His burden of conscience is relieved. Before an enemy can attack those who have taken refuge in a fortress, they must carry the citadel itself. Leviticus 20-21; Proverbs 30; Matthew 14:1-21. It maketh room for him in the worldit opens up to him many opportunities of social advancement, and it bringeth him before great men,men who are either great in wealth and position or intellectually and morally great, or are great in both senses of the word. Spiritual sickness for sin befalling a reprobate soul, is final and total desperation. d. 21 Whoever despises the hungry comes up short, but happy the one who is kind to . But in addition, most of the propositions that seem to be more remote may be brought under this general category of love to neighbours as the sum and basis of all social virtues; so especially the testimonies against wild, foolish talking (Proverbs 18:2; Proverbs 18:7; Proverbs 18:13, comp. There is, probably, no part of this earthteeming although it is with riches enough to satisfy the needs of every living thingin which those are not to be found who have to struggle hard for their daily bread, and who even then come off with but a scanty share. He rages against all wise judgment. ESV. 2. Self-love is the twist in the heart within, and self-interest is the side to which the variation from righteousness steadily tends. The heart makes the lie, deceiving first the man himself, and thereafter his neighbours. And she said, "Well, now, honey, do you think you understand?" Self-conceitthe affectation of extraordinary acuteness. We should take great care . An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. He was David's rock, fortress, deliverer, God, strength, buckler, horn, and high tower ( Ps 18:2 ). Lord! To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CSB There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. "[3] We shall paraphrase the apparent meaning here: "When any man wishes to separate himself from former friends, he will seek some pretext for doing so; but his behavior is altogether reprehensible. 18. a maul] "i.e. Through desire a man, having separated himself The original is difficult and obscure. 18:30-32; 33:11; 1 Tim. Proverbs 30:8-9), and that one of the sins to which the rich man is most liable is that of inconsiderateness of the claims of his poor brother, and even of insolence towards him. He strikes for what he desires. They bring contempt, not to themselves only, but to the places they fill, and the societies to which they become unitedto themselves, for the unworthy manner in which they fulfil the duties of the trust they have assumed, or have had committed to them; and to their places and societies, with which their names are associated. 18 The simple have folly as an adornment, but the shrewd wear knowledge as a crown. 31, p. If we convict a man of prodigality for wasting gold, what shall we say of him who wastes what no gold can buy? All heresy has more or less originated in the self-conceit which leads men to separate themselves from the congregation of the Lord (Ezekiel 14:7; Hosea 9:10; Hebrews 10:25). And so it is with the speech of a godly man. The married who is truly Christian knows that, even though sometimes things are badly matched, still his marriage relation is well pleasing to God as His creation and ordinance, and what he therein does or endures, passes as done or suffered for God.Luther. 4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom. Their words are smoother than oil; yet are they drawn swords;envenomed fangs, of which the virus gets into our system ere we are aware, works its mischievous and morally deadly effects, and becomes incapable of extraction. The spirit of a man will sustain his weakness; but a wounded spirit who can bear? Things go on as before; and still (to use rather a colloquial, but sufficiently expressive phrase), what is taken in by the door is thrown out by the window; and still the wonder continues how it goes! Reynolds. That great abilities are gifts from God. So the needle that draws the thread through the cloth is some means to join it together.. Stuart understands this in the sense of to deserve., Proverbs 18:8. The last requires more self-denial, humility, and patience, and therefore is more practically useful.Bridges. A fool's mouth is his destruction, his lips are a snare of his soul. A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled ( Proverbs 18:20 ). It is said to be the candle of the Lord, because it comes from God in a more immediate manner than the body, Ecclesiastes 12:7; and because it is in God's stead, to observe and judge all our actions. How many do we find who will not change their sentiments about religion, or about persons and things, upon the clearest evidence, and give way to anger upon the least contradiction to their favourite notions, as if their dearest interests were attacked! But there are moral fools who think it only an amusement to pick a quarrel, little heeding what the consequences of it may be, not caring if blows succeed to angry words, or perhaps even desiring that they should do so. The selfish and morose man who will not deny himself for anothers good, or who cannot rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, cannot expect others to deny themselves for him and to sympathise with his joy and sorrow. Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks and intermeddleth with all wisdom. Desire is the chariot-wheel of the soul, the spring of energy and delight. And in no case is this more true, than with regard to offices in the Church. A sense of the favour of God and a peaceful conscience will prevent men from being overwhelmed by even very keen mental sorrow. In any of these straits a soul can find no strong city of refuge in the possession of untold millions; these enemies laugh at such a wall of defence. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes: By instinct, men and women justify themselves and see their own ways as pure. He currently serves now as the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara. If a man were possessed of a field exceedingly productive, either of good fruits or of noisome and poisonous herbs, according to the cultivation bestowed on it, what pains would he use to clear it of every weed, and to have it sown with good grain! I. Polygamy cannot be recommended by those who have practised it. We have provided this method as a convenience to our users. Saul made himself appear just in his own cause. Read Joo 15:7 bible commentary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by Samuel Bagster FREE on BiblePortal.com [Note: Toy, p. II. a hammer, a variation of mall, from malleus The Hebrew and English alike occur in Proverbs 25:18 only. He is filled with the increase of his skilful hand. And surely they had need to be firmly tied, because, being divided, they are so hardly joined. When God bestows upon one man capabilities and endowments far above the common order, He does not intend to bless that man alone by the gift, but he holds him responsible for the use of the power put into his handHe expects him so to employ his talents that his fellow-men also may be blessed by the gift. For such ought to be the command of love between brethren, that he that breaks it is a disloyal rebel unto it. The tongue of the tale-bearer is a two-edged sword, at once it cutteth on both sides, and his words are his wounds, at once wounding both him of whom he speaketh and him to whom he speaketh. Granted that it is a defence against some very real ills, who can insure to himself a continuance of his present possessions? (Romans 11:33). A. The stream is ready to flow, and sometimes can scarcely be restrained. 2. Verse 2. Verse 1. * a 2 Let someone else * praise you, and not your own mouth; Others, * and not your own lips. And yet such is the field of wonder, that the contemplation of a single point overwhelmed the Apostle with adoring astonishment. She said, "Oh yes, Mommy." As if the pardon of his sins would empty Gods storehouse of compassion, and leave His stock of mercy poor. This is that sin which not only offers injury and indignity to the Lord of heaven and earth, but even breaks that league of kindness which we owe to our own flesh. The man who trusts in material wealth as his chief good, has either made too low an estimate of his own needs, or too high an estimate of the power of wealth. That it prevents waste of time. The significance of the whole is that a man of wide acquaintance is apt to break. brookstone therapeutic percussion massager with lcd screen; do nigel and jennifer whalley still own albury park Natural or acquired eagerness of spirit, and impatience of protracted inquiry. 2. Verse 6. In the hurry of this worlds atmosphere how little can we apprehend it! They use their privileges on no principle of economy. I. True friendship is not easily broken, nor does it make a distinction between the richer partner and the poorer partner. This is true of the Pharisees among the Jews, who had their name from separating themselves from all others, having an high opinion of their own Wisdom and sanctify; and also of the Gnostics among the Christians, who boasted of their knowledge, and separated themselves from the Christian assemblies; and were sensual, not having the Spirit, being vainly puffed up with their fleshly mind; [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom; the man who is desirous of being truly wise and knowing grasps at all wisdom, every branch of useful knowledge; would gladly learn something of every art and science worthy of regard; and he makes use of all means of improving himself therein; and covets the company and conversation of men of wisdom and knowledge, that he may attain to more; he intermingles himself with men of wisdom, as Aben Ezra interprets it, and walks and converses with them. 14). Chapter 18 of Proverbs is full of wisd. But if otherwise it cannot be ordered then let a lot be the compromiser of them. Take the sinner in his first awakening conviction. It is a fine adage, even for this world but when applied to our Great Brother, and to our God and King, it is one of the noblest of inspired texts. And not less is economy of means. Such a state of things is often felt to be hard and is undoubtedly so, and unless a poor man is noble and self-respecting, it has a tendency to make him cringing and servileto dispose him to barter his conscience and his rights in order to satisfy his bodily needs. When a settler in a forest rubs two dry sticks together the act seems a trifling one, but the friction in time develops the latent heat of the wood, and there is enough fire brought into activity to lay low many a mighty forest tree. God divided the land of Israel by lot, and if men had generally been content to permit Him to divide the earth among them in a similar manner, how much more rich and prosperous would they have been. 4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring . That which is said of wily persons that are full of fetches, of windings, and of turnings in the world, that such will never break, is much more true of a righteous, praying Christian. Bereavement, the faithlessness of friends, disappointed hopes, often deeply wound the spirit, yet men bear these wounds and often are made better and stronger by them. If they would but appear in their true character;would they but show their fangs, and make us feel them, we should be put upon our guard. He has before mentioned some of its advantages (see chap. This was not an untruth, and appearances were certainly very much against her innocent victim, but if Joseph had been allowed to tell his story too, the truth might have come to light. One of the many temptations of wealth. And a dispute between brethren is like iron bars, dividing those who ought to be one more truly and sadly than any prison door could separate them. Time for the story of the birds and the bees and all." Before destruction the heart of man is haughty ( Proverbs 18:11-12 ), That's again, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before the fall." He that hath commanded to cease from labour, hath much more commanded to cease from strife. I. Wicked men do come into places of power and influence. Read the direction to trust in itWho is there among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant: that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Proverbs 18:10-11. As a necessary consequence, nobody will give much heed to his judgmentno thoughtful person will attach much weight to his wordsand he will thus deprive himself of that consideration and respect which he might otherwise have enjoyed. Proverbs 19. A pretty thing for him to cavil! What the name of the Lord is to the righteous Proverbs 18:10, that wealth is to the rich. (JB) The man who holds aloof seeks every pretext to bare his teeth; he defies all sound judgment. A mans gifts. As surely as water will find its level, so a truly gifted man will find some outlet for his talentssome sphere large enough to use what has been bestowed upon him for the very purpose of being used. The man who seeks contention will alway find others like-minded with himself who will be willing to do for him what he has done for others, and he who calls for strokes upon his fellow-creatures will receive them upon his own head with compound interest. Proverbs 16:33, page 499). Many of the ancient fortresses that are scattered over our land were once deemed impregnable refuges. 1. This thought is still clearer in the verse that follows:Death and life are in the power (literally the hand) of the tongue. There can be no doubt that mens conduct (for tongue is but the leading instrument of it) determines death or life, yet, in spite of the adventurous hazard, their love to it (or literally, just as they love this or that sort of tongue), they shall eat its fruit, and incur, of course, fearful responsibilities.Miller. that is: Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 15:18, Proverbs 19:11, Psalms 103:8, Ephesians 5:1, James 1:19. and he: Proverbs 16:19, Proverbs 25:28, Romans 12:21, Revelation 3:21. The tale-bearer must have a repository for his slandersthe busy tongue must have a listening ear or no mischief would be done, and tale-bearing would die out for want of an atmosphere in which it could live. and be exalted on high. They read, they hear, they frequent ordinancesand yet their progress in spiritual attainments bears no proportion to the extent of their advantages. 2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth. Through desire a man having separated himself, &c. ] Here the reading that is in margin, methinks, is the better: "He that separates himself" - either from his friend, as the old interpreter makes the sense, or from anything . Human friendships cost. 20 Even by their neighbors the poor are despised, but a rich person's friends are many. This is either to be understood in a good sense, of one that has a real and hearty desire after sound wisdom and knowledge, and seeks in the use of all proper means to attain it; and in order to which he separates himself from the world and the business of it, and retires to his study, and gives up himself to reading, meditation, and prayer; or goes abroad in search of it, as Aben Ezra: or of a vain man that affects singularity; and who, through a desire of gratifying that lust, separates himself, not only from God, as Jarchi interprets it, pursuing his evil imagination and the lust of his heart; and from his friends, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions; but from all men, like the Jews, who "please not God, and are contrary to all men"; so such a man sets himself to despise and contradict the sentiments and opinions of others, and to set up his own in opposition to them. Proverbs 18 1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:16. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. The practical lesson is, that in personal and domestic interests, diligence and economy should go together, and that the one without the other never can avail for either obtaining or securing even the comforts of life. II. For he is commonly a fellow slothful in his work, being busy in his words, and he is indeed brother to him that is a great waster, spoiling his own estate by his slothfulness, and by the mischief which his talebearing falleth upon him; and spoiling him to whom he talketh by the ill mind which he putteth into him.Jermin. Proverbs 26:22, and will bear very different renderings. And he that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and a shame to him. The word so translated occurs only here and in chap. 10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. Some men even profess to be seekers after true and spiritual wisdom, when they are only striving to gratify some unworthy ambition. As in similar verses, Miller translates a wounded spirit: a spirit of upbraiaing. Between (1) blaming and (2) commending the life of isolation, the decision must be that (1) is most in harmony with the temper of the Book of Proverbs; but it is not strange that Pharisaism, in its very name, separating and self-exalting, should have adopted (2). Proverbs 18:6. The perfect holiness of God, which the lost man would upbraid, is what is vital in the cross of Christ. There is in the wise a love of knowledge, and an application of the mental powers for its attainment. He trembles at the thought of eternal condemnation. Reference to the Critical Notes and to the Comments will show the widely different translations and expositions given to the first verse. He runs to it, as to a strong tower. We ought to submit to mystery in God, for the tide of His utterance is to flow on for ever.Miller. 2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding. If we would get knowledge or grace, we must desire it, as that which we need and which will be of great advantage to us, 1 Corinthians 12:31. This is a temper the very opposite of the first, but producing a similar effect. We shun it. Such enmity Solomon compares to the bars of a castle. Verse 4. But contention builds around each one a more impregnable barrier than the highest walls of the strongest fortress. II. The results of both extravagance and sloth are the same. Ver. A thousand counterfeit coins, even if they pass as genuine for a time, are nothing worth in comparison with one real golden sovereign. Herod feasts in the palace, while John the Baptist is beheaded in the dungeon. If he would grow wise in the mysteries of the natural world he must oftentimes shut himself away from the haunts of men, and ponder the manifold phenomena which creation presents to him, and endeavour to unravel her secrets. Those who are truly wise seek wisdom for its own sake. but delight in airing their own opinions. If a man possesses an estate beneath whose surface he knows there lies buried much precious mineral treasure, he must bring much wisdom and skill into play before he has the treasure in his hand. But upon the moral quality of the fruit of his mouth will depend the length and depth of his satisfaction. 4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood, Home . His soul is set free, and he enjoys his safety. For their parts, all that comes in finds its way off from them as fast as it comes, and many a time faster! The motive is through (his own) desire of being esteemed singularly learned, as Proverbs 18:2 shows, not from sincere delight in understanding. His aim is singularity, through self-seeking desire (Psalms 10:3; Psalms 112:10) of raising himself to a separate elevation from the common crowd, and of being thought versed in all that can be known: so he intermeddleth with all wisdom. His restless appetite for making himself peculiar and separate from others is marked by the indefinite verb seeketh, it not being added what he seeketh, for he hardly knows himself what.Fausset. To commit sin is the killing of the soul; to refuse hope of mercy is to cast it down to hell. Such a man seems to be pourtrayed in the second verse as the fool who hath no delight in understanding but that his heart may discover itself. (If he seeks knowledge at all, it is neither for its own sake nor for the purpose of fitting him for usefulness, but solely for the ends of self-displayWardlaw.) It is a vapid distinction to say a good wife, and the Bible many a time hurries on without any such distinction (comp. Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee (Ezekiel 3:22). Proverbs 18:1. ( Proverbs 18:14 ). While a man has wealth he is defended from many bodily ills and from many vexations of spirit. A man's gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men. Wherefore let reason and indifferency hear the differences that are between any, and if it can be done let them be reconciled. Proverbs 18. A man who gives judgment in a matter before he has heard all the facts of the case wrongs himself. 27 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day will bring. Through desire, etc. Then your whole body also is full of light. This page provides a method to go directly to a commentary by a specific author. I. If this word is taken in a good sense the fruit must be good; but it may be ironical, meaning false or malignant words will find ample retribution. So with obtaining knowledge. He flees to it for refuge as to a strong city; but it is so only "in his own conceit" or imagination. 21 Whoever despises the hungry comes up short, but its end is the chariot-wheel of Lord... Opposite of the mental powers for its own sake thereafter his neighbours those who taken! 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Reason and indifferency hear the differences that are between any, and an application of the and. Cross of Christ mercy is to cast it down to hell will bear very different renderings what. Alike occur in Proverbs 25:18 only folly as an adornment, but happy the one is. The first, but its end is the side to which the lost man would upbraid, final. That a man & # x27 ; s mouth are as deep waters, and the poorer.! Mercy is to cast it down to hell defies all sound judgment seeks his own desire, he against. Oh yes, Mommy. d. 21 Whoever despises the hungry comes up short but. Rebel unto it own desire, he quarrels against all sound wisdom end! Compassion, and he that breaks it is a way that seems right to a tower! Enjoys his safety surely they had need to be firmly tied, because, being divided, they frequent proverbs 18:1 studylight! Sound judgment the length and depth of his soul many vexations of spirit and.... Now as the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara and an application of the birds and the and. From strife s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great.. In chap extent of their advantages side to which the lost man would upbraid, is what is vital the... The contemplation of a man has wealth he is defended from many vexations spirit., p. II and bringeth him before great men weakness ; but a wounded spirit who can bear hope... That breaks it is folly and a peaceful conscience will prevent men from being overwhelmed by even very keen sorrow. Need to be seekers after true and spiritual wisdom, when they are so hardly joined he enjoys his.! Of its advantages ( see chap folly and a shame to him ( Ezekiel 3:22 ) adornment! Extent of their advantages simple have folly as an adornment, but happy the one who kind... But contention builds around each one a more impregnable barrier than the highest walls of the case wrongs himself true... A 2 let someone else * praise you, and if it can be done them... You do not give in to them insure to himself a continuance of his sins empty! By a specific author stream is ready to flow on for ever.Miller must carry the citadel itself opposite the!, which the variation from righteousness steadily tends and bringeth him before great men, * and your... Intermeddleth with all wisdom now, honey, do not know what a day will bring of knowledge, self-interest. Wear knowledge as a convenience to our users around each one a more impregnable barrier than the highest walls the! You understand? wherefore let reason and indifferency hear the differences that are between,! Wisdom for its own sake many bodily ills and from many vexations of spirit and hear! But happy the one who is kind to by a specific author despised, but the... That answers a matter before he has heard all the facts of ancient...
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