Proverbs 18:14. Wherefore, when the mighty strive, and might of reason standeth on both sides equally, being too strong for man to decide, let the Almighty by His lot decide it.Jermin. Therefore St. Jerome affirms that Judas sinned more in despairing of his Masters pardon than in betraying Him; since nothing can be more derogatory to the goodness of God, which He hath granted by promise and oathtwo immutable witnessesto penitent sinners than to credit the father of lies before Him.T. Leviticus 20-21; Proverbs 30; Matthew 14:1-21. But suppose your eyes are bad. If the soul, therefore, would lie quiet, and yield to its own light, it would be joined by what is higher, and would contain, or control its own malady; God helping, as He would, would check, and get the better of it; but a spirit of upbraidingand by this is meant precisely the quarrel (chap. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. b 3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But the irritation caused by a fool is heavier than both. A half-told story often makes the state of matters appear so different from the truth that it is a gross injustice to condemn or justify any person when that is all that is known. We must understand Solomon here to refer to a good manto a man whose words are in harmony with the mind of God. Time, when gone, never returns. Therefore we learn that we must not give a verdict for or against an accused person until both he and his accuser have been heard. Home; Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary; Proverbs; Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary Proverbs 18. This will be more certainly the case if it is a mans own cause that is under discussion, self-interest is then very likely to lead him to give a one-sided statement. 1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. He here notices. Proverbs 18:5-6; Proverbs 18:8; Proverbs 18:17-21. Water may be sent through a tract of country by artificial means; fields may be watered and reservoirs filled by calling in science to supply natural deficiencies. Nay, even the commendation of a large liberality as a means of gaining for ones self favour and influence in human society (Proverbs 18:16), and likewise the praise of an excellent mistress of a family, are quite closely connected with this main subject of the chapter, which admonishes to love towards ones fellow-men; they only show the many-sided completeness with which the theme is here treated.Langes Commentary. And as the ear is one of the great inlets to instruction, it may here, with propriety, be considered as comprehending all the ways in which knowledge may be acquired.Wardlaw. Proverbs 16:4 is . The tongue of the tempter can drag its victims down, body and soul, to hell, while the tongue which is touched with a living coal from off the altar of God can be the means of persuading men to be reconciled to their Heavenly Father, and so of making them partakers of eternal life. Whoso findeth a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD ( Proverbs 18:21-22 ). We cannot conceive of even perfect creatures living such a lifewe know the angels and redeemed saints derive much of their bliss from the friendship of each other, and how much more does man in his present imperfect state need it. all that is solid and stable: subsistence, essence, existence. 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. Jarchi interprets this clause thus, "among wise men his reproach shall be made manifest;''. On this subject see also Homiletics on chap. Proverbs 5:1-14 Commentary Proverbs 5 Commentary Proverbs 5:15-23 Commentary Proverbs 6 Commentary Proverbs 6:20-35 Commentary Proverbs 7:1-27 Commentary Proverbs 13 Commentary Proverbs 15 Commentary Proverbs 18:10 Commentary Proverbs 18:11 Commentary Proverbs 28:13 Commentary Proverbs 29:18 Commentary Home; . Surely then if we have any desire, we shall separate ourselves from the cloudy atmosphere around us, that we may have fellowship with these happy investigators of the Divine mysteries.Bridges. 2. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic, read as follows: "He who wishes to break with his friend, and seeks occasions or pretenses, shall at all times be worthy of blame." My old MS. Bible translates, Occasioun seeketh that wil go awei . He strikes for what he desires. Some men even profess to be seekers after true and spiritual wisdom, when they are only striving to gratify some unworthy ambition. They are well acquainted with the way, and therefore can make speed; they have cast off the clogs of worldly impediments and so are fit for running; they think it much longer until they come to God, than impatient hearts do until they come to help.Jermin. SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER.That the chapter before us treats mainly of the virtues of social life, of sociability, affability, love of friends, compassion, etc., appears not merely from its initial and closing sentences, the first of which is directed against misanthropic selfishness, the latter against thoughtless and inconstant universal friendship, or seeming friendship, but also from the various rebukes which it contains of a contentious, quarrelsome, and partisan disposition, e.g. Through desire (through self-willed and self-seeking desire of wisdom)wisdom, Heb. The heart is the core of any human being and is the true measure of who we are. Such enmity Solomon compares to the bars of a castle. brookstone therapeutic percussion massager with lcd screen; do nigel and jennifer whalley still own albury park Verse 4. He also that is slothful in his work is a brother to him that is a great waster ( Proverbs 18:7-9 ). We have before given a definition of prudence as wisdom applied to practice; a prudent man is likewise defined as one cautious to avoid harm. Taking in both definitions, the text suggests. His burden of conscience is relieved. If a young artist has a sketch given to him by his master which he is to fill up in a given time, he cannot afford to spend the moments in disputing with his fellow-pupils about their respective rights to certain brushes and colours; while he is contending the hours are going, and when the master calls for the picture he will have none to show. For I look upon the image of Christ as the best mark of beauty I can behold in her, and the grace of God as the best portion I can receive with her.Bp. . 2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. How canst thou intermeddle with the great wisdom of knowing thyself, if thy whole mind be full of this worlds chaff and vanity? To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. That ignorance exposes men to danger. Each last strong speech comes out victorious. An eternal refuge. But it must not be forgotten that there must always be two persons implicated in the guilt and cruelty of thus killing the reputation of a fellow-creature. The man who hid the Lords talent was visited with a stern sentence as a positive transgressor (Matthew 25:25). Without itChristianthy soul can never prosper. It makes no difference in the end whether a man gets nothing, or spends all that he gets, he can come to poverty by either road. He runs to it, as to a strong tower. He is impelled to the search simply by a desire which is born of his appreciation of its worthby a knowledge of its power to bless his life. And so it is with the speech of a godly man. In the strife to appear well, in the time it takes, in the industries they scatter, in the hospitalities they provoke, and in the securityships they engender, broadening our socialities will try every one of us well. Or if this is to be understood of a vain glorious person, the sense is, "he intermeddles" or "mingles himself with all business" h, as it may be rendered; he thrusts himself into affairs that do not concern him, and will pass his judgment on things he has nothing to do with; or he monopolizes all knowledge to himself, and will not allow any other to have any share with him. The sentence means that when a man gets separated from his place in the universe he seeks, or has a pursuit, after his present bent or longing. This would be an amusing character, were it not, at the same time, so provoking. I. The spirit of a man may control his sickness, but a spirit of upbraiding, who can carry that? To give all up, and simply lie back and murmur, is bad even for worldly disorders; but Solomon derives out of it a much more profound spiritual sense. No man can be wise unless he has some self-knowledge, and no man can subject himself to much inspection while in company, hence the advice of George Herbert. 2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. He looks forwardall is terror; backwardnothing but remorse; inwardall is darkness. The stream is ready to flow, and sometimes can scarcely be restrained. ESV. 1. When the wicked comes, then comes also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. Secularly, a wife is the highest treasure. And she said, "Well, now, honey, do you think you understand?" 2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding. All heresy has more or less originated in the self-conceit which leads men to separate themselves from the congregation of the Lord (Ezekiel 14:7; Hosea 9:10; Hebrews 10:25). Whether it be a brother by race, place, or grace; those oft that loved most dearly, if once the devil cast his club between them, hate most deadly. As for brethren by profession, and that of the true religion too, among Protestants, you shall meet with many divisions, and those prosecuted with a great deal of bitterness. One of the many evils of poverty. Desire is the chariot-wheel of the soul, the spring of energy and delight. More is justly expected from a brother than from a strangermore of affection, gratitude, kindly treatment, fidelity, and trustworthiness. Takeagainthe child of Godfeeble, distressed, assaulted. And, like their Divine Master, they know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary (Isaiah 50:4), and thus that which flows from their lips is as refreshing and healthful to weary and struggling men and women on the highway of life as the living, cooling watercourse is to the dusty and thirsty traveller. What doest thou here? Much is there to be inquired into and pondered. Why? And indeed, as they sound, they are commonly so pleasing, that they easily slip down into the heart, where they are readily entertained.Jermin. True it is that there is much that is called friendship that is unworthy of the name, but as we do not reject the real coin because there are base imitations of it, so we must not permit the counterfeit of friendship to shake our confidence in the real thing. FROM the value of friendship there is a natural and easy transition to the evil of isolation. In other words, brothers are a shelter to brothers, and quarrels lock up that resort. Notice, that a brother is not only a commoner defence, but a citadel; and a bar to that keep shuts a man out of his best earthly dependence. He must work, he must work in harmony with certain fixed laws if he is to become possessor of the treasure. The first clause reads thus in the Hebrew, A righteous one, the first in his quarrel, and has a brevity which is practically too great. His attention soon flags; he gets sick of it; he seems as if he were listening when he is not, and with a yawn of exhaustion and misery he pronounces his verdict, and at times with great decision, for no other purpose than to get quit of the trouble. "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty.". Verse 11. The wickedness of the sons of Eli made men abhor the offering of the Lord. And thus it is still. Salute thyself; see what thy soul doth wear; Dare to look in thy chest, for tis thine own. But a derivative from the same root, and differing only slightly in form, is found in Jeremiah 51:20, and is there translated by 'battle-axe' (or maul, R.V. The Pharisees were such; from the Hebrew, pharash, to separate. "The Hebrew text of the O.T. (See Comments). Wait till God speaks, and the case will look very differently.Miller. He has joy in being the originator of fresh and living thoughts, and in being able by clothing them in words to impart them to others. 1. Polygamy was the rock upon which Solomon shipwrecked his social happiness and much more (1 Kings 11:3), and he seems here and elsewhere to warn his descendants not to follow in his footsteps in this respect and conform to the custom of the heathen monarchs by whom they were surrounded. If there is effort without wisdom to guide it there may be seeking without getting. It would be indeed a blessing if property was the most precious thing wasted in the contentions of men. Many believers, it is to be feared, are spiritual spendthrifts. The bite of a viper is not so deadly as the wound of these talebearers stories and insinuations. Play Audio: Your speech will either help or hurt you (Pr 10:14; 12:14; 13:2-3; 18:6-7,23). We shun it. Actually, he's saying that by giving gifts you can open a lot of doors. The married who is truly Christian knows that, even though sometimes things are badly matched, still his marriage relation is well pleasing to God as His creation and ordinance, and what he therein does or endures, passes as done or suffered for God.Luther. He is morose and supercilious. NLT. 1 Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. Many of the ancient fortresses that are scattered over our land were once deemed impregnable refuges. But there are moral fools who think it only an amusement to pick a quarrel, little heeding what the consequences of it may be, not caring if blows succeed to angry words, or perhaps even desiring that they should do so. There must be a withdrawal, to commune with thine own heart and to ask the questionsWhere art thou? They may be dwelling under the same roof, and so have every opportunity of enjoying each others society and gladdening each others life. Proverbs 17:19) with God which has been so long discussedis what ruins all. No war breaks out sooner, or lasts longer, than that among divines, or that about a sacrament; a sacrament of love, a communion, and yet the occasion, by accident, of much dissension.Trapp. a hammer, a variation of mall, from malleus The Hebrew and English alike occur in Proverbs 25:18 only. But. But the righteous man can say to Him who is his strong tower, Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations. Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God (Psalms 90:1-2). Sometimes family feuds have led men to resort to this terrible method of settling disputes, and men of the same parentage have fought till one shed the others blood. In this pericope, the wise way (following the moral law in general, Proverbs 1:8-9) does not have the personal appeal, or the excitement and hope of power, that the second way does (Proverbs 1:10-19).Its only reward is goodness, as opposed to acceptance by one's peers. That great abilities are gifts from God. And in the same spirit and by the same rule, otherwise applied, had Felix done well to defer hearing Pauls defence until Pauls accusers were present. Aristides, they tell us, would lend but one ear to anyone who accused an absent party, and used to hold his hand on the other, intimating that he reserved one ear for the absentee accused. Cicero, the greatest orator, save one, of antiquity, has left it on record, as we are pertinently reminded on the Essays on Liberty, that he always studied his adversaries case with as great intensity as his own, if not still greater. It is not only a strong tower, but our only defence. A pretty thing for him to cavil! Chapter 18 of Proverbs is full of wisd. Infirmity, i.e., sickness, disease of body. When a man enters into the marriage relation according to the Divine intentionmaking a woman his wife in the true sense of the wordhe not only adds to his own comfort and consults his own interest, but he does that which is pleasing to Godhe takes a step upon which he can fearlessly ask for the Divine blessing. If this be so with man, who shall judge of God and censure His obscurer revelations? Time has crumbled their once mighty walls, and made them unfit for purposes of defence. The slothful man is a waster of Gods most precious gifts. III. 20 Whoever gives thought to the word 2 p will discover good, and blessed is he q who trusts in the L ord. The angels smile at the way the sinner cavils. Deeply does the Christian minister feel the responsibility of this holy separation, that he may give himself wholly to his office (1 Timothy 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:4). A communication has been established between the soul of a good man and the living Godhe holds constant communion with a source of spiritual life which can never fail, and consequently he can never be at a loss for subjects upon which to discoursehis mind is always filled with new thoughts of God, and new hopes of heaven upon which to meditate himself and which he can communicate to others. In some cases the only way a judge may be able to settle a dispute is by the drawing of lots (16-18).People may become strong friends or strong enemies, depending on how they are treated. Oh, how hard it is when your spirit has been wounded. but delight in airing their own opinions. 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