The knowledge of God regulates the fear and prevents it from sinking into terror, or degenerating into superstition, but guides it to express its power in checking and subduing every corrupt affection and animating the soul to every instance of obedience.--_Lawson._ _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 6-11. GOD AS A GIVER AND MAN AS A RECEIVER. +I. The fact stated+--_that God gives._ The nature of the good is to give. God is the best of all beings, therefore He is the greatest giver. 1. The _kindness_ of God is manifested in the character of His gifts. 2. The _resources_ of God are revealed in the abundance of His gifts. The character and disposition of men are made known by _what_ they give and by _how_ they give. God's gifts are "good and perfect," and are given ungrudgingly (Jas. i. 5-17). But men's resources are not always equal to their desires to give. But God is rich, not only in mercy, but in power; He has given _up to Himself_ in the gift of His Son, in whom dwell all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and beyond whom the Father Himself cannot give. +II. Some of His gifts enumerated.+ 1. _Wisdom. Sound wisdom._ Real wisdom as opposed to that which is only a sham (see "Critical Notes"). The serpent--the devil--possesses _cunning_, but not real wisdom. Our first parents were led astray by believing a _lie_--the fruit of following the tempter's guidance was unsoundness of body and soul. The results of this "wisdom of the serpent" proved its falsity. God gives the true wisdom. He gives men the _truth_. A knowledge of the truth about themselves, about Him (ver. 6), brings stability of character--leads men into the right way of life (ver. 9)--and thus tends to peace and blessedness of soul. 2. He gives _protection_ by giving true wisdom. "He is a _buckler_," etc. (ver. 7). When Abraham undertook to deliver Lot from the hands of his enemies, the skill with which he planned and carried out the attack (Gen. xiv. 14) showed his wisdom. After the victory God came to him and said, "Fear not, Abraham. I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward" (Gen. xv. 1). How had God just proved Himself to be his shield? Not by sending a legion of angels to deliver him, but by giving him the wisdom by which he had defended himself. This is how He is a buckler to His children. He "preserveth the way of His saints" (ver. 8) by giving them wisdom and grace to "understand" and keep "every good path" (ver. 9).