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Let Us Never Neglect God’s Provisions

Proverbs 8:20 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the midst of paths of justice,

I walk in the way of righteousness: In the Bible, the expression “to walk” (הָלַךְ halak) is figurative and illustrative and can mean to follow a certain course of action, as “Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:9; 5:22) Those who walk with God follow the life course outlined by God’s Word and will find his favor, that is, be pleasing to him. Pursuing such a life course makes you different from most unbelievers. The Greek New Testament uses the same illustrative expression, contrasting two different courses of action sought by one before and after becoming a servant of God. (Eph. 2:2, 10; 4:17; 5:2) Walking with God is a manner of life that is required of his servants; it affects their conduct and behavior. The way (אֹרַח orach) is a course of conduct, and righteousness (צְדָקָה tsedaqah) is adhering to the moral standard that God gave us, namely, our conscience and the Word of God. This is what justice and a godly life require.

In the midst of paths of justice: Here in the midst of (תָּוֶךְ tavek) means to be within, not necessarily in the middle of per se. This is simply repeating the first line of verse 20 by submitting paths with the way. Justice (מִשְׁפָּט mishpat) is when you are free from partiality, selfishness, bias, as well as deception, where you make decisions that reflect God’s sense of what is just. It is a case of fairness in your dealings with others. Our course of conduct (paths) needs to be centered within (midst) what is morally right and fair based on a correct understanding of God’s Word and a biblically trained conscience.

Rather than getting off the paths of justice and the way of righteousness onto a completely different line of thought or action based on the world of mankind, who is alienated from God, with their own personal ideas and theories, we need to be centered within (midst) by staying clearly within the limits of Scriptural counsel. Humble prayer to God should be the continuous practice of the one seeking wisdom. Let us never set aside the very gifts from God that have given us wisdom: The Word of God itself, our Christian meetings, and our personal study of the Bible and all of the study tools (Bible dictionaries, commentaries encyclopedias, word study, and so on), simply for the sake of gaining riches.