CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:5. A MAN OF KNOWLEDGE, rather “_a man of
understanding_,” INCREASETH STRENGTH, literally “_maketh power
strong_.” Miller translates the entire verse thus:—“_A strong
man, if wise, is as a power indeed; and a man of knowledge makes
strength really strong_.”
_MAIN HOMILE... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:7. WISDOM IS TOO HIGH, etc. Delitzsch here reads, _Wisdom
seems to the fool to be an ornamental commodity_, and thinks “the
comparison lies in the rarity, costliness, and unattainableness of
wisdom.” “The word,” says Miller, “occurs but three times in
the Bible; once in... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:10. IF THOU FAINT, etc., rather “_If thou hast been
straitened in the day of straitness, strait is thy strength_.”
“The principle,” says Dr. Aitken, “is familiar enough, that
courage and hopefulness is half a man’s strength.”
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 24:10_
THE DA... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:11. Literally, “_Deliver them who are dragged forth unto
death, and them that totter to the slaughter, oh, rescue them_.”
PROVERBS 24:12. HE THAT PONDERETH, literally, _the Weigher of hearts_.
HE THAT KEEPETH, rather “_watcheth_.”
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 24:11_... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:14. THERE SHALL BE A REWARD, rather, “_there is a
future_,” as in chap. Proverbs 23:18.
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 24:13_
HONEY AND WISDOM
I. AN ANALOGY.
1. Honey is found by man ready prepared for his use; no human skill is
needed to make it fit for food—nothing t... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:16. THE WICKED SHALL FALL. Delitzsch reads, “_the wicked
are overthrown when calamity falls on them_, _i.e._, they do not rise
again and again as the just man does.
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 24:15_
A SOCIAL AMBUSH
I. A COMMON PRACTICE OF THE WICKED MAN IN RELATION... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:20. REWARD. The same word used in Proverbs 24:14, and in
chap. Proverbs 23:18. Its literal meaning is “a hereafter.”
Zöckler translates it end in the first two instances, but in this
case he reads _future_. Delitzsch and Miller render it _hereafter_ or
_future_ in every... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:21. GIVEN TO CHANGE, literally _otherwise disposed_, or,
according to Miller, _repeaters, turners back_.
PROVERBS 24:22. THE RUIN OF THEM BOTH, etc. This phrase is variously
rendered, and different meanings are also attached to the same
rendering. Delitzsch follows the... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:23. THESE THINGS ALSO BELONG TO THE WISE. Rather
“_These_ (the proverbs which follow) _are also from wise men_” The
word _also_ connects this introduction with that in chap. Proverbs
22:17.
PROVERBS 24:25. TO THEM THAT REBUKE, etc. The word _him_ is not in the
original... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.—
PROVERBS 24:27. HOUSE. This word may mean here as it does in Exodus
1:21, Ruth 4:11, 2 Samuel 7:27 etc., the family—the household
interests.
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 24:27_
PLAN AND PATIENCE
I. HERE IS A LESSON IN WORKING WITH METHOD. In all undertakings it is
necessary to co... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 24:28_
AN UNCALLED-FOR TESTIMONY
I. THERE ARE TIMES AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT IS OUR DUTY TO
WITNESS AGAINST OUR NEIGHBOUR. When the interests of right and truth
are at stake, it is wrong for any man to be silent when by declaring
what he knows, he could establish... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Proverbs 24:30_
THE SLUGGARD’S VINEYARD
I. WE HAVE HERE A PRECIOUS POSSESSION IN THE HANDS OF AN UNWORTHY
PROPRIETOR. A vineyard is not a heritage of little or no value—if
rightly cared for and cultivated it will yield to its owner the means
of obtaining an hones... [ Continue Reading ]