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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 3:1-6

We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Prov. 3:1, 2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 3:7-12

We have here before us three exhortations, each of them enforced with a good reason:? I. We must live in a humble and dutiful subjection to God and his government (Prov. 3:7): ?Fear the Lord, as your sovereign Lord and Master; be ruled in every thing by your religion and subject to the divine will.? This must be, 1. A humble subjection: Be not wise in thy own eyes. Note, There is not a greater enemy to the power of religion, and the fear of God in the heart, than conceitedness of our own... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways acknowledge him ,.... Or "know him" F12 דעהו "scito eum", Pagninus, Montanus. ; the Lord: set him before thee; have him always in view; consider him as ever present with thee, observing every step thou takest; and take not one step without his leave, and without his advice; ask wisdom of him who gives liberally; consult his word, and make the Scriptures thy counsellors, or the men of thy counsel, as in Psalm 119:24 ; take him as your guide; observe the footsteps of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in thine own eyes ,.... So as to act independently of God; not to trust in him, nor acknowledge him, nor seek to him for help and direction; nor ask nor take the advice of others; but, being conceited and self-sufficient, lean to thine own understanding, as being wise enough to conduct all affairs in life by thy own discretion; and in matters of religion wiser than thy teachers, and even than the Scriptures, being wise above that which is written; pleasing thyself with thine own... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways acknowledge him - Begin, continue, and end every work, purpose, and device, with God. Earnestly pray for his direction at the commencement; look for his continual support in the progress; and so begin and continue that all may terminate in his glory: and then it will certainly be to thy good; for we never honor God, without serving ourselves. This passage is well rendered in my old MS. Bible: Have trost in the Lord of all thin herte and ne lene thou to thi prudence: in all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:1-10

Precepts and promises of wisdom I. THE CONNECTION OF PRECEPT AND PROMISE . 1 . Precept needs confirmation. We cannot but ask— Why should we pursue this or that line of conduct in preference to another? Why should men be God-fearing, honest, chaste? We are rational creatures, not "dumb driven cattle," to be forced along a given road. We must have reasons; and it is to reason in us that the Divine reason ever makes appeal. 2 . The confirmation is found in experience.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:1-18

4. Fourth admonitory discourse. The third chapter introduces us to a group of admonitions, and the first of these ( Proverbs 3:1-18 ) forms the fourth admonitory discourse of the teacher. To all intents and purposes this is a continuation of the discourse in the preceding chapter, for inasmuch as that described the benefits, spiritual and moral, which follow from the pursuit of Wisdom, in promoting godliness and providing safety from evil companions, so this in like manner depicts the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:5-6

Divine guidance I. THE NEED OF DIVINE GUIDANCE . Several considerations force this upon us; e.g. : 1 . The complexity of life. The longer we live, the more do we feel the profound mystery that touches us on every side. Innumerable avenues open out to us. Innumerable claims are made upon us. Conflicting duties perplex us. We feel as autumn leaves before the driving winds. We are helpless to choose and follow the right. 2 . Our ignorance of the future. Like Columbus,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways. This expression covers the whole area of life's action—all its acts and undertakings, its spiritual and secular sides, no less than its public and private, It guards against our acknowledging God in great crises and solemn acts of worship only (Plumptre). Acknowledge ( daehu ); Vulgate, cogita ; LXX ; γνέριζε . The Hebrew verb yada signifies "to know, recognize." To acknowledge God is, therefore, to recognize, in all our dealings and undertakings, God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in thine own eyes. This admonition carries on the thought from the preceding verses (5, 6), approaching it from a different direction. It is a protest against self-sufficiency, self-conceit, and self-reliance. It says, in effect, "Trust in the Lord, do not trust in yourself." Wisdom, as Michaelis remarks, is to trust in God; to trust in yourself and in your own wisdom is unwisdom. God denounces this spirit: "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own... read more

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