Verse 1

CONTENTS.

Wisdom continueth her sermon through this chapter, which she had begun in the former. Blessings are promised to the faithful, and destruction shewn to be the sad portion of the wicked.

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

The subject continues the same as in the former chapter; and the address as from a father to a son is carried on under the same endearing appellation, by way of enforcing what is said. And this doth not at all lessen the idea, that it is Christ who is here personated; for he fills all relations and is included in all the charities of life. He is the everlasting Father, as well as the husband of his church, and the Brother born for adversity. Isaiah 9:6; Proverbs 17:17; Isaiah 54:5

Verses 6-8

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Is it not God our Father, that is here particularly spoken of? For who gave Christ to the church, but the Father? John 3:16. Who was it called him in righteousness, or laid up salvation in him, and laid our iniquities upon him? Isaiah 42:6. To whom is the church entrusted by Christ, and who is the Almighty keeper of the church but the Father? John 17:11; Psalms 121:5; 1 Samuel 2:9.

Verses 9-12

Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

How beautiful, if explained upon gospel terms, and with an eye to Christ, as wisdom, are these verses! If Christ be indeed formed in the heart, the hope of glory, then will all gracious principles be the fruit thereof. And this blessed effect differs wholly from all assumed wisdom, as much as the spring and source differs from all outward motives. Jesus becomes then in the heart the well of water, springing up to everlasting life. Well may every heart made sensible of these things, cry out with the poor Samaritan woman, Lord, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither seek elsewhere to draw. John 4:14-15.

Verses 13-22

Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

I include the whole of these verses under one view, because they are all to the same effect. Where there is no regeneration of the heart, no grace, no principle, no teaching or influence of the Spirit there will be confusion and every evil work. And where there is no awakening of the Holy Ghost, the original death by sin, is followed by eternal death in that state from which there is no return. Oh! for a part in that blessed and holy state of the first resurrection, for on such the second death hath no power. Revelation 20:6.

Verse 22

REFLECTIONS.

My soul! ponder well the striking contrast which this chapter hath drawn between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God, and him that serveth Him not!

How truly lovely is the soul that crieth after knowledge, that is, that is seeking for Jesus as for hidden treasure. Everything in him, and about him is ornamental. In private life, in public station, whenever engaged, however occupied, he adorneth the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Small, and inconsiderable as his knowledge may be in the present attainments of it, yet it will be with him as the light of the morning, that shineth more and more unto a perfect day.

On the other hand, how wretched is the man who is destitute of grace! Every part of his life is perverse, and every portion of his conduct crooked. The calls of God, the warnings of his providence, the alarms of death; all lose their effect upon his unthinking and worthless heart! His joy is in evil, and the frowardness of the Wicked his delight. His life how wretched! - his death how fearful!

Precious Jesus! be thou my wisdom, for then shall I delight myself in the Lord, and triumph in the Holy One of Israel. Fill my soul with true understanding and knowledge, for sure I am, in thee I shall find every possible happiness of light and life, and the fulness of joy in my soul. And while the wisdom of this world gives pride to the worldly wise; and the might of this world gives confidence to the mighty, and the rich man glorieth in his riches; this will be my glory, that I understand and know thee, that thou art the Lord, and that in these things thou delightest, 0 Lord. Here, Lord, let my soul rest convinced that however poor in myself, in thee I possess all things. Thou art the strength of my heart, and thou my portion forever.