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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 2:17

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth - Leaves her father's house and instructions, and abandons herself to the public. The covenant of her God - Renounces the true religion, and mixes with idolaters; for among them prostitution was enormous. Or by the covenant may be meant the matrimonial contract, which is a covenant made in the presence of God between the contracting parties, in which they bind themselves to be faithful to each other. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:1-5

The search for wisdom I. DIVINE WISDOM MUST BE SOUGHT BEFORE IT CAN BE FOUND . It is true that Wisdom cries aloud in the street and invites the ignorant and simple to partake of her stores. But the burden of her cry is to bid us seek her, It is the voice of invitation, not that of revelation. The latter is only audible to those who incline their ears purposely and thoughtfully. The thoughtless are satisfied with hasty impressions of the moment; but the only religious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:1-9

The conditions of religious knowledge The previous chapter having shown us in a variety of representations the necessity and the worth of wisdom, the question is now dealt with—How shall it be sought and attained? I. CONDITIONS ON MAN 'S SIDE . The enumeration is climactic, proceeding from the less strong to the stronger expressions. 1 . Receptivity. The open mind and heart, ever ready to "adopt" true sentiments and appropriate them as one's own. The point is not to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:1-9

The course, the goal, and the prize of wisdom These are comprehensive verses; they include the three main features of the heavenly race. I. THE COURSE OF THE WISDOM SEEKER . He who searches for wisdom is a wise runner in a heavenly race; he is pursuing an end which the Divine Author of his being distinctly and emphatically commends. 1 . His search for life-giving truth must be characterized by readiness to receive. He must be wholly different in spirit from those who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:1-22

3. Third admonitory discourse, pointing out the benefits which arise from a sincere, earnest, and persevering search after Wisdom. This discourse divides itself into three parts. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:5

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord. Then ( אָן ), introducing the first apodosis, and answering to the conditional "if" of Proverbs 2:1 , Proverbs 2:3 , Proverbs 2:4 . The earnest endeavour after Wisdom meets with its reward, and those that seek shall find (cf. Matthew 7:7 ): and thus an inducement is held forth to listen to the admonition of the teacher. Understand implies the power of discernment, but Zockler gives it the further moaning of taking to one's self... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:6

For the Lord giveth wisdom. The Lord Jehovah is the only and true Source of wisdom. The truth stated here is also met with in Daniel 2:21 , "He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding." He "giveth," or more properly, "will give" ( יִתֵּן , yitten, future of נָתַן , nathan ) , wisdom; but the connection requires us to understand that the assurance applies only to those who seek after it earnestly and truly (cf. James 1:5-7 ). The two... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:6

Wisdom a gift of God I. TRUE WISDOM ORIGINATES IN DIVINE INSPIRATION . Prophets and apostles—teachers of the highest truths—claim to be delivering a message from heaven. The greater the thoughts declared to us in Scripture, the more emphatic is the ascription of them to a superhuman source. Surely this very fact—this conjunction of unique value in the thoughts with the confident assertion that they are from God—should go far in leading us to believe in the inspiration of them.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:7

Wisdom which is the foundation of security and safety, and hence is sound wisdom, is that which God treasures up for the righteous. The teacher passes to another phase of the Divine character. God is not only the Source of wisdom; he is also the Ensurer of safety, the Source of salvation to those who act uprightly. It will be noted that the use of the word is confined to the Proverbs and Job, with the exception of the two passages in Isaiah and Micah. Buckler . Besides storing up the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 2:8

He keepeth the paths of judgment. This verse is explanatory of the latter hemistich of Proverbs 2:7 , and points out more fully in what way God is a Protector of his saints. Some connect the Hebrew infinitive לִנְצֹד ( lin'tsor ) , "to watch or keep," with "them that walk uprightly," and translate, "them that walk uprightly by keeping the paths of judgment;" but this is to transfer the idea of protection from God to such persons. The verb signifies specially "to defend, to... read more

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