Proverbs 3

Notes

Ver. 1, 2. Let me therefore again entreat you, my dear children, to receive, and rivet in your judgment, memory, will, and affections, the counsels and commands which I now give, that you may practise them in your lives: thus shall your temporal life be long, healthful, and prosperous; be attended with a pleasant life of grace here, and followed by an eternal life of glory hereafter. 3, 4. And while you live by a cordial, constant, and assured faith in the mercy and faithfulness of God, pledged in his Word, study always, as your great honour, to imitate him in kindness, compassion, and uprightness: thus shall you be highly respected and honoured, and shall prudently order your affairs both before God and men. 5, 6. Always, by faith in his spiritual promises and relations, depend wholly on God for strength, direction, and success in your undertakings, and never upon your own knowledge or carnal prudence. In every undertaking believe and depend on his overruling power, observe his directions, and implore and wait for his favour and blessing, and he shall guide you in all your proceedings, and bring them to a happy issue. 7, 8. Never indulge a conceit of your own knowledge or wisdom, as if it were sufficient to direct you in the easiest matters: but under the influence of a holy and filial awe of and regard to God, avoid with care whatever he has forbidden in his law: as that is the way to promote the health, strength, and comfort of both soul and body in time and eternity. 9, 10. In just gratitude to God, who has bestowed all that you have upon you, make conscience of employing your estates in works of piety, for the maintenance of his worship, and of charity to his poor, and of justice to all men: so shall his blessing abundantly increase them in everything useful and comfortable. 11, 12. Never overlook or contemn the afflictions which you meet with, as if they were trifles, or happened by chance; and never grow weary of them as an intolerable burden, or take any unlawful course to remove them; but kindly receive and submit to them as the corrections of a kind and gracious Father, in which he manifests his distinguished love to and care for your souls.—13-18. Thrice happy is the man who through much tribulation, and with much care and pains, obtains the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, and the spiritual wisdom and knowledge that is in and by him. This is infinitely preferable to everything gainful, comely, precious, or profitable on earth. By this we are secured in all the real blessings of this present life and of that which is to come. In cleaving to Jesus, and walking in his ordinances and laws, the most delightful comforts and pleasures, the most blessed tranquillity of mind and conscience, the most happy success of affairs, and eternal rest with God in glory, are to be enjoyed.—Immortal, quickening, and invigorating is the satisfaction enjoyed by every one who earnestly embraces his person, receives his instructions, and steadfastly walks in his ways. 19, 20. And no wonder that Jesus Christ, and the spiritual wisdom and knowledge that are hid in him, should be so profitable, pleasant, and comfortable, when by him, and in the exercise of his infinite wisdom, God formed, founded, and settled the heavens, and earth, and seas, and all that is therein, and makes the fountains to pour forth streams for the nourishment of animals, and the clouds to drop down dews and rains for the nourishment of plants, corn, and grass.—21-26. Be it therefore your earnest care to fix these my instructions in your heart, and to keep them always before your eyes, as the means of obtaining true and profitable knowledge and prudence. You will find them infallible promoters of true life, and honour, and comfort, temporal, spiritual, and eternal. By means hereof, you, by the blessing of God, shall prosper in your labours, and be kept from falling into sin or danger; and under his protection you shall enjoy the most safe and pleasant rest and refreshment. No reports of sudden and approaching danger, or of desolating judgments, appointed for or effected by the wicked, need in the least terrify you; for the Almighty Jehovah, in whom you have placed all your trust and confidence, shall support, protect, and preserve you from danger. 27, 28. Never delay the payment of just debts, or the giving to the Lord, or to the poor, beyond the first opportunity afforded you, as you know not if ever Providence will give you another. 29. Never contrive mischief against any: especially against such as depend on your equity and kindness. 30. Never be quarrelsome and contentious: and especially to such as have done you no injury. 31, 32. Never let the prosperity and wealth of oppressors tempt you to wish yourselves in their condition, or to imitate them in their injurious conduct; for wilful and obstinate oppressors are infinitely detested and hated of God; but his secret counsels and comforts are vouchsafed to such as walk uprightly and honestly. 33. Evil-doers, however great, and all that they have, are under the destructive influence of God's curse; but good men, being under the influence of his favour and blessing, may be happy in the meanest condition upon earth. 34. God will certainly at last expose proud mockers of religion and virtue to scorn and contempt; but will render such as are meek and humble highly respected and honoured. 35. And though persons truly wise unto salvation may for a time be abusively reproached and contemned, yet they shall, in the most free and fixed manner, enjoy honour from God and men at last; whereas contempt and misery are all the promotion that wicked men, ignorant of God and regardless of their true interest, shall ever attain.

Ver. 2. The fifth is the first commandment with promise; which ever in this life receives a literal fulfilment, as far as it serves for God's glory and the good of his people: also a spiritual fulfilment; for believers always count their days by the continuance of goodness and mercy; and their life has become truly long from their 'desire to depart and be with Christ.' But hereafter the promise is fully realized in all the blessings of life and immortality. C.

Ver. 5. Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord's word, whatever hath been thy own previous opinion; trust in his will, whatever hath been thy previous inclinations; trust in his promise, whatever hath been thy own previous experience; and trust in his guidance, whatever may be thy doubts, difficulties, or fears. C.

Ver. 16. Some think this description of temporal blessings is confined to the Jewish, and not literally extended to the Christian dispensation. This, with the exception of the promise of possessing Canaan, is an unfounded distinction; 'for godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is,' 1 Ti. 4. 8. The true meaning of the verse lies in referring its promise to the gift of eternal life, and the acquisition of the 'unsearchable riches of Christ.' C.

Ver. 17. Ways of pleasantness. A way is rendered pleasant, (1) by health to journey and enjoy; (2) by the smoothness of the path; (3) by the beauty of the prospect; (4) by the safety of the country; (5) by the agreeableness of companions; (6) by the prospect of a cheerful and happy rest and welcome at the end: all these meet when Jesus is 'the way.' C.

Ver. 22. Life unto thy soul. The life of the body is supported by food, digestion, and nutrition, which eventuate in health and enjoyment. The life of the soul is supported by the bread that cometh down from heaven; is accompanied with 'hunger and thirst after righteousness,' which is followed by 'growth in grace,' and eventuates in 'the peace of God' with 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' C.

Ver. 25. Be not afraid of sudden fear. 'Sudden fear,' or what is commonly called a panic, with 'rumours of wars,' 'dire portents and omens,' are continually disturbing the minds of men. But by all, the believer in Jesus remains unmoved. His Redeemer liveth—his sins are forgiven—he is accepted of God—he inherits the promises—Jesus is with him in the ship, and he trembles not in any storm that his Father may commission to try his faith. C.

Ver. 32. His secret is with the righteous. This does not signify any secret information that God gives to the one, while he withholds it from the other (for the grace of God hath appeared unto all men, teaching them that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, they should live soberly, righteously, and godly); but it signifies God's residence in the hearts of believers, which this world can neither see, imagine, nor admit; and that secret comfort which he administers to them by his promises and Spirit, in the midst of all the public trials of which they are partakers, and that secret acquittal which he reports to their consciences, in the midst of all the public calumnies they may be condemned to underlie. C.

Ver. 34. Giveth grace unto the lowly. It does not signify that God gives grace to men who have become lowly, previous to grace, or without grace, by a mere effort of unrenewed nature; but that he first gives lowliness, which is a grace of the Spirit, and then, where he has already sown the seed, continues to water and give the increase. C.

Reflections.—Real religion has a glorious and blessed tendency to render men happy in themselves, and blessings to all around them. And those who neglect and despise it are in general mean-spirited, foolish, and self-ruining wretches, dishonourers of God, and plagues to mankind. But great is the shame that the professors of religion so little conform their lives to the excellent rules thereof, that they so little exemplify them in their behaviour and conduct. And comely would the church of God appear if that regard to God's law, faith in him, devotion, resignation to his will, diligence in his work, and that truth, mercy, equity, peacefulness, humility, and prudence towards men, required in his Word, were duly exercised.