98. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies. The commands were his book, but God was his teacher. The letter can make us knowing, but only the divine Spirit can make us wise. Wisdom is knowledge put to practical use. Wisdom comes to us through obedience (John 7:17). We learn not only from promise, and doctrine, and sacred history; from the commandments we gather the most practical wisdom, and that which enables us best to cope with our adversaries. A holy life is the highest wisdom and the surest defense. By uprightness we shall baffle fraud, by simple truth vanquish deep-laid scheming, and by open candor defeat slander.
For they are ever with me. He was always studying or obeying the commandments; they were his choice and constant companions. If we wish to become proficient we must be indefatigable. If we keep the wise law ever near us we shall become wise, and when our adversaries assail us we shall be prepared for them with that ready wit which lies in having the Word of God at our fingers’ ends. As a soldier in battle must never lay aside his shield, so must we never have the Word of God out of our minds.
No comments:
Post a Comment