INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 9 In this chapter, Wisdom, or Christ, is represented as having built a stately house or palace for the entertainment of his guests, Proverbs 9:1; as having made large and suitable provisions for them, Proverbs 9:2; and as having sent his servants to invite them to come and... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM HATH BUILDED HER HOUSE,.... Or "Wisdoms": of which see Proverbs 1:20; Christ, the Wisdom of God, is meant, in whom and from whom all wisdom is. Various are the opinions concerning this house built by him. Some take it to be the whole circle of sciences, and the seven pillars to be the seven l... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH KILLED HER BEASTS,.... Or, "her sacrifice" d: a crucified Christ, the principal of the provisions in Wisdom's house, or the church of Christ. The death of Christ was prefigured by the slaying of beasts for sacrifice under the old law; was foretold in prophecy, and is expressed by "killing... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH SENT FORTH HER MAIDENS,.... Not moral virtues, or good works, which subserve the interest of Christ and religion, adorn the Gospel and its professors; nor the liberal arts and sciences, said to be handmaids to divinity; nor angels, ministering spirits to Christ; but the ministers of the Gos... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO [IS] SIMPLE, LET HIM TURN IN HITHER,.... Into Wisdom's house, so well built and furnished; the church of Christ, as a house of instruction; a school, where such who are "simple", weak, and foolish, may learn. Here are many instructors; saints instruct one another; ministers of the word are tea... [ Continue Reading ]
COME, EAT OF MY BREAD,.... Which stands for all the provisions of Christ's house; it designs the Gospel, which to a believer is more than his necessary food; and the ordinance of the supper, one of the symbols of which is bread; and more especially Christ himself, the bread of God, the living bread... [ Continue Reading ]
FORSAKE THE FOOLISH,.... Foolish men and their company; not men of weak abilities in things natural and civil, or who are reckoned foolish by the world; for so the saints are, whose company is not to be neglected and forsaken; but such who are wickedly foolish, who are ignorant of divine things, and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT REPROVETH A SCORNER GETTETH TO HIMSELF SHAME,.... Intimating, that though the simple, and such as want understanding, and of whom there is hope of doing them good, are to be invited into Wisdom's house; yet not the haughty scorner, the abandoned sinner, the scoffer at all religion, who walks... [ Continue Reading ]
REPROVE NOT A SCORNER, LEST HE HATE THEE,.... For wicked men are apt to hate those that publicly rebuke them, Amos 5:10. Hence minister's of the word are of all men most hated; though this also should be bore with, could it be thought, or there was any reason to believe, that the reproof would be of... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE [INSTRUCTION] TO A WISE [MAN],.... In the Hebrew text it is only "give to a wise man"; give him reproof, correction, chastisement, doctrine, or instruction, be it what it will, he will be the better for it. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, "give occasion";... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THE LORD [IS] THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM,.... This shows who the wise men are, and in what true wisdom lies; no man is wise till he fears the Lord, and he that does so is a wise man, at least then he begins to be one; this is the principal part of wisdom, Proverbs 1:7; and is at the first o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY ME THY DAYS SHALL BE MULTIPLIED,.... These are the words of Wisdom, and contain a reason and argument why her call and advice in the preceding verses should be listened unto, since she gives long life to her followers. She is a tree of life unto them, the author and giver of spiritual and ete... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU BE WISE, THOU SHALT BE WISE FOR THYSELF,.... He is wise that harkens to Wisdom's advice, that obeys her call, turns in to her house, and becomes her guest; and such an one is wise for himself, it is for his own good, profit, and advantage; for the good of his soul, for his present peace and... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOOLISH WOMAN [IS] CLAMOROUS,.... Some by this woman understand folly itself, as opposed to wisdom; others blind reason, ignorant of divine things; others carnal sensual pleasure, which entices and draws men to that which is evil; others heresy and superstition; others the old serpent, the devil;... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SHE SITTETH AT THE DOOR OF HER HOUSE, e.] Idle and inactive, looking out for her prey not active and laborious, as Wisdom, building her house, killing her beasts, furnishing her table, and sending out her maidens to call in her guests; but exposing herself in the most public manner, and being at... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CALL PASSENGERS WHO GO RIGHT ON THEIR WAYS. Who have been religiously educated, and trained up in the principles of true Christianity; and who walk outwardly according to the rule of the divine word, and are in a fair way for heaven and eternal happiness. These she has her eye upon as they pass a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO [IS] SIMPLE, LET HIM TURN IN HITHER,.... The harlot's house, Popish chapels and churches. She uses the same form of words that Wisdom does, Proverbs 9:4; having a form of godliness, a show of religion, but without the power of it; her priests are wolves in sheep's clothing, and speak lies in h... [ Continue Reading ]
STOLEN WATERS ARE SWEET,.... Wells and fountains of waters in those hot countries were very valuable, and were the property of particular persons; about which there were sometimes great strife and contention; and they were sometimes sealed and kept from the use of others; see Genesis 26:18; now wate... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE KNOWETH NOT THAT THE DEAD [ARE] THERE,.... In the house of this foolish and wicked woman, into which she invites passengers to turn; the simple, that is persuaded by her, does not consider that there are none there to be his companions, but such who are dead in a moral or spiritual sense; tha... [ Continue Reading ]