Proverbs 9 - Introduction
_THE DISCIPLINE AND DOCTRINE OF WISDOM. THE CUSTOM AND ERROR OF FOLLY._ _ _... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DISCIPLINE AND DOCTRINE OF WISDOM. THE CUSTOM AND ERROR OF FOLLY._ _ _... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM HATH BUILDED HER HOUSE— This is a most splendid allegory, says Schultens, in which Wisdom is conceived as a queen, sitting in her royal palace, and inviting mortals to a banquet, plentifully furnished with the richest dainties, that they may be fed with celestial delights for a blessed immort... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH SENT FORTH HER MAIDENS— _The maidens of Wisdom,_ says Calmet, are the apostles and first preachers of the gospel, who invite all people to the study of wisdom, to the faith of Jesus Christ, and to the practice of holiness and virtue. _Upon the highest places of the city,_ we may read, _Upon... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO IS SIMPLE, LET HIM TURN IN HITHER— Wisdom invites the simple, the ignorant, those who have the innocence and simplicity of children. See 1 Corinthians 14:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
EAT OF MY BREAD, &C.— That is, "Attend to, receive, and practise my precepts." Our blessed Lord may be understood in this sense, John 6:53.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT REPROVETH A SCORNER— This and the following verse supply us with a reason for the conduct of Wisdom in addressing herself only to the simple. She invites not the pretendedly wise, those who think they are ignorant of nothing: to invite them to the feast of wisdom, would be to expose herself... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDERSTANDING— Schultens, Calmet, and many others, render this _Prudence;_ Christian prudence, true prudence, which consists in discerning what is more or less advantageous in all matters, and in choosing the means proper for execution, is undoubtedly the knowledge of the _Holy;_ for it is by this t... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOOLISH WOMAN, &C.— We have here another allegorical picture, describing Folly under the person of a harlot, who fascinates with her enticements, and offers also her dainties to her guests; but dainties tainted with the most subtil poison. The Hebrew, rendered a _foolish woman,_ is more strong; _t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO IS SIMPLE— This is a most specious and artful detortion of the address of Wisdom; by which she would insult the friends of religion, truth, and holiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET— A proverbial expression for illicit pleasures; the Greeks and Latins make use of the same phrase. See chap. Proverbs 5:15 and Calmet. One of the profitable lessons to be learned from this chapter is, that there is nothing more inconsistent with wisdom, than the service of th... [ Continue Reading ]