Proverbs 9:11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased. I. THE BENEFIT WHICH ENSUES FROM HEARKENING TO GOOD COUNSEL. 1. The title or denomination of a tractable person. He is a "wise man." It is a part of wisdom for a man to suspect his own wisdom, and to think that it is possible for him to deceive himself. It is a part of wisdom to discern between good and evil — to know what is to be left and what is to be embraced. It is a part of wisdom to know one's best friends, and to give them all encouragement of being further friendly to us by hearkening to their counsel. 2. The benefit that accrues unto this wise man. He is wise unto himself. This wisdom redounds to a man's own furtherance and account. He is much better for it every way. Wise for thyself — in thy inward man; in thine outward man, thy body and estate; in thy relations: there is no better way of providing for those who belong to thee than by labouring to walk in good ways. No man serves God in vain. This is true for this life and for the life to come. God bestows graces and rewards them. God has involved our own good in His glory, so that while we endeavour to promote the one we advance the other. We are no further wise ourselves than we are wise for our own souls. II. THE INCONVENIENCE OF THE NEGLECT OF GOOD COUNSEL. The simple inconvenience: "Bear his scorning." Scorners are such as have but mean thoughts of religion. Such as decline it for themselves. Such as deride and scoff at it. The grounds of scorning are unbelief, pride and self-conceitedness, thraldom and addiction to any particular lust. Scorning is surely followed by punishment, and in the expression "thou shalt bear it" is indicated the indefiniteness, the universality, and the unavoidableness of the punishment. Scorners persist in sin, and thus aggravate it so much the more to themselves. Scorners undervalue the kindness of reproof, and slight the motions of God's Spirit in them. Beware, then, of the sin of scorning! (T. Horton D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.WEB: For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased. |
    |