CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:1. THROUGH DESIRE, ETC. The readings and expositions of this verse are many. Zockler translates, “_He that separateth himself seeketh his own pleasure, against all counsel doth he rush on_,” and the renderings of Stuart, Miller, and Delitzsch are substantially the same,... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:3. IGNOMINY, rather, “_shameful deeds_.” _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:3_ This verse also, as will be seen from a reference to the Critical Notes, and also from the Comments, is susceptible of several interpretations. We think it treats of— THE SHORT-LIVED PROSPERI... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:4. The last clause of this verse may be divided into two smaller ones and placed in apposition, thus: _“a bubbling brook,”—a fountain of wisdom_. Fausset remarks that the Hebrew word used for _man_ is _ish_, a _good_ man, not _adam_, the general term for man. _MAIN HOM... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:6. CALLETH FOR. Stuart understands this in the sense of “_to deserve_.” PROVERBS 18:8. WOUNDS. The word so translated occurs only here and in chap. Proverbs 26:22, and will bear very different renderings. Some translate it _words of sport_ (Stuart and Zockler); others,... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:9. WASTER, or _destroyer_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:9_ TWIN-BROTHERS I. SLOTHFULNESS AND PRODIGALITY HAVE THE SAME ORIGIN. As brothers are the children of a common parent, so sloth and waste have their root in the common sin of ungodliness; men are spendthrifts... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:10. SAFE, or, _lifted high_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:10_ TWO CITADELS I. THE CITADEL OF HIM WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD. “_The name of the Lord_.” God has revealed Himself to men by many names, each one of which is intended to set forth some attribute of His perfec... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:13_ ANSWERING BEFORE HEARING I. A MAN WHO GIVES JUDGMENT IN A MATTER BEFORE HE HAS HEARD ALL THE FACTS OF THE CASE WRONGS HIMSELF. If he were to give his opinion upon a building as soon as the builders had dug out the foundation, or were to criticise a picture when t... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:14. INFIRMITY, _i.e._, sickness, disease of body. As in similar verses, Miller translates “A WOUNDED SPIRIT:” _a spirit of upbraiaing_. Here again, as in Proverbs 18:4, the Hebrew word _ish_ is used for man. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:14_ SICKNESS OF BODY AND WOU... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:15_ PRUDENCE AND KNOWLEDGE We have before given a definition of prudence as wisdom applied to practice; a prudent man is likewise defined as one “cautious to avoid harm.” Taking in both definitions, the text suggests— I. THAT IGNORANCE EXPOSES MEN TO DANGER. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:16. A MAN’S GIFTS. “Hebrew, _adam_, the gift of a _man_, however humble and low” _(Fausset)_. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:16_ THE INFLUENCE OF TALENT Understanding the gift here spoken of as a special mental endowment (see Hitzig), we remark— I. THAT GREAT ABILIT... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:17_ CROSS-EXAMINATION I. THE EVIDENCE OF ONE PERSON ALONE MUST NOT BE TOO MUCH DEPENDED ON. This is but another way of putting the old proverb that “One tale is good till another is told.” And this does not necessarily imply that the first teller of the tale is an un... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:18_ THE USE OF THE LOT We have before had the lot as a symbol of human freedom and Divine preordination (chap. Proverbs 16:33, page 499). In this verse the thought is the advantage of its use as putting an end to contention. That it is thus a means to a most desirab... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:19. “IS HARDER TO BE WON;” these words are not in the original, but have been inserted to supply the sense. Some translators read “_a brother offended resisteth more than a strong city_.” Miller reads, “_When a brother is revolted away, it is from a city of strength_.”... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:20. SATISFIED. “If this word is taken in a good sense the _fruit_ must be good; but it may be ironical, meaning false or malignant words will find ample retribution. Perhaps the next verse helps us to determine the meaning” (_Stuart_). PROVERBS 18:21. THEY THAT LOVE IT... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:22_ A TWOFOLD GOOD I. POLYGAMY CANNOT BE RECOMMENDED BY THOSE WHO HAVE PRACTISED IT. A thousand counterfeit coins, even if they pass as genuine for a time, are nothing worth in comparison with one real golden sovereign. Both may bear the image and superscription of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:23_ THE RICH AND POOR This proverb treats of a twofold aspect of human life which furnishes a strong proof of the fallen condition of human nature. There is, probably, no part of this earth—teeming although it is with riches enough to satisfy the needs of every livin... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 18:24. The first clause of this verse should be “A man of many friends will prove himself base, or is so to his own destruction,” _i.e._, he who professes to regard everybody as his friend will, in so doing, involve himself in trouble. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 18:24_... [ Continue Reading ]