The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge (Proverbs 18:15).
The prudent man has a due apprehension of the value of knowledge, and seeks it with all his heart, and finds it. The Spirit of God writes the word of truth upon his heart, and inscribes it in his inward part; and whilst others have it only in their memories or tongues, he has it in his heart, which is filled with the love of knowledge, and enriched with this precious treasure.
But he is not satisfied with that measure of knowledge he has already got. He would not part with it for mines of gold, or mountains of prey, but he wishes still to add to his stock, and therefore his ear is employed in seeking knowledge.
The ear is the learning sense, and the wise man will hearken attentively to any man that can give him useful information; but he attends chiefly upon the ministry of the word, because that is the appointed mean of increasing his knowledge and animating his soul. Although he meditates daily on the testimonies of God, yet he does not satisfy himself with the suggestions of his own mind, but feeds his meditating faculty with the word read and heard.
Those that wish for no more knowledge or grace than they think absolutely necessary for getting to heaven, all that think their stock of knowledge sufficient, and all those that neglect the means of grace, are excluded from the class of prudent men by this sentence of Solomon.
