The Proverbs
Proverbs 8
Chapter VIII · Vol. II, pp. 1088–1089
1 The fame, 6 and evidence of wisdom. 10 The excellency, 12 the nature, 15 the power, 18 the riches, 22 and the eternity of wisdom. 32 Wisdom is to be desired for the blessedness it bringeth.
1 Doth not awisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?1
a Christ, who is the wisdom of God, 1 Co.1.24. Col.2.3, in the most public and earnest manner publisheth the gospel to men, ch.1.20,21; 9.1,3, &c. Jn.7.37.
1 Wisdom is here personified. She is represented as a great and universal teacher. In all places, at all times, under all circumstances, her lessons are within the reach of the thoughtful and attentive. The eternal Son is the grand revealer of divine wisdom. He is the universal Teacher. He teaches by various instruments and agencies—by the light of nature, by the inner conscience, by the dispensations of providence, and by the full and clear dictates of revelation. If men are ignorant, the fault is their own; it is because they wilfully shut their eyes and stop their ears.—P.
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths:
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors:
6 Hear, for I will espeak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
e ch.22.20. Ps.19.7-11. Col.1.26,27. 1 Co.2.2,7. 2 Co.2.1. 1 Ti.3.16.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing hfroward3 or perverse in them.
h Ps.12.6.
3 Heb. wreathed.
9 Theyi are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
i Mi.2.7. Ps.19.7-9; 119.30; 36.9. Is.2.3,5. Mat.13.11. 1 Co.2.10,12. Ep.1.17,18.
11 Forl wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
l Job 28.15. Ps.19.10; 119.72,127. ch.3.14,15; 16.16; 4.7. Phi.3.8,9.
13 Theo fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride,p and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counselq is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; rI have strength.5
q Col.2.3. Ps.147.5. Is.9.6; 11.2; 40.29. 1 Co.1.24. Jn.1.4,9.
r Ec.7.19.
5 That 'knowledge is power' is the common language of the world. And if it be understood of the 'knowledge of God in Christ,' it is true; for therein is strength whereby the weakest can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. See Re. 2. 7,17, &c.—C.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 It love them that love me; and uthose that seek me early shall find me.
t 1 Sa.2.30. Ps.91.14,15. Jn.14.21,23. Ec.12.1. Je.2.2. Mar.10.14. Ja.1.5.
u Is.45.19.
19 Myx fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
x ch.3.14,15,18. Job 28.15-19. Phi.3.8,9, with Mat.16.26. Ca.2.3. Jn.12.24.
22 Thea LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.7
7 From divine wisdom viewed abstractly the writer now turns to him who is the grand revealer of wisdom—the eternal Son. His nature, his character, and his attributes as a person are set forth; and this is done for the purpose of inducing men to hearken to and honour him.—P.
23 Ib was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
b Mi.5.2. Ps.89.19,20; 2.6. Is.49.1-8. Je.30.21.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,8 nor the highest part9 of the dust of the world.
8 Or, open places.
9 Or, the chief part.
29 Whenh he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he iappointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Thenj I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
j Jn.1.1,14,18. Mat.3.17. Col.1.13. Is.42.1.
34 Blessedq is the man that heareth me, rwatching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.2
r Lu.1.6; 10.39. ch.1.21; 8.3. Ps.84.1,2,10.
2 All wisdom, divine as well as human, must be sought after. It is not so much a gift as an acquirement. To obtain it our faculties must be exercised; our time must be diligently employed; every aid and instrumentality must be faithfully made use of. It is quite true that by mere human study man cannot attain to divine wisdom; but it is also true that God enables us to acquire that wisdom, not by any direct revelation, but by quickening our natural faculties so that we can see clearly and understand fully.—P.
35 Fors whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain3 favour of the LORD.
s Phi.3.8,9. Ro.8.1,30-39. Col.3.3. Ep.1.6,7. Jn.3.16,17; 6.51-57. 1 Jn.5.11,12.
3 Heb. bring forth.
Notes
Ver. 1-11. And why, to your ruin, should you listen to the flattering enticements of whorish women, when Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, by himself and his messengers, in the most open and earnest manner, calls you, and every one of mankind, even the most simple and foolish, to the study of true and spiritual wisdom;—to listen to, consider, and believe the excellent, pure, holy, substantial, faithful, precious, and infinitely useful oracles of his Word: 12-31. And in order to enforce his call, and recommend his instructions, represents himself as the infinitely wise God, the source of all wisdom and prudence; the infinitely Holy One, who detests everything proud, polluted, or perverse;—and the Almighty God, able to execute all his purposes, and by whose deputed authority all the magistrates on earth govern their subjects;—the infinite lover and rich rewarder of all that seek him, particularly in youth;—the inexhaustible portion and unerring guide of all those who receive him by faith:—the eternal and only begotten Son of Jehovah, appointed to be our Mediator;—the almighty Maker of all things in heaven and earth;—and who, from his infinite and peculiar love to mankind, took a distinguished pleasure in forming the earth as a theatre, whereon he should appear, save, and hold intimate fellowship with the sons and daughters of Adam. 32-36. On account of all which excellencies and kindness he, in the most earnest and condescending manner, entreats and charges you to hear, receive, and practically observe his instructions, attend his ordinances, and receive himself in them, as the free gift of God, and as the only mean of true and everlasting happiness;—and warns you, that if you refuse and hate him, you will infallibly and eternally ruin yourselves.
Ver. 1. He that would understand this, and similar passages, may consult Is. 11. 2, 3, where he will find the seven gifts of the Spirit enumerated as the endowments of Christ. And as every attribute of God is but a name for his being—so the forth-putting of every separate attribute is but an account of the actings of his being in that special view. Accordingly, 'wisdom and understanding' are here both used as titles of Christ—wisdom, to indicate his full comprehension of the interests and means of the house of God—understanding, to indicate his adequacy to sustain their weight, care, and management. C.
Ver. 5. Ye simple. This word is applied either to that singleness of heart that rejects the world and is persuaded of God, Ro. 16. 19, or that singleness of heart that rejects God and follows the world, Pr. 14. 15. Singleness is the original idea in both cases—the nature of that singleness is explained by its peculiar attributes, as it occurs. C.
Ver. 9. He that hath understanding, is not necessarily he that is learned; but he in whose heart the Word of God has been sown as a seed of life, and who has resisted and overcome the efforts of Satan to take it away, Mat. 13. 19. To such a one all the words of God are plain, because it is written, 'If any man will do his (the Father's) will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God,' Jn. 7. 17. C.
Ver. 12. Prudence implies foresight, forethought, and preparation for coming events. It is an attribute of God, Ep. 1. 8; and, rightly understood, a precious grace of the Spirit in man, Is. 52. 13.—Witty. This word is here used in the sense of ingenious, skilful. To the Spirit of God all human ingenuity is to be attributed, Ex. 31. 2, 3, the administration of whose gifts are all in the hands of Christ, the eternal Wisdom. C.
Ver. 18. Were further proof required that the Wisdom here speaking is Christ, it would here be furnished: none but he is righteous, Ro. 3. 10; 1 Jn. 2. 1; none but he has righteousness, Ro. 3. 22. C.
Reflections.—How public, earnest, and extensive are the calls of the gospel! Infinitely excellent is that Jesus Christ and his salvation therein exhibited and offered, and that religion which is therein prescribed. And happy, in the blessings of time and eternity, are those persons, families, and nations in which the knowledge of Christ and his truths prevail and reign! They are enriched with the fruits of his mediation, and filled with all the fulness of God. But is it not infinitely amazing, that God's eternal Son, the Creator and Preserver of all things, should have, from everlasting, entered into the room of, and fixed his thoughts, his delights upon, the children of men? Surely then he deserves our strictest attention, our earliest and strongest affection. And just and righteous is the sorest punishment which can be inflicted upon those self-ruiners who refuse him, and neglect and despise the ordinances of his grace. Let me consider this great Apostle and High-priest of my profession, this great All and in All. Let my heart seek him early, earnestly, and above all things else. Let me love him, who first loved me, with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let me rejoice and delight in him as my exceeding joy, and all my consolation. Let me carefully attend his ordinances, watching daily at his gates, at the posts of his doors; and if I find him who is the great God my Saviour, and the eternal life, my pains will be infinitely more than rewarded.