The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 305

thot some take the "evil" named to bo "Man proposes, God disposes;" or, as the physical, not moral evil; calamity, not Germans say, "Der Mensch denkt, Gott tmnsgreesion. But tho two clauses are co- lenkt" (comp.eh. xx. 24). The word rendered ordinate, and present two aspects of the "deviseth" implies, by its species, intensity same truth. The· first intimates how sin is of thought and care. Man meditates and to be expiated, the second how it is to ha prepares his plans with the utmost solicitude, avoided, The morally good man meets with bot it rests with God whether he shall carry pardon and e.ccepte.nce, and he who fears them to completion or not, and whether, if God is delivered from evil. So we pray, in they are to be accomplished, it be done the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our tres- with ea.ea or with painfol labour (comp. passes, and deliver us from evil." Septua- Gen. xxiv. 12, etc.). We all remember gint, "By the fear of the Lord every one Shakespeare's words in 'Hamlet'- declineth from evil" (comp. eh. xiv. 27). " There's a divinity that shapes onr ends, Ver. 7.-When a man's ways please the Rough-hew them how we will." Lord, which they can do only when they are religious, just, e.nd chAritable. Ee Septuagint, "Let the bee.rt of man consider maketh even his enemies to be at peace what is just, that his steps may be by God with him; to submit themselves. Experience directed a.light" (comp. Jer. x. 23). proves .that nothing succeeds like success. Ver. 10.-A Divine sentence is in the Where e. man is prosperous and things go lips of the king . □~~ (quesem) is "divina- well with him, even ill-wishers are content tion," "soothsaying," oracular utterance. to cost away or to dissemble their dislike, Septuagint, µ.a.vreiov. The king's words and to live e.t peace with him. Thus have, iu people's minds, the certainty and Abimelech King of Gerar fawned upon importance of a Di vine oracle, putting an Isaac because he se.w that the Lord was end to a.II controversy or division of opinion. with him (Gen. xxvi. 27, eto.), This is It seems to be a general maxim, not the worldly side of the maxim. It he.a e. especially referring to Solomon or the higher aspect, nnd intimates the far-reach- theocratic kingdom, but rather indicating ing influence of goodness-how it disarms the traditional viewoftheabsolute monarcl-f. opposition, arouses reverence and love, gives The custom of deifying kings and invoking no occasion for disputes, and spreads a.round them o.s gods was usual in Egypt and an atmosphere of peace. To the Jews the Ea.stern countries, o.nd made its way to the maxim was taught by external circumste.ncee. West. "It is the voice of a god, o.nd not While they were doing the will of the Lord, of a man," cried tho people, when Herod their land was to be preserved from hostile e.ddressecl them in the amphitheatre at attack (Exod. xxxiv. 24; 2 Chron. xvii. 10). Cmsarea (Acts x:iL 22). 'fhe Greeks could And Christians leo.rn that it is only when say- they obey and feo.r God tho.t they can over- ElKclw 6~ /3a.a-,.\e6s la-'T111 {p.'fuxas 0eov. come the assaults of the enemies of their soul-the devil, the world, and thE> flesh "God's very living image is tho king." 'fe.lmud, "He who is agreeable to God is And thus his utterances were regarded os equally ngre,mble to men." irrefrogahly true e.nd decisive. His month Ver. 8.-:Setter is a.little with righteous- transgresseth not injndgment. The decisions ness (eh. xv.16; Ps. xxxvii.16). "Righteous- which he gives are infolliblc, and, ot any ness" may meo.n .here a holy lire or just rate, irresistible. We may refer to Solomon's dealing; o.s without right, or, with injustice, fo.mous verdict conccrniui; the two mothers in the second chrnse, may refer either (1 Kings iii. 16, etc.), and snch sentences e.s generally to wickedness, or spccinlly to eh. viii. 15, "By me (wisdom) kings reign, fre.ud and oppression (Jer. xxii. 13). Says and princes decree justice" ( see below on Theognis- ver. 12; eh. xx:i. I); and David's words llo6.\eo 6' eluH/3<0111 o.\l')IOIS a-1111 xp~p.a.0'111 ol1Cei11, (2 Sam. xxiii. ::!), "He that ruleth over men •H ,r.\ou'Tew lr.5lK01s xp~p.a.'Ta. ,ra.ud.µ.evas. must be just, ruling in the feo.rofGod" (Wisd. ix. 4, 10, 12). Dclitzsch re).!o.rtls the secoud "Wish thou with sconty means pious to live, hcwistich 11e giving II warning (consequent Ro.ther tho.n rich with large, ill-gotten on the former clause), and not ste.tiug e. wealth." fact, "In the judgwcnt bis mouth should Another moxim says to the some effect- not err." The present chapter contains many o.dmonitions to kings which o. wise Ae,r,,.;;,s Ka.11.ws (fiv Kpiia-uav, ,I) .\a.p.,rpws 1Ca.1Cws. father like Solomon may have uttered and Soptuo.gint, '' Dotter is smo.ll getting (Mj1j11s) recorded for the benefit of his son. If this is with righteousness, than greot revenues with the case, it is as strange as it is true tho.t iniquity" (see ou eh. xv. 29). Rehobonm mo.de little use of the counsels, Ver. 9.-A man's heart deviseth his way: e.ncl that Solomon's Io.tter clays gave the Jiu but the Lord direoteth his steps (ver. 1). to muny of them. 312 'l'HE PROVERilS. [Clt. XVl. 1-M.