A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. Sermons
I. IT IS AN ARDENT ENTHUSIASTIC LIFE. (Ver. 21.) Literally, he who hunts after justice and love will find life, righteousness, and honour. So in other figures - of hungering and thirsting, of digging eagerly for hid treasures, etc. - the earnest enthusiasm of the true life is depicted. II. IT IS A LIFE OF PRESENT POSSESSION AND ENJOYMENT. So in the New Testament (Romans 3:26; Galatians 3:21). III. THE RESISTLESS POWER OF WISDOM. (Ver. 22.) The like penetrative power to that which we ascribe to the subtlest forces of nature - heat, magnetism, etc. - is possessed, but in a higher degree, by the intelligence add the will of man. The barriers of time and space seem to fall before him who knows and him who loves. Let none rely on walls and fastnesses. What man's hands have raised man's hands can break to pieces. We are truly strong only by means of the arts and works at intelligence and love. IV. THE SAFETY OF THE PRUDENT TONGUE. (Ver. 2.9.) As one quaintly says, "God, as the Creator, has placed a double wail before the mouth - the teeth and lips, to show that we ought to use and guard the tongue with all care." "He that hath a satirical vein, as he maketh others afraid of his wit, so he had need to he afraid of others' memory." "Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably with him with whom we deal is more than to speak in good words or in good order" (Bacon). - J.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. In every perfect character there will be found many opposite virtues, such as gentleness and courage, energy and patience, determination and docility, justice and mercy. We all respect the sterling worth of justice, yet justice alone would mark a defective character. It could be trusted, but not loved. Mercy alone would make one too weak. Love may lack the fidelity required to rebuke wrong, as is often seen in parental indulgence. Judicial laxity that sacrifices law, or military inefficiency that ignores discipline, are other illustrations. The wider the government, the nobler the interests to be guarded, the more imperative the need of the union of law with love, truth with gentleness. It is important to notice that this union of apparently opposing virtues does not weaken, but really makes either the more impressive in action. The rebuke of a loving father is all the more effective on account of the affection that inspires it. Justice speaks all the more terribly from the lips of a tender judge. When Washington's tears blot the order for Andre's execution, the awful necessity of Andre's doom is seen and felt at every camp-fire. In Jesus Christ we see the blending of these diverse qualities in a remarkable degree. Tender and gentle as He was, incarnate mercy, He uttered the most awful denunciations and threats of everlasting fire. The awfulness of future punishment is felt when we remember it is the "wrath of the Lamb"! This theme sheds light on certain problems of the Divine government. The universe needs a corner-stone, and human hopes an anchorage. These are found in God. The highest triumph of wisdom is seen in the harmony of diverse qualities. As our character approaches His, we can the better interpret the problems of His government that confound others. President Woolsey rightly marvels at the folly of men who legislate about the universe, pass judgment on sin and retribution, yet cannot govern their own homes, or agree on the principles of human legislation. A greater than Woolsey exclaims: "Behold the goodness and severity of God!" Christianity exhibits this union as an exclusive trait, one that commands at once the hearts and the consciences of men. At the Cross of Christ justice and mercy blend, righteousness and grace kiss each other. God is holy as well as loving. Grace makes righteousness sure and pardon free. So peace comes, for justice is not compromised in giving a pardon that we should wish to hide from righteousness. The gospel unites them in one display. We show these virtues at different times; here they appear in parallel glory. No human justice has risen to this conception, no philosophy has embodied these ideas. Grace comes to be the marvel and the loadstone of our hearts.(Arthur Mitchell, D. D.) 1. We are to follow after this supremely. 2. We are to follow after this constantly. It must be pursued, not occasionally, but always; not on the Sundays, but on the weekdays as well. II. HAPPINESS IS THE ATTENDANT. Life stands for happiness. The unregenerate has no true life. The righteous man will be righteously dealt with. God has established such a connection between excellence and conscience that conscience must recognise it wherever it is seen. Happiness comes as goodness is pursued. Happiness never comes to a man when he seeks it as an end. It wells out of those activities which spring from generous self-obliviating love. The unselfish and the loving have ever been the truly happy men. Happiness is the end of the universe, but God has ordained that our happiness shall grow out of our goodness. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Homilist. Religion is here presented in two aspects.I. As a PURSUIT. Really to do what the text expresses implies — 1. A true estimate of the objects to be pursued. "Righteousness and mercy." These are the two cardinal elements of moral excellence in all worlds, are essential to the well-being of all moral intelligences. To pursue them you must be impressed with their transcendent worth. Thus Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God," etc. 2. Resolute perseverance. The pursuit of these cardinal blessings involves great difficulties. The world, the flesh, and the devil all obstruct the way. II. As a REALISATION. He that thus successfully pursues "findeth life, righteousness, and honour." Religion is its own reward. The good man is blessed in his deed. 1. The reward is a natural effect of the conduct. Holiness and happiness are inseparably united. 2. The reward agrees with the conduct. It grows out of it. "Life, righteousness, and honour" — these grow out of "righteousness and mercy": the fruit is of the same kind as the seed. Man's heavenly joys will not be grapes gathered from thorns but from the vine-tree of goodness, the True Vine. (Homilist.) People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Attacks, Bringeth, Brings, Casteth, Confidence, Faith, Goes, Mighty, Ones, Overcomes, Pulls, Scales, Scaleth, Strength, Strong, Stronghold, Thereof, Town, Trust, Trusteth, Wherein, WiseOutline 1. The king's heart in the hand of the LordDictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 21:22Library Definition of Actual Grace1. GENERAL NOTION OF GRACE.--The best way to arrive at a correct definition of actual grace is by the synthetic method. We therefore begin with the general notion of grace. Like "nature,"(3) grace (gratia, {GREEK SMALL LETTER CHI}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA}) is a word of wide reach, used in a great variety of senses. Habert(4) enumerates no less than fourteen; which, however, may be reduced to four. a) Subjectively, … Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual Epistle xxi. To Constantina Augusta . Epistle Cvi. To Syagrius, Ætherius, virgilius, and Desiderius, Bishops . How the Slothful and the Hasty are to be Admonished. How those are to be Admonished who Desire not the Things of Others, but Keep their Own; and those who Give of their Own, yet Seize The Heavenly Footman; Or, a Description of the Man that Gets to Heaven: "And the Life. " How Christ is the Life. How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. " An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists. Paul's Departure and Crown; Proverbs Links Proverbs 21:22 NIVProverbs 21:22 NLT Proverbs 21:22 ESV Proverbs 21:22 NASB Proverbs 21:22 KJV Proverbs 21:22 Bible Apps Proverbs 21:22 Parallel Proverbs 21:22 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 21:22 Chinese Bible Proverbs 21:22 French Bible Proverbs 21:22 German Bible Proverbs 21:22 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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