Verse: “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.”
This verse is at the end of a very long sentence and thought that began in verse 10, and so let us summarize. When a man welcomes wisdom and enjoys the knowledge of God‘s Word (Vs.10), he gains discretion and understanding (Vs.11). This discernment directs his life away from the evil man, (Vs.12) and the strange woman (Vs.16), and toward the path of good men (Vs.20). Men cannot walk in good ways unless they leave the bad ones, because evil thoughts keep out all thoughts of good. It is not enough to avoid evil, we must actually do good “because forsaking evil is but a foundation for a greater building, and no man can dwell on a foundation.” (Francis Taylor.) This broad examination of the passage reveals that the natural end of gaining wisdom is right living. We study in order to learn; we learn in order to know; we know in order to do; and we do in order to be. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed …” (2 Tim 2:15)
