The Proverbs
Proverbs 9
Chapter IX · Vol. II, p. 1090
1 The discipline, 4 and doctrine of wisdom. 13 The custom, 16 and error of folly.
1 Wisdom ahath bbuilded her house, she hath hewn out her cseven pillars;1
A.M. cir. 3029. B.C. cir. 975.
a ch.1.20;8.1. 1 Co.1.24,30. Col.2.3,9.
b Ep.2.20-22. Mat.16.18. 1 Ti.3.15. He.3.3,4. 1 Pe.2.5.
c Ga.2.9. Ep.4.11-13. Re.3.12. Ca.3.10.
1 Wisdom is here exhibited as building a firm, beautiful, and perfect temple, where all her votaries may dwell in princely magnificence and security. It is a refuge from the world's vanities, an asylum from its persecutions, and a school for the acquisition of divine truth. Wisdom is Jesus Christ our great King; the temple is his true church; the seven pillars are the emblems of perfection and stability; the food and the wine represent Christian ordinances and teaching.—P.
2 Shed hath killed her beasts;2 she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
d Mat.22.3-10. Tit.2.14. Jn.6.54-56.
2 Heb. her killing. Is.53.5,10;55.1;25.6.
4 Whosoh is simple,3 let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5 Come, ieat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.4
i Is.55.1-3; 25.6. Jn.6.27,54-57. Ca.5.1.
4 See note * below.
* It is evident from Ca. 8. 2 that the Hebrews were accustomed to mingle wine with spices to render it more palatable and more wholesome. Here wine is the emblem of the restorative power of the gospel promises, commingled with the preservative powers of gospel holiness.—C.
7 Hek that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
9 Giveo instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
o Ho.6.3. ch.1.2-7;4.18. Mat.13.11,12. 2 Pe.3.18. Job 17.9.
10 Thep fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding:
12 Ifr thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself:5 but sif thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
r ch.16.26. Job 22.2,3,21-30;35.6,7. Eze.18.20.
A.M. cir. 3029. B.C. cir. 975.
5 Because receiving all, while able to give nothing in return.—C.
s Is.28.22. He.10.26-29.
13 At foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
t ch.2.16; 5.3; 7.5,11; 8.5;9.4. Ps.94.8.
16 Whosox is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
x See ver.4.
Notes
Ver. 1-5. And why enter the ruinous house or covet the ensnaring entertainment of a harlot, when the infinitely wise Jesus Christ, who is made of God unto us wisdom, hath framed, for his fellowship with men, a glorious church on earth and in heaven, fully supported by divine perfections, purposes, oracles, and offices; and hath prepared his own crucified self, his word, ordinances, and eternal felicities, for the nourishment and satisfaction of sinful men; and in the gospel, by his faithful prophets, apostles, and ministers, earnestly invites and beseeches even the most weak, wicked, and besotted sinners of mankind to come by faith, and freely partake of his nourishing, strengthening, delightful, and satisfactory fulness and blessings? 6-12. Earnestly he admonishes you to avoid all unnecessary intimacy with wicked persons, as you regard your temporal or eternal happiness; as by it you cannot, even in attempting their reformation, justly expect to profit them, but may be sure of procuring hatred and infamy to yourselves;—and to cultivate familiarity with wise and serious persons, whom you may both profit and be profited by;—and to study true and experimental godliness, as the proper mean to render you truly happy in this world and in that which is to come; and solemnly warns you that you yourselves must reap the inexpressibly important fruits of your attention to or scornful rejection of his instructions.—13-18. And remember, as before God, that nothing more effectually renders men despisers of Christ and his blessings than fellowship with light and lewd women, or false teachers; who, ignorant of everything spiritually good, and extremely talkative, artfully and impudently seduce simple persons, who intend no such thing, to imagine that forbidden pleasures are peculiarly delightful. And, alas! few of those tempted by them seriously consider, that by such pleasures multitudes have already lost their lives, and are entered into the everlasting torments of hell.
Ver. 7. Blot. The shame of disappointed hopes, the blot of having cast what was holy before dogs, who turn again and rend the hand by which they have been fed, Mat. 7. 6. C.
Ver. 8. Reprove not a scorner. Why not reprove a scorner? Because Providence does not show that he is prepared to bear reproof. But deal with him in meekness; and pray for him in thine heart; and thus, and in this true and holy sense, become 'all things unto all men, that thou mayest save some,' 1 Co. 9. 19-22. C.
Ver. 16. Whoso is simple. The seducer here employs the language of Wisdom, ver. 4, even as Satan employed the language of Scripture in his temptation of our Lord, Mat. 4. 6.—Note, It has ever been the custom of error and heresy to employ, nay, to extol Scripture language; while inwardly, often rejecting its authority, and always perverting its meaning. C.
Reflections.—What great things Jesus Christ has done, and still does, for our salvation! O how un- willing is he that we should perish! Gloriously formed, and well supported and established, are his promise and church. Rich are his gospel provisions—his own flesh and blood, nay, all the fulness of God. And free and unencumbered with legal qualifications are his gospel calls. How absurd, insolent, and foolish are the scornful refusers thereof! For certain and just is their aggravated and everlasting ruin. And it is impossible to have fellowship with Christ, in grace or glory, and yet live in intimacy with wicked men. There is need of the utmost care, both in giving and taking reproofs. Fidelity in reproofs is the surest evidence of genuine friendship. None are too wise to learn, nor too good to amend. And they who rage at rebuke prove the weakness of their own understanding, as well as the want of grace. But, alas! what manifold temptations, suited to the taste of our corrupt hearts, are presented to us by Satan and his emissaries, to keep or draw us from Jesus Christ! And too many, through ignorance of and inattention to the danger, comply therewith. But however sweet the pleasures of sin be in the mouth, they are bitter in the belly; they issue in endless torment and anguish.