Every beam of reason in men is communicated from the wisdom of God (1 John i. 9). The simplest of the mechanical arts cannot be acquired unless men are taught of God. How, then can we be expected to understand the mystery of the Divine will without light from the Father of lights.--_Lawson._ Verse 7. We are ill keepers of our own goodness and wisdom: God, therefore, is pleased to lay it up for us,--and that it may be safe, Himself is the buckler and safeguard of it. . . . In this life, he that walketh, although he walk uprightly, and seeing evil, shuns it, yet may receive hurt behind, where backbiters too frequently make their assaults. Wherefore, as he walketh to God before him, so God walketh after him, and even there, where they cannot help themselves, He will be a _buckler_ to His servants. . . . But learn also that the buckler shows that they who will live uprightly must strive and fight.--_Jermin._ Heb., substance, reality (see "Critical Notes"): that which hath a true being in opposition to that which hath not.--_Trapp._ He layeth up _that which is essential_ for the righteous.--_A. Clarke._ The righteousness of our conduct contributes to the enlightenment of our creed. The wholesome reaction of the moral on the intellectual is clearly intimated here, inasmuch as it is to the righteous that God imparteth wisdom.--_Chalmers._ "He lays up" or "hides away." 1. That the wicked may not find it. 2. That the righteous may have to dig to get it (the verb is the same as that from which "hid treasures" is derived in Verse 4). 3. That it may be safe from the evil one.--_Miller._ He walks uprightly who lives with the fear of God as his principle, and the Word of God as his rule, and the glory of God as his end.--_Wardlaw._ The most dreadful enemies of those who walk uprightly are those who endeavour to turn aside the way of their paths; but against these enemies God defends, for He keepeth the paths of wisdom and righteousness.--_Lawson._ Verse 8. Well may they walk uprightly that are so strongly supported. God's hand is ever under his; they cannot fall beneath it.--_Trapp._ "Paths of judgment" or "justice" are here, by the substitution of the abstract for the concrete expression, paths of the just, and therefore synonymous with "the way of His saints."--_Lange's Commentary._ We have certain vicarious rights. One is, to come out all well at last. Another is, that all things shall work together for our good. Another is, that we shall grow up into Christ, increasing day by day. To realise each and all is required of God. The track this takes Him into for all is, as to each man, His path of judgment. Each such path He must walk in strictly. To do so, He must watch the saints.--_Miller._