Proverbs 3

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:11-12

Chastening I. GOD CHASTENS HIS CHILDREN WITH SUFFERING . All suffering is not chastening. Some trouble is the pruning of branches that already bear fruit, in order that they may bring forth more fruit ( John 15:2 ). But when it meets us in our sins and failings, it is to be regarded as a Divine method of correction. It is not then the vengeance of a God simply concerned with his own outraged anger; before this we should tremble with alarm. It is not the chance product of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:11-12

Patience in affliction Well does this lesson contrast with the preceding picture of prosperity and opulence. I. THE RELIGIOUS VIEW OF SUFFERING . 1 . It is not a dark doom, a cruel fate, a Blind necessity of things. Such were the ideas of the heathen. 2 . Its cause may be known. This is ever a great solace—to be persuaded that our troubles lie in the reason of things, that nothing is chance or caprice. 3 . That cause is in the Divine mind and will. The power... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:11-12

Wrong views of affliction, and the right one Sorrow is a very large ingredient in the cup of human life. It begins so early and lasts so long; it lies so near the surface and it strikes so deep into our nature; it is so certain that we shall meet with it before long, and so likely that we may renew our acquaintance with it very soon, that they must be unwise indeed who do not prepare for its coming, and they must be losers indeed who do not know how to treat it when it knocks at their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:12

In this verse the motive for submissiveness to Jehovah's corrections is brought forward. They are corrections, but they are the corrections of love. One of the most touching relationships of life, and that with which we are most familiar, viz. that of father and son, is employed to reconcile us to Jehovah's afflictive dispensations. A comparison is drawn. God corrects those whom he loves after the same manner as a father corrects ("correcteth" has to be understood from the first hemistich) the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13

Happy is the man ( ash'rey adam ); literally, blessings of the man. The plural of "excellence" used here, as in Job 5:17 , to raise the sense. The man who has found Wisdom is supremely blessed. Beds connects this blessedness immediately with God's chastisements in the preceding verse. So Delitzsch. That findeth ( matsa ); properly, hath found. "The perfect expresses permanent possession, just as the imperfect, yaphik, denotes a continually renewed and repeated attaining"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-18

The teacher here enters upon the last part of this discourse. In doing so, he reverts to his main subject, which is Wisdom, or the fear of the Lord (see Proverbs 3:7 and Proverbs 1:7 ), and pronounces a panegyric upon her, comparing her, as in Job 28:1-28 ; with treasures whose value she exceeds, and showing wherein that value consists, viz. in the gifts which she confers on man. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-18

Wisdom the best investment I. WISDOM COMPARABLE WITH THE MOST PRECIOUS THINGS . Silver, gold, precious stones, everything eagerly coveted and warmly prized by the senses and the fancy, may illustrate the worth of the pious intelligence. Every object in the world of sense has its analogy in the world of spirit. The worth of the ruby is due to the aesthetic light in the mind of the observer. But wisdom is the light in the mind itself. II. WISDOM INCOMPARABLE WITH ALL... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-20

More precious than rubies. We must bear in mind that the wisdom here commended to us is not mere knowledge, science, philosophy. It has two important characteristics. First, it is religious ; it is based on the fear of God. Second, it is practical ; it assumes the direction of human conduct. It is the knowledge of Divine truth, and the application of it to life. Why is this to be accounted most precious? I. WISDOM IS VALUABLE ON ACCOUNT OF ITS OWN INHERENT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:13-26

Wisdom's inestimable worth Here are found many strong recommendations of heavenly wisdom, and we might adopt the thirteenth verse as a refrain to each one of them: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." I. POSSESSORS OF IT , WE ARE SHAREHOLDERS WITH GOD HIMSELF . ( Proverbs 3:19 , Proverbs 3:20 .) Only by wisdom could the Divine Founder of all visible things make them what they are. His wonder workings in the heavens above... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:14

The merchandise ( sakh'rah ); Vulgate, acquisitio ; LXX ; ἐμπορεύεσθαι . The gain arising from trading in wisdom is better than that which arises from trading in silver. Sakh'rah is the gain or profit arising from merchandise, i.e. from trading. It denotes the act itself of gaining. The root sakrah, like the Greek ἐμπορευέσθαι , signifies "to go about for the sake of traffic," i.e. to trade. There may be an allusion here, as in Proverbs 2:4 , to the new commerce... read more

Group of Brands