CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:1. STRONG DRINK. The Hebrew word _Shekhar_ includes every strong drink besides wine. Delitzsch translates it _mead_. PROVERBS 20:2. THE FEAR OF A KING, _i.e_., the dread which he inspires. SINNETH AGAINST HIS SOUL, or “_forfeits his life_,” so Delitzsch and Miller. PR... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:5. COUNSEL. Delitzsch translates this word “_purpose_,” and understands it to refer to a secret plan. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:5_ DEEP SEA DREDGING I. MUCH THAT IS GOOD, OR MUCH THAT IS BAD, MAY LIE HIDDEN IN A MAN’S HEART WITHOUT ITS EXISTENCE BEING SUSPECTED... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:6. Miller reads the first clause of this verse, “_Much of the mere man one calls his goodness_,” _i.e._, “Much that is merely human.” He allows, however, that the usual rendering conveys a very striking meaning and agrees admirably with the second clause. The Hebrew wor... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:15. Here Miller reads, _There is gold_, etc., in _the lips of knowledge_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:14_ BARGAINING This proverb refers— I. TO A WORLD-WIDE MANIFESTATION OF HUMAN SELFISHNESS. A custom that was prevalent in the days of Solomon, many centuries ago... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:16. A STRANGE WOMAN. Rather, “_a stranger_.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:16_ NECESSARY SECURITY I. AN UNTRUSTWORTHY CREDITOR. A man who under ordinary circumstances makes himself a surety for one who is a stranger to him, is chargeable with great folly, and the ac... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:17. A MAN. The Hebrew word here used is the one which denotes _a superior man_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:17_ BAD BREAD I. SOME GRATIFICATION IS TO BE OBTAINED FROM DISHONEST GAIN. Many a swindler gets not only bread by swindling, but many other things, which n... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:18. The first clause may be read, _Establish thy purpose by counsel_. PROVERBS 20:19. “HIM THAT FLATTERETH.” Rather, _him that openeth wide his lips, i.e._, the babbler. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:18_ THOUGHT BEFORE ACTION I. THE PERMANENT SUCCESS OF AN UNDERTAK... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:20_ AN UNNATURAL CHILD AND A NATURAL LAW I. AN UNNATURAL CHILD. The ungrateful son or daughter of good parents is an unnatural being. If experience did not contradict, we should say that even fallen human creatures must return love for love, and could not help feelin... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:22_ THE RECOMPENSER OF EVIL I. THE MAN WHO HAS BEEN WRONGED IS DISQUALIFIED TO PUNISH THE OFFENDER. A sense of pain and suffering is not helpful to a man’s judgment. He sees neither things nor persons in the light in which he would see them under happier conditions,... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:24. MAN. The first word, _Geber_, denoting _a superior or mighty man_: the second, _Adam, man in general, or an ordinary man_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:24_ GOD OVER ALL A reference to the Critical Notes will show that in this verse there is an argument from th... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:25. The first clause of this verse should be, “_It is a snare to a man to cry out hastily ‘holy,’ i.e._, to vow without thought and consideration.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:25_ For the correct rendering of this verse see Critical Notes RELIGIOUS VOWS I. A MAN... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:26. THE WHEEL, _i.e._, the wheel of the threshing, instrument which blows away the chaff. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:26; Proverbs 20:28_ PILLARS OF GOVERNMENT I. A HUMAN RULER WILL HAVE REBELLIOUS SUBJECTS IN HIS KINGDOM. This will be the case however wise the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:27_ THE CANDLE OF THE LORD We understand by the spirit of a man the self-conscious _ego_—that which takes cognizance of the inner life, and which reasons and passes judgment upon all a man’s perceptions, emotions, and volitions. I. MAN’S SPIRIT IS A CANDLE, BECAUSE... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:26. THE WHEEL, _i.e._, the wheel of the threshing, instrument which blows away the chaff. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:26; Proverbs 20:28_ PILLARS OF GOVERNMENT I. A HUMAN RULER WILL HAVE REBELLIOUS SUBJECTS IN HIS KINGDOM. This will be the case however wise the l... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 20:29_ THE GLORY OF YOUTH AND AGE I. EACH PERIOD OF LIFE HAS A VALUE AND A GLORY OF ITS OWN. There is a beauty in spring to which no other season of the year can approach. The vivid green of the opening leaves, and the meadows and hedge-banks carpeted with early flowers... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 20:30. THE BLUENESS OF A WOUND. _Cutting wounds (Delitzsch_), _Wounding stripes (Zöckler_). Miller translates the “_welts_” (_i.e._, the tumid and purple confines of a wound), _cleanse as though an evil_, “that is, although painful and deformed, they have a clear office, vi... [ Continue Reading ]