The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 258

little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (comp. Ilom. viii. 23 • 2 Cor, v. 2-4).-J, ' Ver~. 13-17.-Tlze value of tlie Divin6 Word, I. REVEilENOE AND IRltEVImJ!:N0E FOB THE DIVINE WoBD, 'rhe" Word" is any revelation mau rcceil'cs or God, wh.ether through nature, oracles of the prophets, or in his immediate consciousness. The last in the deepest sense, is the condition of all other revelations. Irreverence is show~ either "·hen men are deaf and i_ndifferent to. the ~ivinc voice, or when they suffer it to ho out-damoured by other voices-of passion, policy; etc. The result is that ho. who thus sins is "1,lcdged" or forfeited to the Divine Law, here personified or regarded as a superbuma.n_ power. Hence appears the truth from this figure, that in disobedience our frl3(dom is lost. On the contrary, reverence and obedience receive a certain re,vard: "Glory, honour, and peace to every man that worketh good" (Rom. ii. 10). II. THE DOCTRINE OF THE WISE. (Ver. H.) The teaching that is founded on Divine revelation is a source of life, a.ud a safeguard against the snares of death (comp. eh. x. 11). lil. 'l'HEBE MUST BE RECEPTIVITY TOWARDS THIS DOCTRINE, The Word must be "mixed with faith in those that bear." The favour of God is free in one sense, i.e. is no earned result of our conduct; but it is conditional in another, viz. it depends on our compliance with his will. The contrast to tbe life in the light of God's favour, watered by vital nourishment from the springs of truth, is the " way of the faithless," which is" barren," dry, as in" e. dry and thirsty land where no water is." IV. PRUDENCE AND GOOD COUNSEL ll[lJST BE ADDED TO REVERENCE. (Ver. 16.) Tlwu_qhifulness is needed in studying the evidences, the substance, the application~ of religion. And in the practical conduct of life how necessary I for more errqrs a.re committed for want of judgment and discrimination as to time, place, and circum- stances, than for want of true and right purpose. The man destitute of tact pours folly abroad; temper, vanity, er.price, a.re exposed in all tho.t he does and says. V. F . UTHFUL il."D tn.'FAITHFUL MINISTRY. (Ver. 17.) The wicked messenger prepares misfortune both for his master and for himself; while the faithful servant will a.mend even his master's mistakes. Applied to sacred things, every Christian should consider himself a messenger, nn apostle in however humbl~ a sphere, of God and his truth. And "it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."-J. Vers. 18-25.-Tlze blessings of obedience and their counterpart. I. THE BLESSINGB OF ODEDIENCE. 1. Honour. (Ver. 18.) "'Tis a good brooch to wear in a man's ,hat at all times/' says one of our old poets. Love is common to all the crea.turns, as life and death; honour belongs to men alone; and dishonour must be worse than death. The praise of others is the reflection of virtue, and a good name like fragrant ointment. 2. Satisfied desire. (Ver. 19.) And what is sweeter than the attainment of wortl:iy "ends and expectations"? And if we will but have faith, this satisfaction may be ours, by setting our hearts on internal blessings, the kingdom of God and his righteous. ness. 3. Improving companionship. (Ver. 20.) Friendship with the wise makes daylight in the understanding out of darkness and confusion of thoughts. Our wits and understanding clarify and break up in communicating and discoursing with one another. "We toss our thoughts more easily, marshal them more soberly; see. how they look when turned into words; we wax wiser than ourselves, and that more by an hour's discourse than by a day's meditation" (Lord Ila.con). 4. Unfailing com- pensations. All things are double, one against another. An eye for an eye, f\ too~h for a tooth, on the one side; measure for measure, love for love, on the other. • "Give, and it shall be given you ; " "He that wa.tcreth shall be watered himself." " What will you have?" saith God; "pray for it, and ta.kc it." "If you serve an ungrateful master, serve him the more. Put God in your debt. Everr stroke shall. be repaid. 'l'he lonaer the payment is withholden, the better for you,; Jor compound IIlterest. o~ compou~d interest is the rate and usage of this exchequer." 6. Hered·itary good, (Ver. 22.) We desire to pro~ong our blessings, in the view of fancY:, beyond our lives; and the desire to leave behlild a fortune, or a name and fa.me, 1s one pf the most common and natural. The thought that all the good our life has ,produced will be sLill a germinant power with our descendants after we are gone, is one of the noblest CB, XIII, 1-25.) THE PROVERBS. 263