Provérbios 3:17

Proverbs 3:17

There is a certain exclusiveness about this expression which stands out into a necessary emphasis; strong in the first, stronger in the second, clause of the sentence. For of many things it may be said, that some of their "ways" are "pleasant," though some be bitter; and of a very few things indeed, perhaps, it might be said that their "paths" are sometimes "peace." But of nothing in the whole world save one the life of a real child of God could it ever be spoken so broadly, so universally, so absolutely.

I. In this high peace, then, notice that there is a distinction drawn which is not without its special signification. It is the ways which are pleasant, and the paths which are peace. Now the way is always larger and broader than the path. And the meaning may be this: The more general and public things in religion things which all see and know these are pleasant; but the things which retire back and are most unfrequented, and which very few either see or guess, all these are "peace."

II. Wisdom's way is: (1) a high way. It is always reaching up out of littlenesses; it ranges at loftier levels, it has the world at its feet. (2) Wisdom's way always has one fixed mark. For that it steers. It throws lesser things aside as it goes, and it goes straight and earnest to a goal, and that goal is the glory of God. (3) Wisdom's way is a way of usefulness. It always puts usefulness first before pleasure, before profit. (4) To go in wisdom's way is to go in sweet fellowship. They who walk there walk hand in hand. It is full of sympathies, it is a road which lies in the communion of all saints, and all love all in wisdom's way. (5) Above all, Christ is there. They walk with Jesus, they lean on Jesus, they are satisfied with Jesus, and they shall travel on and reign with Jesus, in that city where they go.

III. Let us leave the wider track, and go down to one or two of the more secluded "paths." (1) There is a going out in a man's heart from its deepest places to Christ. He tells Jesus something which has long been a hidden burden in his mind. And in the little path of that secret confession there is a peace which no words can tell. (2) It is a very small path that faith takes, but the "peace passeth understanding." (3) Shame, sorrow, parting, death, lie in the same wisdom's path. Jesus' path lay just the same, through shame, through death. And wisdom's path and Jesus' path are both one; and both are peace.

J. Vaughan, Sermons, 1867, p. 77.

References: Proverbs 3:17 . J. Vaughan, Children's Sermons, 1875, p. 278; W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, 1st series, p. 142.Proverbs 3:19 , Proverbs 3:20 . Ibid., p. 144.Proverbs 3:21-35 . R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs, vol. i., p. 113.Proverbs 3:26 . W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, p. 147. Proverbs 3:27 , Proverbs 3:28 . Ibid., p. 152.