+III. Man as a receiver of God's gifts.+ 1. This wisdom and protection is only given to those who fulfil certain conditions. _Wisdom_ is for the _righteous_, the _buckler_ for them that _walk uprightly, preservation_ for his _saints_. These terms must be regarded as relative, as we shall see presently; but the fact that God has "laid up" His "wisdom," implies that it must be sought. God had laid up a store of wisdom of Joseph's guidance when Pharaoh summoned him from the prison, even as Joseph afterwards stored up corn for the needy people; but in both instances the gifts had to be sought for (Gen. xli. 16). Daniel had wisdom laid up for him, but he had to ask for the wisdom kept in store for him (Dan. ii. 18). 2. _This best gift of God must be received into man's best place._ The knowledge which God gives must enter the _heart_, the affections--thus it will be _pleasant_ to the soul (ver. 10). He who holds the rudder guides the vessel. There may be many important positions in a fortified city, but he who holds the highest place commands all the rest. Understanding the word _heart_ here to mean the affections, the heart commands the man. The will, and even the conscience to an extent, are wheeled about by the affections. They are the rudder of the man; they are the key to the position in the town of Man-soul. 3. _Man, by thus receiving God's gifts, attains a relative perfection._ The "understanding" of every good way implies a walking in them. Those who receive God's wisdom "walk uprightly"--are "saints." The man who has long followed any profession may be said to be a perfect master of his business, of his handicraft. This does not imply that he can go no further--can attain to nothing higher. The Apostle Paul speaks of an absolute and a relative perfection. He had attained to the last but not to the first (Phil. iii. 12-15). To know what we ought to strive after and to choose the right way, is the relative perfection, which leads on to that which is absolute and entire. _OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._ Verse 6. One may, indeed, by natural knowledge, very readily learn that God is a benevolent being; but how He becomes to a sinner the God of love, this can be learned only from the mouth of God in the Holy Scriptures.--_Lange._ Verses 1 to 5 teach plainly that a man may get "light," and that there are steps to it like money-getting; and yet hardly have the words left his lips before Solomon guards them: "_Jehovah gives wisdom_"--and guards them in a striking way, for he says: "For," that is, the fact that it is the gift of God is the reason it can be proceeded so hopefully after by man.--_Miller._ Solomon knew this by experience. The "for" gives the reason why he who is anxious to have wisdom should learn to know and worship God.--_Fausset._