“My son, let them not depart from your eyes—keep sound wisdom and discretion” (v. 21). Wisdom isn’t meant to be glanced at and promptly forgotten, as though she were a passing thought or an occasional consultation. She’s meant to be kept before the eyes, held in view, allowed to shape how one sees the world and moves within it. Sound Wisdom and discretion aren’t reserved for sacred moments alone; they belong to the ordinary days and sleepless nights, to conversations at the dinner table, and to decisions made under pressure. When Wisdom governs the gaze, life may remain difficult, but it becomes intelligible. One walks with orientation rather than confusion, guided by a light that doesn’t flicker when circumstances grow dim (Psalm 119:105).
This nearness to Wisdom isn’t sterile or merely intellectual. “They will be life to your soul and grace to your neck” (v. 22). What the world chases through accumulation, influence, or admiration, God bestows through Wisdom: a life that reaches into the depths of the soul and a grace that adorns without pretense. This isn’t cosmetic improvement or surface calm, but a settled vitality rooted in trust. Such Wisdom doesn’t promise a painless road, but it does promise stability along the way. “Then you will walk safely inn your way, and your foot will not stumble” (v. 23). The wise aren’t spared suffering; they’re spared from collapse. Even when the path narrows or steepens, their footing holds.
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet” (v. 24; cf. Psalm 4:7-8). This promise lands gently in a restless age. Many lie down exhausted yet unable to rest, their minds crowded with fears, regrets, and unfinished thoughts. Wisdom doesn’t silence the world, but it does quiet the soul. Sleep, like Wisdom, isn’t seized by force; it is received as a gift. When trust rests in the Lord, the darkness loses its menace. Night becomes less a threat than a sanctuary. The God who keeps watch neither tires nor turns away, and His vigilance becomes the peace of the faithful (Psalm 121:3-4).
“Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes” (v. 25). Wisdom doesn’t deny danger; it deprives danger of its dominion (cf. Romans 6:14). Sudden calamity may still strike, but it doesn’t define reality. Fear no longer governs the heart because confidence has been placed elsewhere. “For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (v. 26). This confidence isn’t self-assurance or baseless optimism; it is reliance on the One who holds all things together. At the same time, God is not a mere assistant in crisis; He’s the ground beneath every step.
Therefore, keep Wisdom before your eyes. Let it shape your walking and your resting, your waking and your sleeping. Trust the Lord with your fears, your nights, and your future. The God who set the stars in their courses above also watches over your steps, as well as your sleep.
The Lutheran Column 