+I. The true life of man depends upon his relation to the Word of God.+ "Keep my commandments, and live" (verse 2). The life which is given to man upon his entrance into this world is not life in its highest sense, but an existence in which he is to obtain life. "It is not all of life to live." Those who do not keep God's commandments are living existences, but in the moral signification of the word they are _dead._ It was said by the highest authority--by the Son of God Himself--that "it had been good for Judas Iscariot if he had not been born" (Matt. xxvi. 24). Existence is not a blessing, oftentimes a curse, unless a man is "born again," "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John i. 13). Christ taught the same truth when He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke iv. 4). Man is not flesh and blood only, he has not a mere animal existence, but moral capabilities and needs, which must be nourished by the thoughts of God. If this is not done, he has no life worth the name. +II. The relation that a man should have to the Word of God is like that which a rich man has to his banked money.+ "Lay up my commandments with thee." The best place for money which the merchant wishes to use constantly is a safe bank, from which he can draw out at any time of need. So the Word of God must be laid up in the mind ready for constant use. The Word of God must "dwell in us" (Col. iii. 16). It must be stored up to furnish us with encouragement and admonition in the unceasing warfare with temptation which we are called upon to wage. It must be at hand at the moment of need. +III. It is to be guarded with the same care as the eye is guarded by the eyelid.+ "As the apple of thine eye." The eye is carefully protected by nature because it is the organ of a most precious sense--of a sense of which we stand in the greatest need--without which we walk through the world in darkness. The revelation of God in the Holy Scriptures is the only light which enlightens us amid the darkness of ignorance and mystery by which we are surrounded. Without it all our future would be darkness indeed. Hence its preciousness, and hence the value we ought to set upon it. +IV. It is to hold to us a relation like that of a pure, and tender, and beloved sister.+ "Say unto Wisdom, Thou art my sister." The Word of God is the highest wisdom. The relationship of brother and sister, where it is what God intended it to be, is a very tender and pure relationship, involving willingness to undergo self-denial for the sake of her who is loved, to listen to her advice, to seek her welfare. In this light we must regard the wisdom of God as revealed in the Word of God if existence is to become _life_ to us. We must exercise self-denial for her sake. "I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in Thy word" (Psa. cxix. 147). _OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._