III. (d)_ Fourth Discourse_: — _Exhortation to Various Virtues_ (Pro iii 1-18). (2) LONG LIFE. — That is, a life worth living, fit to be called “life”; whereas” length of days” only implies extension of life, the reward promised for obedience to parents.... [ Continue Reading ]
MERCY. — Or rather, _love,_ shown by God to man (Exodus 34:7), by man to God (Jeremiah 2:2), and to his fellow man (Genesis 21:23); “truth,” or rather, _faithfulness,_ especially in keeping promises, is similarly used both of God (Psalms 30:10) and man (Isaiah 59:14). The two are often joined, as in... [ Continue Reading ]
FAVOUR AND GOOD UNDERSTANDING. — Particularly noted as distinguishing the childhood of our Lord (Luke 2:52).... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR THE LORD, AND DEPART FROM EVIL. — The same result is reached by Job also (Proverbs 28:28) in his inquiry after wisdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
NAVEL. — As being the centre, and so the most important part of the body. (Comp. the epithet applied to Delphi, “navel of the earth.”) MARROW. — Literally, _watering: i.e.,_ refreshing. (Comp. Job 21:24.) For the opposite condition, “dryness of the bones, comp. Proverbs 17:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRESSES. — Or _vats,_ into which the newly pressed juice flowed: the “winefat” of Mark 12:1. (Comp. the promise to follow upon payment of tithes, Malachi 3:8.)... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE NOT THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD... — Comp. Job 5:17. A wonderful advance beyond the teaching of the Pentateuch: _e.g.,_ Deuteronomy 28, in which the Jews had to be treated as children, and punishment or reward follow as the immediate consequence of bad or good behaviour. Under such a discipli... [ Continue Reading ]
RUBIES. — The meaning of the Hebrew _penînîm_ is doubtful. Lamentations 4:7 shows the colour to have been red; “coral” is a probable rendering; that of “pearls” is unlikely. For the thought, comp. Job 28:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
PEACE. — The highest reward of the New Testament for the life of thankful dependence upon God (Philippians 4:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
A TREE OF LIFE. — Evidently an allusion to Genesis 2:3. No mention is made of it except in Proverbs (Proverbs 11:30; Proverbs 13:12; Proverbs 15:4) and Revelation (Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 22:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
(e)_ Fifth Discourse:_ — _Wisdom as Creator and Protector_ (Proverbs 3:19). (19) THE LORD BY WISDOM... — A passage anticipatory of the doctrine of John 1:3. (Comp. Psalms 104:24; Psalms 136:5.) A further advance towards the personality of the Creator is made in Proverbs 8:27, _sqq. _... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE BROKEN UP. — Or, _burst forth:_ the word used in Genesis 7:11 of the breaking forth of the waters from the interior of the earth at the flood. (Comp. Job 38:8.) DROP DOWN THE DEW. — Of great importance in countries where for months together there is no rain... [ Continue Reading ]
DESOLATION OF THE WICKED. — That is, the storm which overwhelms them.... [ Continue Reading ]
(f) _Sixth Discourse:_ — _Exhortation to Charity, Peace, Contentment_ (Proverbs 3:27). (27) THEM TO WHOM IT IS DUE — _i.e._, the poor and needy. An exhortation to us to make to ourselves “friends of the mammon of unrighteousness” (uncertain riches, Luke 16:9), remembering that we are not absolute o... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SECRET IS WITH THE RIGHTEOUS — i.e., He holds confidential intercourse with them. (Comp. Psalms 25:14, and the reward of love and obedience to Christ, that both Father and Son will “come” unto the believer, and “make their abode with him,” through the indwelling Spirit, John 14:23.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BLESSETH THE HABITATION OF THE JUST. — The word rendered “habitation” often signifies “pasture,” “sheepfold,” and this is a relic of the time when the Israelites led a nomad life and had no fixed habitations; so the cry, “To your tents, O Israel!” (1 Kings 12:16) was still in use long after the s... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY HE SCORNETH THE SCORNERS. — Rather, _If,_ or, _Although he scorns the scorners, yet to the lowly he giveth grace._ Another form of the teaching of Proverbs 1:24. If man rejects God’s offers of mercy, they will in time be withdrawn from him. And so, as man deals with God, will God at last deal... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAME SHALL BE THE PROMOTION ‘OF FOOLS. — That is, dull, stupid people, who despise God’s threatenings (Proverbs 1:32), are distinguished from others by what is a disgrace to them (Philippians 3:19), and so are noticeable only as examples to be shunned by others. (See Note on Proverbs 14:29.)... [ Continue Reading ]