The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 116

Vera. 18, 19.-Dai·kness and light. We have two perfect contrasts in these two verses-the path of the just and the way of the wicked; the one is very closely con- nected with light and the other with darkness. I. SIN AND DARKNESS. (Ver. 19.) We may say that: 1. Sin is darkness. It is (1) the ignorance of the mind; it is (2) the error of the heart-it is the soul's supreme mistake, misreading, misunderstanding every one and everything from the highest to the lowest. 2. Sin spreads darkness (1) over the soul of the sinner himself, blinding his eyes, distorting his vision, confusing his perceptions; (2) over the souls of others, leading them into the darkness of folly, superstition, wrong-doing. 3. Sin leads to the ruin which attends darkness ; it ends in making the sinner blind to the true character of bis own transgressions: "They know not at what they stumble;" blind, also, to the final issue of his guilt: they know not into what they stumble-into what a "black- ness of darkness." II. WISDOM L-SD LIGHT. (Ver. 18.) By" the just" in this verse we understand not particularly the man who is equitable in his dealings with his fellows, but the good and wise man-the man who, in the fear of God, seeks to act with rectitude in all his relations. This man is closely associated with the light. 1. Knowledge is light, and heavenly wisdom is the truest and best knowledge-that of God, and of the human soul, and of the path of eternal life. 2. That which reveals is light, and heavenly -wisdom is the best and most beneficent revealing power. 'l'he wise, the "just" man is "making manifest" (see Eph. v. 13) the highest, the most far-reaching, deep- descending truths. He does this (1) by his direct endeavour to instruct; (2) uncon- sciously, by the influence of his life. "The life is the light of men" in our case as in his who was "the Life made manifest." 3. The light of the just man growd ever stronger and more illuminating: it "shineth more and more unto the perfect day." With added opportunities of inquiry and acquisition, with multiplied privileges, with more of Divine discipline, with increase of power resulting from the exercise of spiritual faculty, there is (1) growing light within, burning more steadily and lustrously; and (2) advancing influence for good which flows forth in wider, deeper, and larger streams.-C. Vere. 20-27.-The course of wisdom. In these verses we may trace the course of wisdom from the beginning to its full development. We have- r. lTs BEGINNING IN THE souL. (Ver. 20.) It commences in attention. When e. man "inclines hie ear unto the sayings of Wisdom," when he eagerly listens to what God says to him, when he is a disciple sitting at the feet of the great Teacher, he has taken an important step in the heavenward course. 'l'he "grace of God" is upon him (Acts xiii. 43). II. lTe EBTABLIBBMENT IN THE SOUL, (Ver. 21, latter clause.) When the counsels of the Wise One are once fairly and fully welcomed to the soul, so that they may be said to be " in the ruidst of thine heart," then it may be said that the decisive point is turned. When there is the "cherish in"' of a cordial attachment;" when we say, "How love I thy Law!" when our heart is"'given to the truth of God because given to him, the gracious Lord of truth ;-then wisdom is established within our soul. Ill. THE NEED FOIi. HOLY VIGILAN0E CONCERNING ITS MAINTENANCE. (Ver. 23; see homily infra. Ver. 26, first clause.) IV. ONE OF ITB MANIFESTATIONS. (Ver. 24.) It will show itself in clean lips; it will put far away the froward and perverse mouth. Its utterances will be pure, tempere.te, reverent. 'l'be child of folly is detected by his foolish, vain, culpable exprc,sions. His "speech bewrayeth him." "By his words he is condemned." 'l'he son of wisdom is known by his blamelessness in this particular; by his words he is justified (Matt. xii. 36, 37; Eph. iv. 29; Jas. i. 26), OH, I~. 1-27,] THE PROVERBS, 105