What is the meaning of "length of days" in Proverbs 3:16?

"Length" is the extension, and may well stand for the whole course of life. It is used in this way in Scripture — "Length of days" is a familiar expression.

"Length of days is in her right hand, in her left-hand riches and honor" (v. 16). How long are wisdom's days? The answer is "eternal life." And the riches and honor that accompany this are similarly without end. Meanwhile, even on earth, "her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace" (v. 17). This does not mean that this wisdom will preserve us from having trials of faith, but wisdom ("Christ in you") will give pleasantness and peace even in times of such trial. In fact, even passing through the valley of Baca (weeping), the believer makes it a spring (Ps. 84:6). Sorrows are thus turned into occasions of refreshment of soul and spirit.

Willingly do we bow to Jehovah's promise of wisdom to the Israelite, of "length of days" to be in her right hand, and of "riches and honour" in her left hand. He that died and rose again has brought us deeper grace and shown us a yet more excellent way; so that what things were gain, one has in one's measure counted loss for Christ, and it may be, as it surely ought to be, to count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord — to count them dung that one may win Him and be found in Him in that heavenly glory where He is, renouncing all righteousness save what is through the faith of Him, the righteousness which is of God by faith. This is indeed Christian privilege — that we may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death, if by any means, no matter how trying the way, one might attain to the resurrection from among the dead, as Paul knew pre-eminently.

As it has been already laid down that the fear of Jehovah is the beginning and the discipline of wisdom, so does it prolong days, whereas the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Here (vv. 23-29) we have more said of its virtue.

Verses 1-10. The call to obedience is followed by promise. The promise is like all the promises to an earthly people "for length of days and long life". Here are some blessed exhortations loved and cherished by all His people (verses 5-7). How happier, and more fruitful the children of God would be if they obeyed constantly this instruction: "in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths."

258 I know Christians have much higher objects in hope and are called by them; but here we are on the ground of God's government of the earth, and that government is carried on now, though not in the direct way it once was in Israel - a people of His own. Nor does wisdom ever get out of these paths. She is found only in "the paths of judgment." In all cases and circumstances in which man has to walk, a way cast up in righteousness is the only one wisdom can walk in. She is always found in the midst of them (that is, cannot be out of the paths so formed and marked out). These are God's, these are wisdom's. And where God's government is exercised in this world and for it, as wisdom's place, such a path issues in blessing and prosperity. Suffering in a hostile world may be more specifically our portion now, though from Abel down it was there. Still there is such a government of which God has not let loose the reins. "He that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil and do good, let him seek peace and ensue it: for the eyes of Jehovah are over the righteous," etc. It is not only in Job's time that it was true, that "he withdraws not his eyes from the righteous." This is government and the path of wisdom, an interesting point. But now the Spirit of God comes to counsels and purpose.

Accordingly the next verse reminds us of the cross itself, although the peculiar features of the cross are not in it. There is the call that was heard, but no forsaking: "He shall call on Me, and I will answer Him: I will be with Him in strait; I will deliver Him and honor Him:" — a perfect response to personal perfection; while the last verse, with its significant number, overlaps time and stretches through eternity. "With length of days will I satisfy Him; and show Him My salvation." Compare Ps. 21:4 for the interpretation: "He asked life of Thee, — Thou hast given it Him: length of days for ever and aye." It is the same Person before us in both psalms.

(Vv. 14-16) Finally, we are privileged to hear the witness of God, Himself, to the blessedness of the One who walked through this world in a life of unbroken communion flowing from love to God. In Christ God has at last found a Man in wilderness circumstances of Whom He can say, "He has set his love upon Me"; "He has known my Name"; "He shall call upon Me." In this perfect Man, God can find all His delight, and to His perfections God can give a perfect answer, as He says "I will" bless Him. When God says "I will," who can gainsay? So we hear God saying of Christ: "I will deliver Him" from every snare; "I will set Him on high," above every power; "I will answer Him," when He calls upon Me; "I will be with Him," in trouble; "I will deliver Him, and honour Him; I will satisfy Him with length of days in glory; I will "show Him my salvation" in the coming kingdom.

Secondly, “He shall prolong His days.” So in the Psalms we read, “He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever” (Ps. 21:4). But that life is a risen life, that no power of death can touch, and no power of the enemy can take from the believer, for the Lord can say of His sheep, “I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any one pluck them out of my hand”.

Length of Days for Ever and Ever. In Psalm 21:4 the Psalmist is writing of God's King rejoicing in the strength and salvation of Jehovah. In resurrection He is granted His heart's desire, for He is sitting at God's right hand with "a crown of pure gold on His head," and has received what He asked of God, "even length of days for ever and ever." Of Him the Apostle John writes, "He is the True God and Eternal Life;" but here the Spirit of God presents Jesus as Israel's Messiah, and God's answer to all that He has suffered at the hands of His people. His life was taken from the earth by men, but God has given His answer to men by raising Him from the dead, where He lives in the power of an endless life (Heb. 7:16).