1 Whoso loveth instruction, loveth knowledge:
But he that hateth reproof is brutish.
THE man who loves instruction for its own sake values true knowledge, let it come through what channel it may. What he desires is the truth, not the ability to display his acquirements. The mere vain pedant hates reproof, and, like a brute beast, values not correction (chapter 10:17). He prefers his own unbridled will, however contrary his thoughts and ways may be to sound instruction. This was the great characteristic of the world before the flood (Job 22:15,1715Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? (Job 22:15)
17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? (Job 22:17)). Josiah, the godly young king of Judah, is a fine example of the opposite (2 Chron. 34).
2 A good man obtaineth favor of Jehovah:
But a man of wicked devices will He condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by lawlessness:
But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
In the very nature of things, the face of the Lord cannot but shine upon the good man. His root shall be firmly established. “He shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand.” But that same divine character which makes Him delight in uprightness necessitates His condemnation of a man of wicked devices. He shall never be established. “The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” See Hushai and Ahithophel (2 Sam.15:32; 16:15-23; 17, et al.).
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband:
But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
It would be a grave mistake to limit the word virtuous to the thought of chastity. The virtuous woman is one in whom all noble qualities shine, as set forth fully in the last chapter. Such a woman is indeed a crown to her husband. One who by folly and slothfulness makes ashamed is like the sudden coming on of old age. Contrast Sarah (Gen. 18:1212Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? (Genesis 18:12) and 1 Peter 3:1-61Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:1‑6)) with Job’s wife (Job 2:9, 109Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:9‑10)).
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just:
But the counsels of the lawless are deceit.
6 The words of the lawless are to lie in wait for blood:
But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The lawless are overthrown, and are not:
But the house of the righteous shall stand.
Right thoughts result in right words and right actions, and shall be rewarded by Him whose delight is in righteousness. But evil thoughts have their fruitage likewise in evil words and deeds, and they too shall receive a just recompense of reward. The judgment of God is according to truth, as every soul of man shall own at last. Contrast Absalom and David.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom:
But he that is of a perverse heart shall be exposed to contempt.
Even among natural men wisdom is a commendation, while a vain and foolish spirit but exposes to contempt. The world can appreciate sobriety and spiritual intelligence, though it may refuse or even persecute it. But to pretend to either, while bereft of both, is to draw forth the disgust of all reasonable men. Note the difference in the estimation formed by their fellows of Gideon and Abimelech (Judges 7 to 9).
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant,
Is better than he that honoreth himself and lacketh bread.
The Douay version renders the final line somewhat differently: “Better is the poor that provideth for himself.” The thought evidently is, that the one who is looked down upon as lowly, but whose needs are met, is far happier and more to be envied than he who delights in making a pompous display while feeling the pinch of hunger and distress. See Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:27-3427And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:27‑34)).
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:
But the tender mercies of the lawless are cruel.
A truly righteous man cannot act inconsistently with his character even in regard to a dumb beast. The very dependence of the creature upon his consideration will but tend to stir his compassions, so that he will treat it with the kindliness proper to all noble souls. The wicked, or lawless, on the other hand, becomes only the more brutal as he recognizes his own title to control the lower creation. Cruelty and unrighteousness go hand in hand. Contrast Jacob with Balaam. See Gen. 33:13,1413And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. (Genesis 33:13‑14) and Num. 22:23-3123And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. (Numbers 22:23‑31).
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread:
But he that followeth vain persons is void of heart.
The diligent husbandman is abundantly rewarded for his toil, while the trifling, idling companion of reckless coxcombs is but manifesting his lack of intelligence. This is a searching word for young Christians. God’s word is a field well worth our tilling. Those who obey the apostolic injunction conscientiously, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” are invariably repaid for every hour earnestly devoted to the consideration of this precious field. Many, alas, waste much time in idle folly, companying with empty, frivolous worldlings, and neglecting their Bibles, to the serious detriment of their spiritual life. Such often wonder how it is that other Christians can discover so much that is new and edifying in the Scriptures. They see no such lovely lessons and helpful suggestions. No; because they do not really “till the land.” If they did, they too would be satisfied with bread.
Incalculable is the loss those who so act must suffer, both in time and eternity. This neglect of the Bible is the root of much backsliding, coldness of heart, and departure from God. Where the believer makes it a daily practice to “dig” into the Book for himself, and then seeks, by the Spirit’s power, to walk in the truth learned, growth in grace and in the knowledge of the things of God soon becomes most marked. Timothy is a fine pattern for all young saints on this point (2 Tim. 3:14-1714But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:14‑17)), while the ungodly Jehoiakim is a warning beacon for all in danger of taking the opposite course to that we have been outlining (Jer. 36:22-3222Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. 25Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. 26But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the Lord hid them. 27Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. 29And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? 30Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. 32Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words. (Jeremiah 36:22‑32)).
12 The lawless desireth the fortress of evil:
But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 The evil is snared by the transgression of the lips:
But the just shall come out of trouble.
The wicked would surround his very soul with evil, while hoping to escape in the day of retribution; but he is snared with the words of his mouth, and worse are the calamities to which he is exposed than those which he sought to ward off. Vide Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-2720But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 21So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 22And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. 23And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. 24And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. 25But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. 26And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? 27The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. (2 Kings 5:20‑27)).
The righteous, with holy confidence, places his trust in God, and bears fruit to His glory. In the day of his trouble he has a Deliverer near at hand. See Elisha (2 Kings 6:1717And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17)).
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth:
And the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
We have seen over and over again in this book that it is a principle of the divine government, which no man may turn aside, that “whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” To every man will recompense be made according to his doings. The Christian is not superior to this law of the kingdom of God. He the rather bows his head and owns its justice. See the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matt. 18:24-3524And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:24‑35)).
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
But he that harkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16 A fool’s wrath is presently known:
But a prudent man covereth shame.
Two things are here stated as being characteristic of the man who is denominated a fool; that is, one who lacks divine wisdom. He is proud and self-confident, refusing to brook correction: on the other hand, he is intolerant of others’ faults, manifesting his indignation readily, and making worse the wound in place of binding up. The wise and prudent man is in every way the contrast to all this. He is hardest on himself; consequently readily accepts counsel, willingly owning that others may be wiser than he; and he is ever ready to cover the shame of another, rather than to tell it abroad. It is the same contrast that existed in the days of Noah, when Ham unblushingly related the tale of his father’s shame, as though himself superior to his sire; while Shem and Japheth went backwards to cover their dishonored parent (Gen. 9).
17 He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness:
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword:
But the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established forever:
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil:
But to the counselors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just:
But the lawless shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah:
But they that deal truly are His delight.
The six verses are all occupied with the same general theme—lips of truth contrasted with a lying tongue. The latter is an abomination to Him who is Himself the Truth. The former He delights in because in accord with His ow n nature.
Honest speech manifests integrity of heart: falsity declares unerringly the lack of truth in the inward parts. The one who hesitates not at deliberate lying scatters pain and sorrow on every side; his venomed words piercing like a sword the hearts of sensitive and gentle souls. To these the tongue of the wise is health and up-building. But the day of reckoning is coming, when the lip of truth shall be established forever, and the lying tongue go into oblivion.
It is well to remember that it is intentional deceit that is here in question. One is often pained to hear good men recklessly charge others with lying because they have uttered an untruth in the innocency of their hearts. A statement may be false as to fact, which is true as to intent; just as a statement may be true as to fact, which was uttered with the intent to deceive. It is the deceit in the heart that cause: the lips to utter a lie. None should be so charged unless the evidence makes it clear there was intention to prevaricate.
The just shall be preserved from evil, even as they have sought the good of their fellows: but to the lawless, judgment without mercy shall be meted out; for God cannot but make manifest His hatred of that which is false, and His approbation of truth and righteousness. Contrast Nehemiah and Sanballat (Neh. 6:5-95Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; 6Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. 7And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 8Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 9For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. (Nehemiah 6:5‑9)).
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge:
But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
The man who has least worth saying is generally the man who says the most. The prudent man is not forever airing his knowledge; the fool loses no opportunity to proclaim his empty folly. See Jeremiah and Hananiah (Jer. 28:1-111And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: 4And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the Lord, 6Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the Lord do so: the Lord perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the Lord's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. 7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people; 8The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. 9The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him. 10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. 11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. (Jeremiah 28:1‑11)).
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule:
But the slothful shall be under tribute.
It is not ability only that causes one to succeed, and secures advancement. There must be earnest endeavor, otherwise talent and brilliancy count for nothing. The slothful, however much he may have the advantage of another in natural gifts and intelligence, will in the end be inferior to the patient plodder. This is what some one has called “the gospel of work.” It is all-important, both in the natural and the spiritual sphere. Contrast Gideon and Barak (Judges 6:11,12; 4:4-911And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. (Judges 6:11‑12)
4And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 7And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 8And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. (Judges 4:4‑9)).
25 Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop:
But a good word maketh it glad.
“How forcible are right words,” bringing comfort, cheer and encouragement to those in grief of soul and bitterness of spirit! See Nehemiah and Artaxerxes (Neh. 2:2-82Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. (Nehemiah 2:2‑8)).
26 The righteous searcheth out his neighbor:
But the way of the lawless seduceth them.
The man whose own ways are clean, and whose conscience is free, will be able to sound and search his neighbor in a godly way to his edification and restoration to God, if his steps have gone astray. “He that is spiritual discerneth all things.” The insubject, lawless man has not his brother’s good at heart, but rather his undoing; hence his words are seductive and ensnaring. Nathan is an illustration of the first; the wise woman of Tekoa, of the second (2 Sam. 12:1-14; 14:1-201And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. 5And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 9Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. (2 Samuel 12:1‑14)
1Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. 2And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: 3And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. 4And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king. 5And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 6And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him. 7And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. 8And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. 9And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless. 10And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more. 11Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth. 12Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on. 13And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. 14For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. 15Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid. 16For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God. 17Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee. 18Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak. 19And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: 20To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth. (2 Samuel 14:1‑20)).
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting:
But the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Some men can bestir themselves for a time, but soon fall back into their customary slothful manner. Many are they who attend the ministry of the Word but fail afterward to meditate upon and make their own what they hear. Their course is like one who goes forth to the field or forest, and while the excitement of the hunt is upon him spares no pains, but turns. his prey to no true account afterward. The way of the diligent is very different. He uses what he has, and thus more is given, as in the parable of the talents. Ruth, who gleaned all day and at even “beat out that which she had gleaned,” is a striking illustration of this (2:17). The servant who hid his pound in a napkin pictures the contrary spirit.
28 In the way of righteousness there is life;
And in the pathway thereof there is no death.
The way of righteousness is that path of the just that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Passing through a scene of death, it goes on to the land of life; and that eternal life is now the precious possession of all who, by the straight gate, have entered upon it. What men call death, real and true as it is to every one who treads the path of sin, for the just is but the end of the way opening into the gladness and glory of the Father’s house. “This God is our God forever and forever. He will be our guide even over (not, as in the A. V., unto) death.” Happy the portion of all who tread the way of holiness, through a world of sin, up to the city of God!