Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 18:1-24
3. Friendship and folly ch. 18 read more
3. Friendship and folly ch. 18 read more
1. Lit. ’One who separates himself seeks desire, quarrels with all wisdom.’ This would mean that a solitary recluse follows his own wishes and opposes everything reasonable. But LXX suggests, ’The alienated friend seeks an occasion of quarrel, seeks by all means to stir up strife.’2. He likes to talk about his own notions. 4. The second half of the v. shows that it is a wise man who is in view; his words are ’as deep waters,’ i.e. are inexhaustible; he is ever ready to give helpful answers.8.... read more
(9) He also that is slothful in his work.—Whatsoever it may be that is committed to his care, is “brother to him that is a great waster,” or “destroyer “; neglect of duty causes almost as much mischief in life as active wickedness. read more
The Deepest Stage of Calamity Proverbs 18:14 The idea is that a calamity affects us, not according to the weight of the stroke, but according to the state of our thoughts. The spirit of a man is his mental state as distinguished from his outward circumstances. I. The proverb says that an outward misfortune influences the life, not in proportion to its actual severity, but in proportion to the resources of the mind. I am profoundly convinced that this is true. Two men take a fever at the same... read more
CHAPTER 19THE EVIL OF ISOLATION"He that separates himself follows after his own desire, but against all sound wisdom he shows his teeth."- Proverbs 18:1FROM the value of friendship there is a natural and easy transition to the evil of isolation. We must try to fathom the profound meaning which is hidden under this simple but striking proverb. To begin with, what are we to understand by "one that separates himself"? This same word occurs in 2 Samuel 1:23 concerning Saul and Jonathan, that "in... read more
CHAPTER 18 Proverbs of Personal Instruction There is first a warning against separation produced by desire, that is for gratification and pleasure, and not for a righteous purpose. Such a one becomes an enemy of true wisdom and one who intermeddleth with all wisdom. This proverb finds a New Testament illustration in Alexander the coppersmith, as well as Hymenaeus and Philetus, and Diotrephes of whom John writes in his epistle. A fool foams out his own folly. This proverb in Proverbs 18:2 is... read more
In these chapters we have a series of exhortations to a life of godliness expressed in general terms about as follows: 1. Confidence in God as a wise ruler (chap. 16) 2. A disposition of peacefulness and contentment (chap. 17) 3. The virtues of affability, fidelity, and others of a social nature (chap. 18) 4. Humility and meekness (chap. 19) 5. Sobriety, diligence and kindness (chap. 21) 6. Justice, patience, submission (chap. 21) 7. The attainment and preservation of a good name (chap. 22) 8.... read more
The Evils of Narrow-Mindedness, Etc. Proverbs 18:0 In connection with this thought we have always turned our attention to student life, fancying a man so burning with an unquenchable desire for wisdom as to betake himself from public highways and tumults that he might study in solitude and silence. Another rendering of the text, however, will show its true meaning: "The separatist seeketh after his own desire, and against all improvement he shows his teeth." We have here, then, a picture of... read more
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The... read more
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Proverbs 18:9
9. One by failing to get, the other by wasting wealth, grows poor. waster—literally, "master of washing," a prodigal. read more