CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:1. Nearly all commentators agree in reading this verse, “_To man belong the preparations of the heart, but the answer of the tongue is from, the Lord_.” PREPARATIONS, lit. “_arrangements,” “orderly disposings_,” as those of an army in array, or as the loaves of the shew... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:2. Miller translates this verse very differently. See comments on the verse. PROVERBS 16:3. COMMIT, rather _roll_. THOUGHTS, or “_plans_.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:2_ THE WEIGHER OF SPIRITS I. ONE MAN HAS MANY WAYS. The text speaks of “all the ways of a man,”... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:4. FOR HIMSELF. Many read “for its own purpose, or end.” There is much in favour, however, of the reading of the authorised text. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:4_ ALL THINGS FOR GOD I. THERE IS ONE PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE WHO KNOWS THE HISTORY OF ALL THINGS. Jehovah... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:5. THOUGH HAND JOIN IN HAND, literally “_hand to hand_,” as in chap. Proverbs 11:21. This phrase is variously understood. Stuart renders it “_Should hand be added to hand_,” _i.e._, although a haughty man should employ all his powers of resistance, “_he shall not go unp... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:6. PURGED. Heb., _kaphar_, “expiated,” or “covered.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:6_ THE PURGING OF INIQUITY I. THERE IS IN THE HUMAN HEART AND IN HUMAN LIFE THAT WHICH IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO HUMAN HAPPINESS, VIZ., INIQUITY. Iniquity is _inequality_, or _injustice_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:7_ PLEASING GOD I. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN MEN’S WAYS DO NOT PLEASE THE LORD. _The ways of the ungodly do not at any time please the Lord_. Because they have no sympathy with His laws, and are at variance with His character. “_God is not in all their thoughts_” (Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:9. DEVISETH. The form of the verb denotes anxious consideration. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:9_ MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES I. THIS IS A FACT OF NATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL HISTORY. In both inspired and uninspired records we meet with abundant confirmations of this tru... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:10. A DIVINE SENTENCE, literally _“divination,” i.e., “an oracle_” or “_a decision_.” “HIS MOUTH TRANSGRESSETH NOT.” Stuart and Delitzsch read, “_In judgment his mouth should not prevaricate, or err_.” PROVERBS 16:11. A JUST WEIGHT, literally “_the scale_” “the upright... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:17_ SOUL-PRESERVATION I. THE MAIN OBJECT OF AN UPRIGHT MAN’S CARE—HIS SOUL. Every human creature is possessed of an instinct to preserve his bodily life and well-being. An upright man has also a spiritual instinct which leads him to guard carefully his spiritual lif... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:18. “The Hebrews observe that this verse stands exactly in the centre of the whole book” (Fausset). PROVERBS 16:19. LOWLY, or the “_afflicted_” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:18_ THE END OF PRIDE I. PRIDE HAS A PRESENT PLACE AND POWER IN THE WORLD. All human history... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:20. Delitzsch and Zöckler translate the first clause “_He that giveth heed to the Word findeth good_.” Stuart and others, “_He that is prudent respecting any matter_.” Miller says, “_Literally, wise about a word_.” PROVERBS 16:21. SWEETNESS, or “_grace_,” LEARNING, or... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:22. INSTRUCTION, rather “_discipline_,” “_correction_.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:22_ AN UNFAILING SPRING I. MORAL INTELLIGENCE IS ITS OWN REWARD. A healthy state of body is its own reward. It is a well-spring whence men may draw much bodily comfort—it adds much... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:26. HE THAT LABOURETH, LABOURETH FOR HIMSELF, etc. Zöckler translates “_The spirit of the labourer laboureth for him, for his mouth urgeth him on_.” Stuart—“_The appetite of him who toils is toilsome to him (i.e._, make him exert himself) _for his mouth urgeth him on_.”... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 16:28. A WHISPERER, _i.e._, “a _backbiter_.” PROVERBS 16:30. MOVING, or _compressing_, indicating resolution, or _biting_, indicative of scorn and malice. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Proverbs 16:27_ DIFFERENT SPECIES OF THE SAME GENUS I. HUMAN DEPRAVITY MANIFEST... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:31_ A CROWN OF GLORY I. HOARY HEADS MAY BE FOUND WHICH ARE NOT IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. A hoary head in the way of ungodliness is one of the saddest sights that a thoughtful mind can look upon. 1. _Because in such a man the tendency towards evil has been strengt... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:32_ TAKING A CITY AND RULING THE SPIRIT I. A MAN WHO TAKES A CITY MAY DO A GOOD WORK. When Soloman says that the man who rules his spirit does a better work than he who takes a city, he by no means implies that the taking of a city is a wrong action. In the records o... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 16:33_ THE LOT AND ITS DISPOSER I. THERE IS A SPECIAL PROVIDENCE OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF HIS UNIVERSAL GOVERNMENT. In nature there is a manifestation of a universal Providence ruling over all God’s creatures. But the individual is not lost in the multitude—each bird of... [ Continue Reading ]