Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. I. THE SPECIFICATION OF THE PERSONS. Prudent and simple; that is, righteous and wicked. Godly men are in Scripture described as wise men, and wicked men are spoken of as fools. That godly men are truly wise appears in those qualities, and actions, and principles, and properties which belong to them. 1. A godly man hath the true principle of wisdom in him. Wisdom is not a fit but a habit, and implies a spring and principle for the nourishing of it. The right principle of wisdom is a gracious and savoury spirit, the work of regeneration, and the new creature in us. 2. What a man propounds to himself has its influence upon his wisdom. The godly man's aims are heavenly and spiritual. 3. Wisdom is seen in regard to the rule whereby he is led. It is the part of a wise man to have good rules. The Christian's rule is the Word of God. 4. In regard to the object whereabout he is conversant, which is the gospel, the doctrine of wisdom. II. THE DIFFERENT ACCOUNT WHICH IS GIVEN TO EACH. 1. The account of the prudent. He is discovered as to his spiritual judgment and apprehension, and spirit of discerning. "He foreseeth the evil." This foresight he has by the dictates of the Word of God; by the concurrence of one thing with another; by the inward hints and suggestions of the Spirit of God. He is discovered in reference to activity and practice. "And hides himself." This is done in the exercise of all such graces as are pertinent hereunto: such as meekness, humility, repentance, faith, charity. A godly man hides himself in the whole work of self-reformation and holiness of life. 2. The account of the foolish. Their carriage: "They pass on." This is an expression of security, and of pertinancy or progress in sin. Sin blinds the judgment, carries away the heart, and fills men with vain hopes. The more deceitful and fraudulent sin is, the more watchful and vigilant should we be. 2. Their miscarriage, or ill-condition. They "are punished." Sin and judgment are relatives, and infer one another. They "pass on, and are punished." That is, they are punished because they pass on. Security is the great promoter of punishment, in the nature of things, and in the justice of God. (T. Horton, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.WEB: A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it. |
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