Bible Commentaries

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

My son. — Fatherly and filial affection ought to be between teacher and hearers. "But who is their father?" 1 Samuel 10:12 "O my father, my father," said he to the dying prophet. 2 Kings 13:14 "Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest," said that idolatrous Micah to the wandering Levite. Judges 17:10 Popish novices do so observe their padres (as they call them), that though they command them a voyage to China or Peru, without dispute or delay they presently set forward Spec. Europ. Tu et asinus unum estote, said one once to a young novice, who being about to enter into a monastery, asked his counsel how he should carry himself. "Come, children, hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Psalms 34:11

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So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding;

So that thou incline thine ear. — Lie low at God’s feet, and say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." His saints "sit down at his feet, every one to receive his word." Deuteronomy 33:3 They are compared to "a garden of cucumbers," Isaiah 1:8 which, when ripe, lie on the ground. Surely, as waters meet and rest in low valleys, so do God’s graces in lowly hearts.

And apply thine heart. — Attention of body, intention of mind, and retention of memory, are indispensably desired of all wisdom’s scholars; such as King Edward VI, who constantly stood up at the hearing of the word, took notes, which he afterwards diligently perused, and wrought the sermon upon his affections by meditation. Acts and Mon.

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Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;

If thou criest after knowledge. — Bene orasse est bene studuisse, said Luther. Knowledge is God’s gift (James 1:5 ; James 1:17 ), and must be sought at his hand, since he is "the Father of lights," and sells us "eye salve," Revelation 3:17 .

And liftest up thy voice. — As resolved to "give God no rest" till thou hast it. A dull suitor begs a denial. "Then shall men know if they follow on to know the Lord," Hosea 6:3 . "Teach me," "teach me," saith David often. "Lord, show me thy glory," said Moses, newly come from the mount.

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If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;

If thou seekest her as silver. — Opulentissima metalla quorum in alta latent venae, saith Seneca, Seneca, Epist. 23. Your richest metals lie lowest. Viscera terrae extrahimus, ut digito gestetur gemma, quam petimus, saith Pliny; Lib. ii. cap. 65. We draw out the very bowels of the earth, that we may get the gem that we desire. Shall we not do as much for this pearl of price, the knowledge of God and his will, of ourselves, and our duties? Beg we must; Proverbs 2:3 but with it we must dig too, Proverbs 2:4 and continue to do so, searching for her as for hid treasures. Ora et labora, for else "the talk of the lip only brings want." Proverbs 14:23 What man, finding a rich mine of gold or silver, is content with the first ore that offers itself to his view, and doth not dig deeper and deeper till he become owner of the whole treasure? So here, "Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord," Hosea 6:3 if ye cease not till ye get all the dimensions of knowledge mentioned by the apostle, Ephesians 3:18 till ye see that blissful sight. Ephesians 1:18-19

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Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Then shalt thou understand. — Then shalt thou be as those noble Romans were, Romans 15:14 "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others"; in fine, well accomplished Christian, that hath Christian for his name, and Catholic for his surname, Such a Catholic as Augustine describeth when he saith, Boni Catholici sunt qui et fidem integram sequuntur et bonos mores. Those be good Catholics that believe well and live well. These be not those ancient Roman Catholics.

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For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.

Out of his mouth cometh knowledge. — If it could be said by the divine chronologer, Bucholcer. Ex Adami sapientissimi doctoris ore promanavit tanquam ex fonte quicquid in mundo est utilium doctrinarum, disciplinarum, scientiae et sapientiae - Out of Adam’s mouth, even after the fall, as out of a fountain, flowed all the profitable knowledge, skill, and wisdom in the world: how much better may the same be said of "the only wise God," who is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working." Isaiah 28:29 Platonici lumen mentiam esse dixerunt ad discenda omnia, eundem ipsum Deum quo facta sunt omnia. Aug., De Civit. Dei. The Platonists said, that God, the maker of all, was that light of the mind whereby we learn all.

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He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

He layeth up sound wisdom. — Heb., Substance, reality; that which hath a true being, in opposition to that which is not; so riches are described. Proverbs 23:5 Heaven only hath a "foundation"; Hebrews 11:10 earth hath none, but is "hanged upon nothing." Job 16:7 Grace hath solid substance in it and true worth; whereas opinion only sets the price upon all outward things. The prophet Amos complains of the epicures of his time, that they "ate the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; they drank wine in bowls, and chanted to the sound of viols." Amos 6:4-6 This to some might seem brave and desirable. But Proverbs 2:13 the prophet, in true judgment, thus speaks to them: "Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought," ye embrace a shadow, ye pursue after things that profit not, but perish in the use; for "Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God will destroy both it and them." 1 Corinthians 6:13 Some sense the text thus: The Lord lays up when he is in distress, then he hath such quietness of spirit, soundness and presence of mind, that in the midst of his straits he is in a sufficiency. Not so the wicked. Job 20:22

He is a buckler to them. — The body cannot be wounded, but through the buckler, if skilfully handled: "Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help?" Deuteronomy 33:29

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He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

He keepeth the paths of judgment. — Well may they walk uprightly that are so strongly supported. God’s hand is ever under his; they cannot fall beneath it. "He keepeth the feet of his saints." 1 Samuel 2:9

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