VIII. (_n_)_. Fourteenth Discourse_: — _The Praise of Wisdom_ (Proverbs 8) (1) DOTH NOT WISDOM CRY? — See above on Proverbs 1:20. In contrast with the secret allurements of Vice under the cover of night, is here represented the open invitation of Wisdom. (Comp. John 18:20 : “I spake openly to the... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE STANDETH IN THE TOP OF HIGH PLACES. — _i.e.,_ in the higher parts of the city, where her voice will best be heard. BY THE WAY... — She goes everywhere where she may find the greatest concourse of people, “God not being willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 P... [ Continue Reading ]
O MEN_ — _i.e., “great ones;” “sons of man” are those of inferior rank; comp. the Hebrew of Isaiah 2:9, where the same words are translated “great man,” and “mean man.” Comp. the generality of the invitation of Psalms 49:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
O YE SIMPLE. — See above on Proverbs 1:4 for an explanation of “simple,” as also of “wisdom” (‘o_rmah_) there translated “subtilty.” YE FOOLS. — (_khesîlîm_)_,_ see above on Proverbs 1:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE_ OPENING OF MY LIPS SHALL BE RIGHT THINGS. — That is, _I will open my mouth to speak them. _... [ Continue Reading ]
FROWARD. — That is, _twisted,_ or _crooked. _... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE ALL PLAIN... — Because “the secret of the Lord is (only) with them that fear Him “(Psalms 25:14), and God reveals such things unto them by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10), while the “natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him” (_ibid.,_ Prov... [ Continue Reading ]
RUBIES. — See above on Proverbs 3:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELL WITH PRUDENCE. — (_‘ormah_)_,_ literally, _inhabit_ it, have settled down and taken up my abode with it, am at home there. WITTY INVENTIONS. — Literally, _well thought out plans_ (_mezimmôth_) translated “discretion” (Proverbs 1:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL. — Because there can never be any truce between the kingdoms of light and darkness (Matthew 6:24), so if we are the friend of one, we must be the enemy of the other. PRIDE AND ARROGANCY... DO I HATE. — See above on Proverbs 6:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOUND WISDOM. — See above on Proverbs 2:7. STRENGTH. — Comp. Ecclesiastes 7:19. For these various gifts of wisdom, comp. Isaiah 11:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRINCES. — Literally, _men of weight,_ or, _importance._... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE JUDGES OF THE EARTH. — By the aid of heavenly wisdom only can they give right and just judgments, and so fulfil the high office delegated to them by God Himself, from the possession of which they are themselves termed “gods” (Exodus 22:28; Psalms 82:1). For the same reason kings, as ruling b... [ Continue Reading ]
I LOVE THEM THAT LOVE ME. — Comp. John 14:21 : he that loveth me.... I will love him.... [ Continue Reading ]
RICHES AND HONOUR ARE WITH ME. — “If this passage is taken in a material sense, Psalms 112:3 and the promises in the Pentateuch of wealth as the reward of obedience might be compared with it. But doubtless the “true riches” (Luke 16:11) are here alluded to, the consciousness of possessing God’s hono... [ Continue Reading ]
MY FRUIT.... MY REVENUE. — _i.e.,_ the gain and profit which come from possessing me.... [ Continue Reading ]
I LEAD IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. — Comp. Psalms 37:23; also a prayer for such guidance, Psalms 119:33; Psalms 143:8; and a promise of it Isaiah 30:21... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I MAY CAUSE THOSE THAT LOVE ME TO INHERIT SUBSTANCE. — The work which each one by my help shall do will be stored up for him in heaven (Matthew 6:20), it will be as “gold tried in the fire” (Revelation 3:18), which will abide the trial of “the day” (1 Corinthians 3:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD POSSESSED ME IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS WAY. — The Hebrew word translated” possessed” in this passage (_qânah_) seems originally to have signified to” set up” or “establish,” and is applied (1) to the “forming” of the heavens (Genesis 14:19) and the “begetting” of a son, (Deuteronomy 32:6); ne... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS SET UP. — An unusual word; also applied to our Lord in Psalms 2:6 when “set” as King on Zion.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS BROUGHT FORTH. — i.e., born. The same word is used in Psalms 51:5 (7), and Job 15:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EARTH. — i.e., the cultivated and enclosed part of it. THE FIELDS. — The open country. THE HIGHEST PART OF THE DUST OF THE WORLD. Literally, “the head of the dusts of the fertile earth” _i.e._ the heaps of the clods of arable land, or better perhaps, “the sum of the atoms of dust.” Some refer... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE SET A COMPASS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEPTH — _i.e.,_ when He stretched the vault of heaven over it: the same expression is used in Job 22:14. It is also interpreted of the circle of the horizon.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE ESTABLISHED THE CLOUDS ABOVE. — Literally, _made firm;_ comp. Genesis 1:6. WHEN HE STRENGTHENED THE FOUNTAINS OF THE DEEP. — More probably, _when they flowed forth with strength. _... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE GAVE TO THE SEA HIS DECREE... — Compare the same thoughts in Job 38:4; Job 38:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS ONE BROUGHT UP WITH HIM — _i.e._, his foster child; as Mordecai “brought up” Esther (Esther 2:7). But the word may also bear the sense of “artificer.” It probably occurs in this meaning in Jeremiah 52:15 (though translated “multitude,” in accordance with 2 Kings 25:11), and in a slightly differen... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICING IN THE HABITABLE PART OF HIS EARTH. — Rather, _the fertile part._ (Comp. Genesis 1:31, where the satisfaction of God with His creation is described; and Psalms 104:31.) MY DELIGHTS WERE WITH THE SONS OF MEN. — Or rather, _in them._ (Comp. Genesis 3:8, where it would seem that the “Lord God... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE HEARKEN — _i.e._, now that ye know how great my power is, and what love I have to you, in that I rejoice in you, and call you my sons. (Comp. 1 John 3:1.)... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCHING DAILY AT MY GATES. — A figure taken from an ardent scholar waiting till the doors of the school are opened, and he can begin his studies. Or it represents a courtier expecting the appearance of his sovereign, or a lover that of his mistress. (Comp. Wis. 8:2.)... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO FINDETH ME FINDETH LIFE. — Comp. 1 John 5:12; John 8:51; and above, Proverbs 3:18, where Wisdom is described as a “tree of life.”... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SINNETH AGAINST ME. — Rather, _He that misses me does not find me._ So in Greek, sin (ἁμαρτία) is a “missing” of the true object of life.... [ Continue Reading ]