_MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 26:1_ A GIFT WRONGLY BESTOWED I. TO HONOUR SOME MEN IS BOTH SEEMLY AND RIGHT. The snow and the rain come from heaven by Divine command, and are indispensable to the beauty and fruitfulness of the earth. So to accord honour where it is due is a Divine command (Romans 13... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 26:2. The first clause of the verse should be, AS THE SPARROW FLITTING, AS THE SWALLOW FLYING, etc. CAUSELESS, _i.e._, “_undeserved_”—_i.e._, Such a curse is but transient—it alights for the moment, but, like a bird, does not stay long. Miller and others, however, understa... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 26:3. To our English ideas, the whip and bridle are assigned respectively to the wrong animals, but it must be remembered that the Eastern ass is often quite as spirited an animal as the horse. PROVERBS 26:6. DRINKETH DAMAGE, or “_injury_.” As in Job 21:20, the verb “_dri... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 26:15. IN HIS BOSOM. Rather, IN THE DISH, as in chap. Proverbs 19:24. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Proverbs 26:12_ SELF-CONCEIT AND INDOLENCE I. THE RUINOUS EFFECTS OF SELF-SATISFACTION.—In the preceding verses Solomon has drawn a picture of the moral fool—of the... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 26:17. MEDDLETH, rather, “_is excited_.” PROVERBS 26:21. COALS TO BURNING COALS—_i.e., “black coals to burning_,” etc. PROVERBS 26:22. A repetition of chap. Proverbs 18:8. (See on that verse.) _MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 26:17_ NEEDLESS INTERFERENCE The wise man may h... [ Continue Reading ]
CRITICAL NOTES.— PROVERBS 26:23. BURNING LIPS—_i.e._, “lips whence come ardent expressions of friendship.” SILVER DROSS. Impure silver not freed from the dross. PROVERBS 26:24. LAYETH UP, rather, “_prepareth_,” or “_meditateth_.” PROVERBS 26:26. CONGREGATION—_i.e., “before the people assembled fo... [ Continue Reading ]