CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:1. INSTRUCTION, “discipline” or “disciplinary instruction.” PROVERBS 12:2. OBTAINETH, literally “draws out.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:1_ THE LOVE OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE PROOF OF IT True knowledge is to be loved— I. FOR WHAT IT CAN DO FOR HIM WHO LOVES IT. 1. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:3_ A RIGHT DESIRE AND THE MEANS OF ITS ATTAINMENT I. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DESIRE IN MEN FOR ESTABLISHMENT—FOR FIXEDNESS. 1. _It is a good and God-given aspiration, and manifests itself in many ways_. Men rightly desire to have a settled home—a spot on earth to w... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:4. VIRTUOUS, literally “strenuous,” “capable” (used in Ruth 3:11). _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:4_ A HUSBAND’S CROWN I. A WOMAN POSSESSED OF A QUALITY WHICH TIME WILL NOT DESTROY OR IMPAIR. Virtue is not a mere negative good—it is not simply an absence of evil. A v... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:5. THOUGHTS, or “purposes.” RIGHT, “judgment,” “justice.” PROVERBS 12:7. Wordsworth here reads, “When the wicked turn themselves,” etc., _i.e._, on any reverse of their fortunes, however slight, they perish. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPHS— Proverbs 12:5_ THOUGHTS... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:9. This verse is read in two ways. Zockler reads, “Better is the lowly that serveth himself than he that boasteth and lacketh bread.” Wordsworth agrees with this view. Delitzsch and Stuart render as the authorised version (see comments on the verse). _MAIN HOMILETICS O... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:10. REGARDETH, literally “knoweth.” Delitzsch reads, “knoweth how his cattle feed.” “Cruel is singular, denoting that each one of his mercies are cruel” (Fausset). _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:10_ CARE FOR ANIMALS AND CRUELTY TO MEN Even the animal is benefited by... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:11. VAIN PERSONS, or “vanity,” “emptiness.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:11_ SATISFACTION FROM TILLAGE I. SATISFACTION AS THE RESULT OF TILLAGE DEPENDS— 1. _Upon the performance of a Divine promise_. It is long ago since God gave to Noah the promise that “While th... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:12. NET. Delitzsch, Zockler, and Miller translate this word “spoil” or “prey.” The Hebrew word means also a “fortress.” Maurer, therefore, translates it “defence,” and understands it to mean that the evil combine for mutual protection. This agrees with Zockler’s renderi... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:16. PRESENTLY, literally “in that very day,” _i.e._ “at once.” COVERETH SHAME, or “hides his offence.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:15_ TWO EXAMPLES OF FOOLISHNESS AND WISDOM I. THE MAN WHO GUIDES HIS LIFE BY HIS OWN SELF-CONCEIT—REJECTING THE ADVICE OF OTHERS. No... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:17. SPEAKETH, literally “breathes.” PROVERBS 12:18. SPEAKETH, literally “babbles.” Health, “healing.” PROVERBS 12:19. A MOMENT, literally “while I wink.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Proverbs 12:17_, _and Proverbs 12:22_ WOUNDING AND HEALING I. THE MISCHIEF... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:20. Delitzsch reads, “cause joy.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:20_ JOY FROM PEACE I. THERE MUST BE COUNSEL IF THERE IS TO BE PEACE. There can be no peace either in a soul, a family, or a nation, where there is no counsel given and taken. There must be some centre o... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:21_ ALL WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF THE RIGHTEOUS The first clause cannot, of course, mean that nothing that appears evil—that no sorrow or loss happens to the just. Such an assertion would be contrary to other teachings of Scripture, as well as to experience and history... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:17. SPEAKETH, literally “breathes.” PROVERBS 12:18. SPEAKETH, literally “babbles.” Health, “healing.” PROVERBS 12:19. A MOMENT, literally “while I wink.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Proverbs 12:17_, _and Proverbs 12:22_ WOUNDING AND HEALING I. THE MISCHIEF... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:23_ THE CONCEALMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE PROCLAMATION OF FOOLISHNESS I. THE CONCEALMENT OF KNOWLEDGE IS ALWAYS A MARK OF SELF-CONTROL. It proves that a man has himself “well in hand.” He is like a skilful workman whose tools are all arranged in order, so that he can... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:24_ THE REWARD OF DILIGENCE I. WHAT IS HERE MEANT BY DILIGENCE? _It is not being always active, but active in the right direction_—active in the right use of talents and opportunities. There is an activity that is worse than idleness, an activity that brings men into... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:25_ HEAVINESS OF HEART AND ITS CURE I. THE CAUSES OF “HEAVINESS OF HEART” ARE MANY AND VARIOUS. It may arise, 1. _From great bodily pain_. The human mind and the human body act and re-act upon each other. The mind or spirit may be made heavy by physical pain, as the... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:26. IS MORE EXCELLENT THAN HIS NEIGHBOUR, rather “guides his neighbour.” Delitzsch reads, “looketh after his pastures.” The Hebrew word signifies “abundance” (see Miller’s remarks in the comments on the verses). _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:26_ THE GUIDE AND THE SE... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:27. The word translated roast does not occur in this sense elsewhere. In the Chaldee of Daniel 3:27, it is used in this sense. It may be read “catcheth not his prey.” The second clause should be, “a precious treasure is diligence,” or “a diligent man.” _MAIN HOMILETICS... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 12:28. NO DEATH, literally “no-death,” _i.e._, “immortality.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 12:28_ I. THERE IS A WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE WORLD. 1. _This fact is universally recognised_. Men regard each other as moral and responsible beings. The doctrine of necessity... [ Continue Reading ]