May 31.—Morning. [Or October 28.]
“The desire of the righteous shall be granted.”
Proverbs 10:17–32
HE is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. (No man can do us a greater kindness than to instruct us in the right and warn us of the wrong; but probably it is as difficult to accept advice in a proper spirit as to give it wisely. Be it ours ever to listen to the words of wisdom, and never to be above learning from any one.)
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
The first sentence shows that all hypocritical concealment of hatred is folly as well as sin. The last sentence is a severe blow to very many. May it not apply to some of ourselves? Are we not far too ready to repeat evil reports?
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
How common is the fault of talkativeness. Men talk so much because they think so little. Drums make a great noise because they are hollow. One attribute of a wise man is within the reach of us all—we can be quiet. Let us try it.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
The best part of an ungodly man is little worth; this is God’s opinion of him, and it ought to humble him, and cause him serious thought.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. (They cannot feed others, for they are famishing themselves for want of the truth.)
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Other riches always bring attendant griefs: none but the Lord’s roses are without thorns.
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. (The whirlwind is only remembered by the ruin which it leaves behind it, and the like is true of many a bad man; but the repute of good men is comparable to an ancient castle, whose deep foundations abide the lapse of ages, and remain as enduring monuments from age to age.)
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. (He is obnoxious, objectionable, a nuisance, a provocation. He who would please his employer, must be diligent, quick, and hearty.)
27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
It cannot be doubted that true religion, by its temperance, peacefulness, and purity, tends to lengthen human life; and it is equally certain that intemperance, vice, irregular habits, and frequent ill-temper, have a powerful tendency to bring men sooner to their graves than would otherwise fall to their lot. Godliness has thus the promise of the life that now is.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
There will come a day when wicked men shall not be found upon this earth: they will die out, and their places be filled up by a holy seed. We long for the coming of the Lord which will usher in the age of holiness.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. (They try to provoke and sadden others: they have no sense of fitness, but talk at random. Far from each of us be that wild, ungovernable tongue which wounds others needlessly: be ours the gentle, holy conversation which blesses both the hearer and the speaker; thus shall this family be a little heaven below.)
Jesus, the sinner’s Friend, to Thee,
Lost and undone, for aid I flee;
Weary of earth, myself, and sin,
Open thine arms and take me in.
Pity and heal my sin-sick soul;
’Tis thou alone canst make me whole;
Fallen, till in me thine image shine,
And lost I am, till thou art mine.
May 31.—Evening. [Or October 29.]
“Boast not thyself of to-morrow.”
Proverbs 27:1–18
BOAST not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (To provide for the morrow is duty, to boast of it is sin. Only a worldling will dare to do so, for eternity is near, and we may be ushered into it before the sun goes down or rises again. The rich fool’s soul was required of him the very night he gloried in the fulness of his barns. Young people must not make sure of living to ripe years, for there are little graves in the cemetery, and flowers in the bud are taken from the stem. Repentance and faith are our bounden duties to-day; to delay will be a wicked boasting of to-morrow, and may cause our eternal ruin.)
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Because he will not forgive; he is sullen and revengeful, and his anger oppresses his own heart, and if he has power his wrath becomes a sore burden to others.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? (Adam and Satan both fell by envy of God, and it will surely blot our happiness if we indulge in it. Envy spits its venom on the best of men, and is a horrible and devilish passion, to be fought with and overcome by all who follow the loving Jesus.)
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
Let us not, then, be changeable and unsettled. If we have not succeeded where we are, let us try again, but let us not be for ever shifting. How can a tree grow which is often transplanted?
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; (Jesus was our father’s best friend, let us not forsake him. We shall never find a better;) neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Relationship ought to be a close bond, but alas, selfishness often comes in. Jonathan was kinder to David than Joseph’s brethren were to him.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. (Do not trust the licentious man. He is bad at heart, and his vices will soon make him a beggar; if you must deal with him, do it on the strictest terms, or he will rob you.)
14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. (Extravagant praises are distasteful to sensible men, and too often one may suspect that they are uttered with a sinister end. We should wish well to our friends, but vehemently to sound their praises at untimely hours, will do them no service, but rather the reverse.)
15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
Contention with a neighbour is a sharp shower, soon over; but contention with a wife at home is weary work, and makes life a misery; and the worst of it is that the home strife cannot be concealed; the noise and ill-temper of a bad woman reveal themselves; you might as well try to cover up the wind, or hold oil in your hand. Let us never strive, except to make each other happy.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Good society is a great help to grace. Communion with the saints helps us in the service of God.
18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. (And if Jesus be that Master, our honour shall be great and long enduring, and our reward shall be sweet indeed.)
Hear God while he speaks, then hear him to-day;
And pray while he hears, unceasingly pray;
Believe in his promise, rely on his word,
And while he commands you, obey your great Lord.[1]
[1] Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (pp. 317–318). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
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