Ecclesiastes
7:12
For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a
defence
Or, a "shadow" of refreshment and protection, under which men sit
with pleasure and safety; a man by his wisdom, and so by his
money, is able to defend himself against the injuries and
oppressions of others, and especially when both meet in one and
the same man. Jarchi renders and interprets it,
``he that is in the shadow of wisdom is in the shadow of money,
for wisdom is the cause why riches come;''
and so the Targum,
``as a man is hid in the shadow of wisdom, so he is hid in the
shadow of money, when he does alms with it;''
compare with this (
Luke 16:9 ) ; see (
Ecclesiastes 7:19 ) (
9:16 ) (
Proverbs
18:11 ) . Theognis
``riches and
wisdom are always inexpugnable to mortals;''
but the
excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom giveth life to
them
that have it;
or, "the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life"
F16 not of natural wisdom, or the
knowledge of natural and civil things, the vanity of this is
exposed, before by the wise man; but the knowledge of God in
Christ; the knowledge of Christ, who is the Wisdom of God; and of
the Gospel, and of all divine and spiritual things: this is a
superior excellency to riches, which often expose a man's life to
danger, cannot preserve him from a corporeal death, much less from
an eternal one. When this is the excellency of spiritual knowledge,
that spiritual life goes along with it; such as are spiritually
enlightened are spiritually quickened; live by faith on Christ,
whom they know; and, through the knowledge of him, have all things
pertaining to life and godliness, and have both a right and
meetness for eternal life; yea, this knowledge is life eternal, (
John 17:3 ) ; see
(
2 Peter 1:3 ) ;
and this is the pure gift of Wisdom, or of Christ, and not owing to
the merit of men, or works done in obedience to the law, which
cannot give this life; see (
John 17:2 ) (
10:28 ) (
Romans 6:23 ) (
Galatians
3:21 ) .
F15 Sententiae, v. 1153.
F16 (
hyxt
hmkxh ted Nwrtyw) "et praestantia scientiae sapientiae
vivificabit", Montanus.