The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary on the Books of the Bible, Volume 13 (of 32): The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary on the Book of the ProverbsHarris, W., Rev.
Religion
The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary on the Books of the Bible, Volume 13 (of 32): The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary on the Book of the Proverbs
+III. What those find who find God.+ The reward promised to those who
seek God is God Himself. In finding Him they find 1. _The lasting
riches of righteousness_ (vers. 18, 19). This a wealth which will
_last._ However great the satisfaction, however many the blessings
which may flow from the riches of the earth, "passing away" is
written upon all. Yea, long before the end of life the riches may
"make themselves wings" (chap. xxiii. 5). Among many other qualities
that make moral wealth incomparably superior to material wealth, not
the least is its _durability._ (See on vers. 10, 11; also chap.
iii. 15, 16.) 2. _Guidance,_ ver. 20. (See on chap. iii. 6, etc.)
3. _Reality in opposition to shadow,_ ver. 21. The hungry man who
dreams that he is feasting experiences a kind of pleasure. But the
feast is only in vision. There is no power in it to appease his
hunger, or nourish his frame. But, if on awaking, he finds a table
really spread with food, he then has the substance of that of which
in his dreams he had only the shadow. Worldly men walk, the Psalmist
tells us, in a "vain show," _i.e.,_ in an "image," an "unreality"
(Psa. xxxix. 6). "They walk," says Spurgeon on this verse, "as if the
mocking images were substantial, like travellers in a mirage, soon to
be filled with disappointment and despair." There are many who dream
that they are being satisfied while they are morally asleep. But by
and by they awake and find that they have been feeding on visions of
the night, that they have been spending their money for "that which
was not bread, and their labour for that which satisfieth not" (Isa.
lv. 2). To all who are conscious of this soul-hunger, eternal wisdom
here offers substantial heart satisfaction, "a well of water
springing up into everlasting life."
_OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._
Verse 17. The philosopher could say, that if moral virtue could be
seen with mortal eyes, she would stir up wonderful loves of herself
in the hearts of the beholders. How much more, then, would "the
wisdom of God in a mystery!" (1 Cor. ii. 7), that essential wisdom of
God especially, the Lord Jesus, who is "altogether lovely," "the
desire of all nations." "My love was crucified," said Ignatius, who
"loved not His life unto the death" (Rev. xii. 11). Neither was there
any love lost, or can be, for "I love them that love me." Men do not
always reciprocate, or return love for love. David lost his love upon
Absalom; Paul upon the Corinthians; but here is no such
danger.--_Trapp._
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