from n~~ (sha1,ah), "to be tre,nqnil, to be betakh), is need in Deut. xxxiii. 12-18 of so.fa, seonre." M1uio.no. remarks tho.t it is the safety with which the covenant people more difficult to beo.r prosperity than adver- should dwell in the land that God bad given sity, becanse we endure o.d varsity, we a.re them; but it is capable of a further exten- corrupted by prosperity, and prosperity or sion of meaning beyond mere temporal caae mo.kes fools mad. The fe.Ise secnrity of security, viz. to the spiriteal peace of' the tl.Je prosperous is illnstro.ted by onr Lord in righteous. The psalmist also employs it to his para.hie of the rich fool (Lnke xii. 16- describe the confidence with which he awaits 21). The LXX. differs a.go.in from the the resurrection, when he says, "My flesh also Hebrew in the second cle.nse of this verse, shall rest in hope [or, 'dwell confidently']" 11al i(ercr.<Tµos a.ue{Jiis o"-••; i.e. the carefully (Ps. xvi. 9). So here Wisdom promises considered jndgment of God concerning that he who hearkens to her shall dwell them she.II destroy them. The LXX. is calmly and undisturbed amidst the distrac- followed by the Are.hie. Them; i.e. the tions of the world. The promise e.grees with fools themselves, and not other sinners, as the description of Wisdom elsewhere that Ben Ezra so.ye, thongh the o.ppo.rent secnrity "her ways are ways of pleasantneBB, and all of fools, the impunity with which they her paths are peace." And she.II be quiet seem to go on in their wickedness, o.nd the G~~t, shaanan, perfect pile!). Wisdom success of their plo.ns, me.y lee.d others to regards her e.ssurance e.s already accom- destruction. plished, and hence the perfect in the origine.l Ver. 33.-Heo.rkeneth unto me. Wisdom, is used for the future. The heare?B and doers in closing her address, draws a beautiful of her will she.II live in tranquillity; ne.y, picture of the real security and peace of the they a:re already doing so. It is e. thing not righteous, as contrasted with the false only in prospect, but in possession. From security of the wicked. As on the one side fee.r of evil; i.e. either without any fear of rejection of her counsels, her warnings, and evil, fear being removed (ti'TII01'e sublato, invite.tions, carries with it punishment o.nd Vulgate), or, as the Anthorized Version irretrievable ruin ; so, on the other, the expresses it, connecting the phrase more hee.rkening to her words, and loving obedi- intimately with the verb-" quiet from fear ence, are rewarded by her with the choicest of evil." It is not only evil, ;,11~ (raah), in its blessings. Sho.ll dwell safely; that is, with subste.ntie.l form, e.s calamity, they e.re to be confidence, without danger (absque terrore, free from, but even the fear of it. The iran- Vulgo.te). The phl'llse, 7i:I~ J?~ (shachan qnillity will be supreme.
HOMILETICS.
Ver. 6.-Proverbs. It is not surprising to see tho.t proverbs, which are found more or less in the traditional lore of almost all nations, and flourish most abundantly in the East, also enter into the circle of the inspired literature of the Jews. The general characteristics of this portion of the sacred Scriptures are well worthy of our study. I. THE PROVERBS ARE ALL 0ON0IBE UTTERANCES. In the present age, when time is more precious than ever, it is to be wished that public teachers would correct their prolixity by following the example of these sayings, which certainly contain "the soul of wit." 1. The conciseness of the proverbs renders them striking. It is not enough to state a truth; we must make it tell. Men's ears are dull to spiritual ideas. In order to penetrate, words must have point, incisiveness, force. 2. The conciseness also greatly assists memory. Proverbs can be handed from one to another like coins. A truth that is worth uttering is worth remembering. II. MANY OF THE PROVERBS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE SAYINGS. They are" figures." The proverb runs into the parable; indeed, a parable is but e.n expanded proverb. Either by way of arbitrary illustration, or by reason of real correspondence between the material and the spiritual nature, a proverb will often afford lessons of spiritual truth which are more fresh and interesting than bare abstre.ct ste.tements. The popular mind naturally turns to the concrete. What strikes the senses is felt to be most forcible. How well our Lord knew this fact of human nature, and how graciously he condescended to accommodate himself to it, is seen in his own rich picture-gallery of parabolic teaching. He who can discern "sermons in stones" and " books in the running brooks" will have his eyes opened to see "good in everything." III. SoME OF THE PROVERBS ARE SUGGESTIVE rather the.u direct teachings. They are "de.rk sayings "-possibly becaus.;, the truth is so profound that it can only be PBOVEBBB. 0 18 THE PROVERBS. [OH. I, 1-33.