The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 487

Ver. 13.-" A lion in the way." I. INDOLENCE CREATES DIFFICULTIES, The hindrnnce is not real ; it is purely imaginary, The lion is not in the way, but in the fancy of the slothful man. If a man is not in earnest in undertaking any work, he is certain to picture to himself insuperable obstacles. 'rhus missionary euterprises are discouraaed by those who have no missionary zeal. 'rhe call of Christ to service and sacrific; is shirked by men whose inventive ingenuity has manufactured unsound excuses. The course of the Christian life is forsaken by some who see it beset with danaers that only spring out of their own reluctance to deny themselves, take up their criss and follow Christ. Often when the slothful man cries, '"l'here is a lion in the way,'' it is a lie· there is no lion. ' II. INDOLENCE IS COWARDLY. It is possible that the indolent person really believes that the beast o~ the forest ha.s actually invaded the city, is indeed prowling about its streets. He shrinks from a danger that he truly fears. Perhaps there is real danaer. We do meet with difficulties and dangers in life. Threatening lions roar on the dev~ed servant of Christ. But then the true-hearted man will be brave to face difficulty, and only the coward will shrink and fail. III. DANGER IS KO EXCUSE FOR INDOLENCE. If there be a lion in the street it may be all the more incumbent on a true man to go out of his house. ]!'or the lion has no right to be in the city. He should be slain forthwith. To leave him there at large is to yield to him. Are the streets to be given up to the daring intruder because no one is bold enough to face him P Meanwhile he may work fearful havoc. '!'here may be children in the street. While the idle coward bolts and bars his doors and sits shivering in his house, the helpless little ones are left unprotected, a sure prey for tho fierce brute. To shrink from the task of expelling the lion is to be guilty of shameful negligence. Because of the hindra!lces and difficulties of Christ's work cowardly and idle people permit the souls of their fellow-men and the poor ignorant children of miserable degraded families to be destroyed. IV. DAl>GER xs OVERCOME BY BEING FACED. Perhaps the lion's roar is worse than his bite. \\Tho can tell but that he is a coward and will tum tail directly he is faced'/ Possibly, like Bunyan's lions, he is chained. But we shall never know till we go boldly up to him. Many apparent dangers are but empty threats. '!'here are difficulties that need only to be confronted to vanish. The valiant Christian soldier will find that his enemies will give way before the "sword of the Spirit." V. Fon. THE INDOLENT MAN THEJl.E 1s A LION IN THE HOUSE. While he shrinks with terror from venturing forth there is greater danger at home. The hypochondriacal patient who dreads meeting the chill of fresh air for fear of' catching cold becomes a martyr to dyspepsia at home. The idle man is slain by his ow11 indolence. Satan, who goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, is kept out by no lucks and finds his victims in their most private retreats. Ver. 20.-The fuel of strife. I. STil.IFE WILL DIE OUT IF IT DE NOT SUPPLIED WITH FllESB FUEL. The fire will not burn after the stock of wood is nil exhnusted. The quarrel will not continue if the angry feelings that rage in it am not fed by fresh provocations. The unbap~y experience of ruost quarrels is_that these provocations are too readily supplied. But 1f one party to a quarrel really wishes Jor peace, he ce.n ofteu obtain it by simply abstaining from maintainillg hi6 conleution. His opponent will tire of a one-sided war. Patience, meeknes~, and quiet endurance will thus make peace in the end. This was Christ's method. He brought !Jeace by peaceably submitting to wrong. II. S'I'l!IFE IS TOO OFTEN MAINTAINED WITH THE FRESH FUEI, ADDED DY STRANGERS. If the two principals in a quarrel were lclt to themBelves, they might tire of per- petual disputes. Dut a third r~rty_ interfe~es, not- _as '!' peacom~ker, but to take one aide· or to meddle in pure m1sch1cf-makmg, dehgbtmg to stir up the embers of strif; • or to show his own power and importanc\l. '!'bis conduct is the opposite of tlmt of on~ who serves the Prince of Peace. 111. 'l'ALE-DJ:;ARJ::;u /,DJ.JS l'UJ:;L TO l:iTllll'.E. 1. It muy ~e true. ,Ve 1::ay hear sow~- OJI, XXVI, 1-28.] THE PROVERBS. G07