IX. (o). _Fifteenth Discourse: the Invitations of Wisdom and Folly_ (Proverbs 9). (1) WISDOM HATH BUILDED HER HOUSE — _i.e._, in preparation for the feast to which she is about to invite her guests. It is not an unusual custom in the Old Testament to describe intimate communion with God, and the re... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH KILLED HER BEASTS. — Comp. Matthew 22:4. SHE HATH MINGLED HER WINE — _i.e._, probably, flavoured it with spices, to improve the flavour. (Comp. Proverbs 23:30.) But the wine used at the Passover (Matthew 26:29, &c.) was mingled with water to decrease its strength. SHE HATH ALSO FURNISHED... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH SENT FORTH HER MAIDENS. — Wisdom being here described under the figure of a woman, is properly represented as attended by her maidens, whom she sends forth to summon the guests. But the King (Matthew 22) despatches His servants for the same work, viz., His prophets and wise men and scribes... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO IS SIMPLE... AS FOR HIM THAT WANTETH UNDERSTANDING. — So God does not call many “wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” (1 Corinthians 1:26); but chooses the “foolish,” “weak,” and “base,” whom man might overlook; not being willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), espe... [ Continue Reading ]
COME, EAT OF MY BREAD... — Comp. the invitations of Isaiah 55:1 and John 6:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
FORSAKE THE FOOLISH. — Rather, _the simple_; be no longer counted among the weak, who can be “carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14), but “stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT REPROVETH A SCORNER... — Wisdom does not address the scoffer, nor the godless: this would be “giving that which is holy unto the dogs, and casting pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6). (Comp. our Lord’s own plan of teaching by parables, that His hearers might not understand (Luke 8:10). GETTE... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE INSTRUCTION TO A WISE MAN. — Comp. Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD... — Comp. Isaiah 11:2, where the “spirit of knowledge” and of the “fear of the Lord” is counted as the gift of God. (For the general sense of the passage, see above, on Proverbs 1:7.) KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY — _i.e._, “the Holy One,” as in Proverbs 30:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY ME THY DAYS SHALL BE MULTIPLIED... — The connection of this verse with the preceding one is as follows: — It is true wisdom to fear and know God, for thus length of years and life that is worth living are to be gained. (Comp. Proverbs 3:2.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT BE WISE FOR THYSELF — i.e., to thine own benefit. (Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:8.) THOU ALONE SHALT BEAR IT — _i.e.,_ its penalty. (Comp. Galatians 6:5.)... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOOLISH WOMAN. — Rather, _the Foolish woman;_ Folly personified, in opposition to Wisdom described above. CLAMOROUS. — Not of dignified mien, as her rival. SIMPLE. — Heb., _simplicity, i.e.,_ she is simplicity itself. AND KNOWETH NOTHING. — And so leaves room for all evil to enter in and dwell... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE SITTETH AT THE DOOR OF HER HOUSE. — She does not care, like Wisdom, to send forth her maidens “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10); she contents herself with sitting at ease, just outside her own door, and calling to the passers-by.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO IS SIMPLE... — She imitates Wisdom closely in her address: Satan, too, transforms himself into an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Folly attracts those undecided characters who are in the right track, but have not the constancy to persevere in it; who, “in time of temptation, fall away.... [ Continue Reading ]
STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET. — See above, on Proverbs 5:15. BREAD EATEN IN SECRET. — The same figure is used in Proverbs 30:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEAD ARE THERE. — Comp. on Proverbs 2:18.... [ Continue Reading ]