Matthew Henry Commentary Proverbs 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
Proverbs 8
Matthew Henry Commentary
Proverbs 8
"Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice? On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth; Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud: Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men. O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart. Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it." — Proverbs 8:1-11 (ASV)
The will of God is made known by the works of creation, and by the consciences of people, but more clearly by Moses and the prophets. The chief difficulty is to get people to attend to instruction.
Yet attention to the words of Christ will guide the most ignorant into saving knowledge of the truth. Where there is an understanding heart and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold.
"I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion. The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might. By me kings reign, And princes decree justice. By me princes rule, And nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice; That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries." — Proverbs 8:12-21 (ASV)
Wisdom, here is Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is Christ in the Word, and Christ in the heart; not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us. All prudence and skill are from the Lord. Through the redemption of Christ's precious blood, the riches of His grace abound in all wisdom and prudence. Humanity devised many schemes for ruin; God devised one for our recovery.
He hates pride and arrogance, evil ways, and perverse speech; these make people unwilling to hear His humbling, awakening, holy instructions. True religion gives people the best counsel in all difficult cases and helps to make their way plain. His wisdom makes all truly happy who receive it in the love of Christ Jesus. Seek Him early, seek Him earnestly, seek Him before anything else.
Christ never said, Seek in vain. Those who love Christ are those who have seen His loveliness and have had His love shed abroad in their hearts; therefore they are happy. They will be happy in this world, or in that which is incomparably better. Wealth obtained by worthless means will soon be diminished, but that which is well obtained will wear well; and that which is well spent on works of piety and charity, will be lasting.
If they do not have riches and honor in this world, they will have that which is infinitely better. They will be happy in the grace of God. Christ, by His Spirit, guides believers into all truth, and so leads them in the way of righteousness; and they walk after the Spirit. Also, they will be happy in the glory of God hereafter.
In Wisdom's promises, believers have goods laid up, not for days and years, but for eternity; her fruit therefore is better than gold.
"Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his] delight, Rejoicing always before him, Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men." — Proverbs 8:22-31 (ASV)
The Son of God declares himself to have been engaged in the creation of the world. How able, how fit is the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world, who was the Creator of it! The Son of God was ordained, before the world, to that great work. Does he delight in saving wretched sinners, and shall we not delight in his salvation?
"Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death." — Proverbs 8:32-36 (ASV)
Surely we should pay heed to Christ's voice with the readiness of children. Let us all be wise, and not refuse such mercy. Blessed are those who hear the Savior's voice and attend to him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer.
The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom's instructions, when people professing godliness seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace?
Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers; nor can we obtain God's favor unless we find Christ and are found in him. Those who offend Christ deceive themselves; sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners die because they will die, which justifies God when he judges.
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