Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
The understanding of what is right and just and fair and of every good way is given to those who receive and treasure divine words, incline the ear to wisdom, apply the heart to understanding, and seek earnestly as for silver and for hidden treasures. It comes to those who walk uprightly, who yield themselves to obey, and who follow on to know the Lord in His school. When the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding, when He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous, shields those who walk uprightly, and guards the paths of judgment and the way of His saints, then they understand righteousness and judgment and equity and recognize every good path.
That understanding is practical discernment for right conduct and right choices. It enables careful weighing of all sides of a question and firm stepping forward by faith. In business as well as in preaching it is possible and a privilege to know with certainty that each step is right instead of acting without instruction. Obeying revealed will is the safeguard against relying on one's own judgment, and this discernment builds a trustworthy character.
It belongs with understanding the fear of Jehovah and finding the knowledge of God, when wisdom enters the heart and knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul. It forms a lasting experience valued above gold and silver that does not wash out in summer heat but stands the test of trial. Mere acquaintance with facts and important theories does not bring this understanding or bring new life to the soul unless put to practical use, for the soul must be given food that nourishes and stimulates spiritual life. Obeying revealed will safeguards against relying on one's own judgment, following impulsive conjectures, and remaining in uncertainty.
Then discretion watches over and understanding keeps, preserving from evil and from leaving uprightness. This makes laborers together with God steadfast and dependable, with prudence in speech and in planning. God does not lay burdens so heavy they cannot be carried without sacrificing mental, moral and spiritual strength, so workers stay fresh to educate others and free from discouragement at inability to carry the whole load.
As instruction it corrects too much visiting and unprofitable conversation by calling to honor the Lord in word. It belongs to Proverbs 2:1-9 as a text for mothers and fathers to meet the divine requirements in themselves as laborers together with God, treating children as younger members of the Lord's family and teaching them to be true and faithful to God who gave His life for them. Its righteousness, just judgment and equity expose unfair judgment, as in the committee's treatment of Littlejohn's book, where failure in justice led to corruption of principle.
The understanding of what is right and just and fair and of every good way is given to those who receive and treasure divine words, incline the ear to wisdom, apply the heart to understanding, and seek earnestly as for silver and for hidden treasures. It comes to those who walk uprightly, who yield themselves to obey, and who follow on to know the Lord in His school. When the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding, when He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous, shields those who walk uprightly, and guards the paths of judgment and the way of His saints, then they understand righteousness and judgment and equity and recognize every good path.
That understanding is practical discernment for right conduct and right choices. It enables careful weighing of all sides of a question and firm stepping forward by faith. In business as well as in preaching it is possible and a privilege to know with certainty that each step is right instead of acting without instruction. Obeying revealed will is the safeguard against relying on one's own judgment, and this discernment builds a trustworthy character.
It belongs with understanding the fear of Jehovah and finding the knowledge of God, when wisdom enters the heart and knowledge becomes pleasant to the soul. It forms a lasting experience valued above gold and silver that does not wash out in summer heat but stands the test of trial. Mere acquaintance with facts and important theories does not bring this understanding or bring new life to the soul unless put to practical use, for the soul must be given food that nourishes and stimulates spiritual life. Obeying revealed will safeguards against relying on one's own judgment, following impulsive conjectures, and remaining in uncertainty.
Then discretion watches over and understanding keeps, preserving from evil and from leaving uprightness. This makes laborers together with God steadfast and dependable, with prudence in speech and in planning. God does not lay burdens so heavy they cannot be carried without sacrificing mental, moral and spiritual strength, so workers stay fresh to educate others and free from discouragement at inability to carry the whole load.
As instruction it corrects too much visiting and unprofitable conversation by calling to honor the Lord in word. It belongs to Proverbs 2:1-9 as a text for mothers and fathers to meet the divine requirements in themselves as laborers together with God, treating children as younger members of the Lord's family and teaching them to be true and faithful to God who gave His life for them. Its righteousness, just judgment and equity expose unfair judgment, as in the committee's treatment of Littlejohn's book, where failure in justice led to corruption of principle.