Verse 1. A solemn warning stands at the head of our chapter. "Often reproved," but the reproof unheeded; then sudden destruction—overtaken by the judgment of God, and that "without remedy." The word translated "suddenly" in this verse has the sense of "any instant." He has no "lease on life" and God may call him at any moment. Has there not been long patience? Yes, the Epistle to the Romans (chapter 2:3-5) speaks of man's despising the riches of God's goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, and his having become hardened, impenitent. God has but one way to offer poor rebellious man, and that is, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." After death the judgment is the fearful prospect of the despiser of God's grace.
Verse 5. The natural man likes to be flattered; flattery is a very successful weapon in the hands of the worldly, to get what they want. But when we turn to the Scriptures we find that no flattery deceived the Lord, as He passed on His way from Bethlehem's manger to Calvary's cross. See Him in Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, and in Luke 11:27, 28,
In verse 6, the righteous person is preserved from the snare; the cause of the poor has a place in his life, (verse 7); is wise turn away anger which might have destroyed a city (verse 8). After this fashion our God has plainly set out in His; Word the holy and separate walk becoming His people.
Verse 13. The poor and the deceitful (it is really the oppressor here, or as in the margin, the usurer) meet together before God; He gives light to both. Thus is the power of God manifested in changing lives, so that the poor man will have sufficient, and the oppressor (such no more) still has enough for himself. This is according to the Word (2 Cor. 8:14-15).
Verses 15 and 17 are contrary to modern thought, but this only shows that the thoughts of the moderns are wrong. We are born with an evil nature, and a firm hand to guide the young into right paths is necessary. We who are older bless God for the rod and reproof of our parents that kept us out of much that would have brought sorrow and shame to them, and worse things to us.
Wickedness now abounds, but the wicked will fall, and the righteous will see it (verse 16). In the day when Satan introduced sin into the world, he learned that the woman's Seed would crush his head. Now nothing delays the full display of that action but the ingathering of a few more precious souls who must be saved. Soon the Lord shall descend from heaven, and we who believe in Him shall rise to meet Him, to go with Him to the heavenly home long prepared for us; presently thereafter the judgments will begin which are portrayed in the Revelation, culminating in the judgment of the great white throne (Revelation 20:11).
Verse 18 should be read, "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law." God in Old Testament times spoke to men in visions (see Job 33:14-17, and 1 Samuel 3:1, New Translation), but now with the Bible, men reject God because they do not see constant examples of His power. (See 2 Peter 3:3-15.) Unmoved by the unbelief and lack of restraint in the world, the God-fearing Christian keeps "the law" which is for him the whole Word of God, the full revelation of His mind and will, given to us since the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 25 is a needed word to encourage God's children. (See 2 Timothy 1:7-10, and Romans 1:16-18.)
Verse 27 tells of a difference in life and nature between the world and the believer, in connection with which, refer to James 4:4; John 15:18, 20.