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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 1:20-33

Solomon, having shown how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here shows how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God, which we shall for ever rue the neglect of. Observe, I. By whom God calls to us?by wisdom. It is wisdom that crieth without. The word is plural?wisdoms, for, as there is infinite wisdom in God, so there is the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. 3:10. God speaks to the children of men by all the kinds of wisdom, and, as in every will, so in every word,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:24

Because I have called, and ye refused ,.... This is to be understood not of the internal call of Wisdom, or Christ, which is by the special grace of his Spirit; is according to an eternal purpose, the fruit of everlasting love, peculiar to God's elect, and by a divine power; and is also a call to special blessings of grace, and to eternal glory; and which is always effectual, unchangeable, and irreversible, and can never be refused, rejected, and resisted, so as to become void and of no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 1:24

Because I have called - These and the following words appear to be spoken of the persons who are described, Proverbs 1:11-19 , who have refused to return from their evil ways till arrested by the hand of justice; and here the wise man points out their deplorable state. They are now about to suffer according to the demands of the law, for their depredations. They now wish they had been guided by wisdom, and had chosen the fear of the Lord; but it is too late: die they must, for their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:20-33

2. Second admonitory discourse. Address of Wisdom personified, exhibing the folly of those who wilfully reject, and the security of those who hearken to, her counsels. The sacred writer, in this section, as also in Proverbs 8:1-36 ; uses the rhetorical figure of prosopopceia, or impersonation. Wisdom is represented as speaking and as addressing the simple, scorners, and fools. The address itself is one of the noblest specimens of sacred eloquence, expressing in rapid succession the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:20-33

Warning cry of Wisdom In dramatic style, Wisdom is presentiated, personified, endued with visible and audible attributes. As contempt for religion has been animadverted upon, so now contempt for Wisdom calls for rebuke. The motto ( Proverbs 1:7 ) is still in the preacher's mind. I. THE CRY OF WISDOM IS PUBLIC AND CLEAR . In the street, "where merchants most do congregate," and in all places of general resort, the cry is heard. Hers is no esoteric doctrine; it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:24

Because I have called, and ye refused. A pause may be imagined, and seems to be implied, between this and the preceding verses (22 and 23), when the address passes into a new phase—from that of invitation and promise to that of judgment and stern denunciation ( Proverbs 1:24-27 ). In the subsection the antecedent clauses are Proverbs 1:24 , Proverbs 1:25 , introduced by the conjunction "because" ( יַעַן , yaan ; quia, Vulgate), which expresses the reason or cause for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:24-30

Left to their doom Broad and encouraging as are the promises of Divine grace, if we forget the darker facts of life we shall be deluded into a false security; for nothing could be more unreasonable than to suppose that the mercy of God takes no account of moral considerations. Legally our sovereign is vested with an unfettered right of pardoning every criminal, but principles of justice and public order put great restraints upon the exercise of such a right. Bald representations of prayer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 1:24-33

The Divine ultimatum There is something which is fearful and appalling in these verses. We are ready to tremble as we read them. We are ready to exclaim, "How far may human perversity, and Divine retribution gel" With hushed voice, with subdued spirit, as those before whose eyes the lightnings of heaven are flashing, we consider the significance of the words. But first we see— I. THAT GOD MAKES MANY APPEALS TO THE HUMAN SOUL . He calls, and we refuse; he stretches out... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 1:24-28

Proverbs 1:24-28. Because I have called, &c. By my ministers, my judgments, the motions of my Spirit, and your own consciences; and ye refused To obey my call; I have stretched out my hand Offering mercy and grace to you, and earnestly inviting you to accept of them; and no man regarded Few or none complied with my will, and accepted my offers. But ye have set at naught all my counsel Have despised or made void my design of doing you good, and have disregarded my commands,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:20-33

Wisdom addresses the people (1:20-33)To help people see what he is saying about wisdom, the writer tries to give illustrations that anyone can understand. He does not discuss wisdom as an abstract principle, but pictures it as being in the form of a person (i.e. personified). He speaks of wisdom as if it were a dignified and well respected woman who stands in the streets and market places of the town and speaks openly and plainly to those who pass by (20-21).The woman addresses her words... read more

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