The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 171

So the Lord says (Matt. vii. 7), "Seek ((71- p1uing for" an inheritance inoorl'Uptible, cmrl .,.,i'.,-,). and ye shall find;" Ecclus. iv. 12, undefiled, a11d that fodeth not away" (M1\tt. "He that lo1·eth her loveth life; and they vi. 20; Luke xii. 83; 1 Pot. i. 4). The that seek to her early ( ol ap6pl(ovns 1rpos LXX. here inserts a parngrnph as a kind of a,h¾w) shall be filled with joy" (comp. Luke introduction to the important seotion whioh xxi. 38). follows: "If I deolare unto you the things Ver. lS.-Riches and honour are with me which daily befall, I will remember to re- (sP,e eh. iii. 16). Wisdom has these things in count the things of eternity;" i.e. thus far I l>er possession to bestow on whom she will, hnve spoken of the o.dvantages derived from 'I.Ii G()d ga,·e them to Solomon in reward of Wisdom in daily circumstances; now I pro- his petition for wisdom (l Kings iii. 13). ceed to narro.te her origin and her doings Durable riches and righteousneBB, Things from all eternity. But the addition appears often regarded as incompatible. Durable, awkwa1·d, and is probably not now in its pr:ir (athek), occurs only here (but see Isa. original position. xxiii. IS), and means "old," "venerable," Vera. 22-81.-Wisdom speaks of her '"long accurnulated;" hence firrn and last- origin, her active operations, tile part which ing. Righteousness is the last reward that Wisdom bestows, without which, indeed, all she bore in the creation of the universe, her material blessings would be nothing worth. relation to God (see on eh. i. 20 and iii. 19, Wealth obtained in a right way, and rightly and Introduction). It is impossible to decide used, is durable and stable. This was espe• what we.a the exact view of the writer with cially true under a temporal dispensation. regard to the wisdom of wbioh he speaks so We Christians, however, look not for reward eloquently; but there can be no doubt that in uncertain riches, but in God's favour here and happiness in another world. The he was guided in his diction so as to give Septuagint, "Possession of many things, expression to the idea of him whom St. John and righteousness." What is denoted by calls the Word of God. The language used "righteonsness" is further explained in the is not applicable to an impersonal quality, following verses, 19-21. an abstract faculty of God. It describes Ver. 19.-My fruit is better than gold. We have had Wisdom called "a tree of the nature and office of a Person; and who life" (eh. iii. 18), and the gain from possess- that Person is we learn from the later Scrip- ing her compared to gold and silver (eh. tures, which spea.k of Christ as the " Wis- iii. 14). Fine gold (paz); Septuagint and dom of God " (Luke xi. 49) and " the Power Vulgate, "precious stone." The word signi- of God and the Wisdom of God" (1 Cor. i. fies "puriiied gold "-gold from which all mixture or alloy has been separated. My 24). If we oonfiae our inq airy to the q ues- revenue; Vulgate, genimina mea; Septua- tion-What wa.s in the mind of the author gint, -y,vv71}La-ra; Hebrew, i,ebuah, "produce," when he indited this wonderful section con- "profits." cerning Wisdom? we shall fail to apprehend Ver. 20.-I lead in the way (better, 1 walk its true significance, and shall be disowning in the way) of righteousness. I act always the influence of the Holy Spirit, which in- according to the rules of j astice. In the midst of the paths of judgment. I swerve spires all Scripture, which prompted the not to one side or the other (eh. iv. 27). So holy men who spake to utter words of which the psalmist prays, "Teach me, 0 Lord, they knew not the full spiritual significance, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep and which could only be understood by sub- it unto the end ; " "Cause me to know the sequent revelation. There is, then, nothing way wherein I should walk" (Pa. cxix. 33; cxliii 8). And the promise is given to the forced or incongruous in seeing in this epi- faithful in Isa. ll.L 21, "Tliine ears sha.11 sode a portraiture of the Second Person of het1r a. word behind thee, saying, This is the the blessed Trinity, the essential Wisdom way walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right of God personified, the Logos of later books, hand, and when ye turn to the left." Virtue, and of the gospel. This interpretation as Mi .. totle has taught us, is the mean be- tween two extremes. obtained universally in the Church in the Ver. 21.-That I may cause those that earliest tirnes, and has commended itself to love me to inherit substance; ~: (yeBli ), the most learned and reverent of modern ihrap{is "real. valuable possessions." Those commentators. That much which was con- who l~ve Wisdom will walk in her path, tained in their own utter1mces wns unknown follow her leading, aud therefore, doing to the prophets of old, tho.t they did not God's will, will be blessed with success. 8uch will lay up treasure in heaven, will fully perceive the mysteries which they pruvide bags which wax not old, will be pre- darkly enunciated, we Jearu from St. Peter, OlI. VIII, 1-36.] THE l'RO'VERBS. 165