Here Solomon again commands the involuntary, because he has shown the steps to it. We cannot, of all other things in the world, live by a voluntary act, but we can “keep watch over the commandments.” I mean, we can, as it is a voluntary act, if God makes us willing. But we cannot live as a voluntary thing except through some form of anterior obedience.—Miller.
main homiletics of the paragraph.—Verses 5–13.
The One Thing Needful.
I. Human nature has many needs. 1. There are the needs of the body, which begin upon our entrance into life, and never cease until the day of our death. These are common to all men, and keep every man in an attitude of getting all through his life. It is the demand of these needs—the effort to get what will supply them—that is the motive-power which keeps the world of men in motion. 2. Men’s needs are multiplied in proportion to the greatness of their sphere and their intellectual activity. The needs of a judge upon the bench are more than those of a crossing-sweeper. Both have some wants in common, but the intellectual and social position of the former has multiplied his needs far beyond those of the latter. The needs of a master in a house of business, or of a mistress in a family, are more than those of their servants. They have more claims to meet—more responsible positions to fill. But the aim of each individual man, woman, or child is to supply their natural or acquired—their real or their supposed—wants, whether material, or intellectual, or spiritual.
II. There is one need above all other needs—one thing to be gotten before all other gettings—viz.: Wisdom, taking the word to mean godliness. The husbandman finds that the field that has been given him to till needs many things before it will yield him a golden harvest. But there is one thing, among others, that is indispensable, viz.: the sunlight. He will plough, and harrow, and sow in vain if this want is not supplied. So all a man’s gettings will fail to bring him a harvest of soul-satisfaction if this primal element be wanting.
III. The blessings which follow the getting of godliness. They have already been enumerated in chap. [iii. 21–26]. See homiletics on that paragraph. On verse 9 see homiletics on [chap. i. 9].
outlines and suggestive comments.
Verse 5. We cannot do it directly, but there immediately follow the rules to be observed, “forget not,” etc. It is astonishing how much is made of attention. It is the only voluntary thing, not muscular.—Miller.
For so much a man learns as he remembers. The promise also of salvation is limited to “keeping in memory what we have received” (1 Cor. xv. 2).
1. Because of the excellency of it. Things of high birth are excellent. This wisdom is from above (James iii. 17). Things rare are precious. True wisdom is not found in many. 2. Because of the pleasure of it (chap. iii. 17). No content in the world like that wisdom gives. 3. Because of the profit of it. Every trade will tell you that wisdom thrives, and folly beggars men. So in spiritual things. 4. Because of the necessity of it, which is the strongest argument. Without it die, nay be damned.—Francis Taylor.