Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:3

1. BE not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

v. 1, 2. The sinner’s prosperity is little to be envied, and their company far from desirable; their present study and talk is mischievous and destructive, and their end is perdition; they are therefore rather to be thunned than courted, and should raise our indignation, not our envy.

3. Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established: 4. And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5. A wise man is strong, yea, a man of knowledge increased strength. 6. For ‘by wise counsel thou shalt make war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

However by unjust methods the wicked may hastily amuse wealth, yet honestly will be found the best policy, and what is widely acquired under God’s blessing, will wear best, and last longest.

1. In our temporal concerns, wisdom and prudent management will build up our families; make our circumstances flourishing, bring us riches, pleasant as previous, because not under the divine blessing, and doubly enjoyed under a sense of God’s love. It will give us strength to preserve and defend what we have acquired; and if war be necessary, whether in the field, or at the bar, we shall be safe, having with other wise counsellors foreseen and provided for every emergence.

2. In our spiritual concerns, wisdom is most needful: our soul is our house, and the foundation must be laid on Jesus the rock of ages; the chambers of all our faculties furnished with precious and pleasant graces, the most durable and invaluable riches: thus wise unto salvation, we shall be supported against all the attacks of our spiritual enemies, strong in the Lord, and the powers of his might; yea, we shall be enabled to go from strength to strength, and, safe from all the powers of evil, be made more than conquerors at last, through him, who is the wonderful counsellor, and the everlasting refuge of his people.

Pfd. 2. 5. Chap. 2014.

7. ‘Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

Wise kings plan their designs with deep consideration, and conceal them with impenetrable secrets; on this the success of them often depends. It is not for subjects to pry into the reasons of state, or pretend to censure hastily those proceedings, the motives and design of which they cannot discover.

Proverbs 24:7

Wisdom is too high for a fool, he has no capacity for attaining it, especially divine wisdom; which, though deep read in theรับesces and philosophy, the natural man cannot know, being destitute of that spiritual discernment, without which the mysteries of God appear foolishness. He openeth not his mouth in the gate, he is not qualified to speak in the presence of the wise, and if he doth, is disregarded.

8. He that deviseth to do evil, shall be called a mischievous person.

Proverbs 24:8

They who do ill things, deserve an ill name; and the more art and contrivance there is in sin, the greater the malignity, and the more mischievous the author.

9. The thought of foolishness is sin: and the sooner is an abomination to men.

Proverbs 24:9

God is the searcher of hearts. Thoughts of foolishness are sins already committed in his eye; or, the thoughts of the family are sin, evil continually; and a former, who sooths at God and godliness, and ridicules its pricelessness, is an abomination to men, justly abhorred as a dangerous man, and a past to society.

10. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is + small.

Proverbs 24:10

Days of adversity are trying seasons; and under disease and pain of body, deep providential afflictions, hence persecutions, or more burdensome spiritual distresses, we are too apt to faint, and prove how small was that strength, of which, when at ease, we thought ourselves possessed. Need have we therefore to be looking up for greater strength than our own, to him who gives strength to the weak, and to those who have no might, increased strength.

11. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain: 11. If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not: doth not he ’that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and ‘shall not he render to every man according to his works?

v. 11, 12. Injured innocence demands our interposition, and the more imminent the danger, the more forcible the obligation to hasten our assistance. Whether they are born down by false accusations, their lives endangered by fraud or violence, by perils of robbers at land, and storms at sea, or their souls led away by seducers, and exposed to eternal death, we are bound to fly to their rescue, and spare no pains or labour to extricate them from their distress. Nor must we think to get off with plausible excuse pretending our know it not, because we turned away our face, and passed by on the other side; or know him not, as if because he was personally unknown, he might be unnoticed and neglected. The law of universal charity, and the love of justice, obliges us to regard every man as our neighbour; and though among men our excuses may pass, yet God’s scrutiny is not to be thus evaded. He pondereth the heart, and knows the evil principles which swayed our conduct; and will render to every man according to his works, when they who shewed no mercy, may expect to find none.

13. My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honey-comb, which is sweet + to the taste: 14. So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then ’there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

v. 13, 14. To use and enjoy the creatures of God, is good; he who gave honey in sweetness, intended it to please the palate, as well as nourish the body. So sweet, so strengthening is wisdom to the soul, as they by experience find, who feed by faith on the great and precious promises of the gospel; and all the pains employed in searching after it, in the use of the appointed means, will be amply recommended, and our expectations fully answered; yea, exceeded in the present satisfaction enjoyed here, and more abundantly in the glory which shall follow hereafter.

15. Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous: spoil not his resting-place. 16. For “a just man falleth seven times, and rileth up again. but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

v. 15, 16. Vain and impotent are the attempts of malicious wickedness. Lay not in vain, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, looking for some opportunity to spoil his resting-place, and by fraud, or force, to oppress and plunder him, is the wolf devours the harmless sheep: but if the wicked will not hear, the faithful need not fear; God will preserve them, and punish their enemies. For though a just man falleth seven times, either into affliction, which seems principally intended, or into sin, seduced by the power of temptation; yet God will not leave him; by his grace he is renewed unto repentance, or extricated from his troubles, and rileth up again, perhaps strengthened by his fall; but the wicked shall fall into mischief, from one evil to another, from the troubles on earth to the torments of hell, and shall never rise up again.

most know thoroughly the rule of his word, and set out every circumstance of the case which come before them, if they would minister impartial justice.

Heb. The case is a franchising.

3. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unfearable.