_AN EXHORTATION TO OBEDIENCE, TO FAITH, TO MORTIFICATION, TO DEVOTION, TO PATIENCE. THE HAPPY GAIN OF WISDOM. THE POWER AND THE BENEFITS OF WISDOM. AN EXHORTATION TO CHARITABLENESS, PEACEABLENESS, AND CONTENTEDNESS. THE CURSED STATE OF THE WICKED._... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SON, FORGET NOT MY LAW— In this chapter Solomon continues to press obedience to the precepts of wisdom, from a consideration of its benefits, which he speaks of more largely than in the foregoing chapter. See Proverbs 3:9. After which he returns to the general exhortation, Proverbs 3:13 advising... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT MERCY, AND TRUTH FORSAKE THEE— _Virtue and fidelity,_ Schultens; who observes, that these words are often joined together concerning God; see Psalms 25:10; Psalms 89:14 concerning man; Genesis 24:49; Genesis 47:29. Joshua 2:14. With men, nothing can be more advantageous than virtue and fidel... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LEAN NOT, &C.— Or, _Rest not upon,_ &c. God demands that we love him, that we believe in him, that we trust in him, that we seek for him with all our heart: he would have nothing of us by halves: and surely he deserves that we should put our whole confidence in him; full of goodness as he is to... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT WISE IN THINE OWN EYES, &C.— He employs all his authority, and all his eloquence, to exhort us to search after wisdom; but he would not by any means that we should be wise in our own eyes: he would have us doubt our own understanding; be always disposed to receive the good instructions of oth... [ Continue Reading ]
HEALTH TO THY NAVEL— Many expositors, after the LXX, render this, _It shall be health to thy flesh,_ or _to thy body,_ instead of _thy navel:_ but the learned Schultens has shewn that the word is properly rendered here, and according to the genius of eastern language, which by the _navel_ expresses... [ Continue Reading ]
HONOUR THE LORD WITH THY SUBSTANCE— According to the manners of the east, a subject was to pay his homage and shew his attachment to his lord and sovereign by presents. To make presents to a king, is to acknowledge him, to pay him homage. God would not have his people present themselves before him w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH, &C.— The LXX read, _For whom the Lord loveth he reproveth, and chasteneth every son whom he receiveth._ From whence it is evident, that they read the Hebrew differently; and their construction is more natural, and agrees with Hebrews 12:6. Houbigant follows the LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
LENGTH OF DAYS IS IN HER RIGHT HAND— The wise man represents wisdom (i.e. _holiness_ or _religion_) as other authors have done, particularly the excellent Cebes, in the shape of a beautiful woman, or rather queen; with her arms extended, in the posture not only of directing, but also of rewarding, h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD BY WISDOM, &C.— See Job 38:4; Job 38:41. The effects which we call natural are the productions of the Creator's sovereign wisdom. Some understand by _the depths broken up,_ the waters of the deluge; others, the original creation and distribution of the waters. The _dews_ in Palestine are mu... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SON, LET NOT THEM DEPART, &C.— Wisdom gives life, health, safety, to body and soul: it is the most precious ornament of those who possess it: for the rest, when the wise man in so many places promises life, health, prosperity, peace, glory, to those who seek for wisdom, we must not take these pro... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHHOLD NOT GOOD, &C.— The words may literally be rendered, _Withhold not good from the lords_ or _masters of it;_ which some refer to the restitution of goods gained unjustly: but the connection requires that we understand the poor; who, by an elegant figure, are called the lords and masters of th... [ Continue Reading ]
IF HE HAVE DONE THEE NO HARM— "Contend not without reason; be not punctilious, litigious, quarrelsome;" we are not here forbidden to defend ourselves; but to be cautious, lest we offend against charity, justice, wisdom. Seneca says, "To contend with one's equal is uncertainty; with one's superior, m... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE FROWARD IS ABOMINATION— "He that perversely departs from all the rules of truth and justice is above all expression abominable to the Lord, even in his highest prosperity: but the Lord is a friend to men of sincere integrity; who know the _secret_ of his providence in raising those wicked op... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY HE SCORNETH THE SCORNERS— God will treat the scorners as they deserve. See ch. Proverbs 1:26. The Psalmist says, to the same meaning, Psalms 18:26. _With the holy thou wilt shew thyself holy; with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward._ "Thou wilt present thyself to those who seek thee;... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAME SHALL BE THE PROMOTION OF FOOLS— _The elevation of fools shall turn to their confusion._ The more they have been elevated, the more their folly shall be known, and their fall become more fatal. Schultens renders it peculiarly, and he thinks emphatically, _And the branding of infamy ennobles th... [ Continue Reading ]