of Christ that weighs carefully all sides of a question, steps firmly forward by faith, and labors together with God. Such seeking gives understanding of the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, with understanding of righteousness and judgment and fairness and equity and every good path and right conduct and the right way to live. Wisdom then enters the heart, knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul, and discretion and understanding watch over and keep the seeker. In the setting of the surrounding verses, this seeking of wisdom leading to understanding of righteousness and good conduct is what brings the guarding of the paths of justice and the protection of those who belong to Him.
The wisdom and understanding thus given preserve from evil paths and from leaving the upright path, keeping the seeker from following impulsive conjectures and personal judgment. Those who seek His wisdom and walk uprightly are kept from the danger of relying on their own judgment, and obedience to His revealed word is their safety. The experience so gained does not wash out in the heat of summer but is tested and endures trial, giving constant perseverance in the right direction and a standing place. Mere acquaintance with facts and theories is of little value unless put to practical use, but earnest seeking feeds the soul with food that nourishes and stimulates spiritual life. Heeding these words builds upright character and prepares a person to be trusted with responsibilities.
For workers in needy fields this means they are not required to carry the whole load or to disqualify themselves physically, morally, mentally, and spiritually by overdoing, since God does not lay on burdens too heavy to bear without such sacrifice. It therefore calls workers to keep fresh in order to teach others how to work, to avoid discouragement, and to be prudent in speech and planning, with assurance that divine wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and protection sustain upright service. In the setting of the surrounding verses, the passage speaks to mothers and fathers about the education and training of children, showing that parents are laborers together with God whose efforts He joins. By meeting the divine requirements themselves they can accomplish a work for others, and children are to be treated as younger members of the Lord's family and taught to be true and faithful to God who gave His life for them.