Proverbs 8:33

Children of his and his Father, with whom his delights were; predestinated to the adoption of children; children of the covenant and promise, given to him as such in the covenant; for whom he became man, suffered and died, to gather together regenerated ones, by which they appear to be the children of God: these Wisdom here addresses in the most affectionate manner; Christ, having finished the account and description of himself, reassumes his former exhortation, Proverbs 8:5; and enforces it by the several particulars in the above description. From the consideration of his wisdom, riches, eternity, nearness to God, and his delights with men, he exhorts them to "hearken" to him, to his voice in the Gospel, and to what he says there; such who see themselves lost and perishing, the hungry and thirsty, the naked and weary, the disconsolate and afflicted, the poor and indigent; and also to his voice in his precepts and commands, to embrace his doctrines, and submit to his ordinances; for blessed [are they that] keep my ways; it is a happiness to be in the ways of Christ, to be kept in them, and to keep them; Christ has promised and does vouchsafe his presence in them; there is a pleasure enjoyed in observing them; and though not for keeping, yet in keeping Christ's commands, there is great reward, Psalms 19:11. Proverbs 8:33 Ver. 33. Hear instruction,....

8:32-36 Surely we should hearken to Christ's voice with the readiness of children. Let us all be wise, and not refuse such mercy. Blessed are those who hear the Saviour's voice, and wait on him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer. The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom's instructions, when people professing godliness, seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace? Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers; nor can we obtain God's favour, unless we find Christ, and are found in him. Those who offend Christ deceive themselves; sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners die because they will die, which justifies God when he judges.

Hear instruction,.... The instruction of wisdom, the Gospel of Christ; which instructs men in things relating to God the Father; as that he is the God and Father of his people, the God of all grace, the giver and sender of Christ, and all good things by him; in things respecting Christ, his person, office, grace, and righteousness; in things that appertain to the Spirit of God, his deity, personality, and operations of grace on the souls of men; in the knowledge of themselves, their impurity, impotence, and unrighteousness; and in the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, and therefore to be hearkened to; and be wise; this is the way to be wise to that which is good, both as to the knowledge and practice of it; to be wise unto salvation, and with respect to everlasting things and a future state; and the Gospel instruction teaches men to behave wisely, to walk in wisdom towards them that are without; and refuse it not; for this is not to be wise, but to act the part of fools; and such as do so despise their own souls, show that they have no care of them, or concern for their eternal welfare, Proverbs 1:7; for, if this is rejected, there is no escaping eternal damnation, Hebrews 2:3.

The summons 32a, and its reason 32b, are repeated in these verses which follow: 33 "Hear instruction, and be wise, And withdraw not. 34 Blessed is the man who hears me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors! 35 For whosoever findeth me has found life, And has obtained favour from Jahve; 36 And whosoever misseth me doeth wrong to himself; All they who hate me love death." The imper. וחכמוּ, 33a (et sapite), is to be judged after Proverbs 4:4, וחיה, cf. the Chethı̂b, Proverbs 13:20; one sees this from the words ואל־תּפרעוּ which follow, to which, after Proverbs 15:32, as at Proverbs 4:13, to אל־תּרף, מוּסר is to be placed as object: and throw not to the winds (ne missam faciatis; vid., regarding פרע at Proverbs 1:25), viz., instruction (disciplinam).

See other allegories, Isaiah 28:20; Amos 3:12; Isaiah 38:12; Jeremiah 11:16; 12:5; Ezekiel 16:3; Hosea 13:15 ; Ecclesiastes 14:3, (&c.) In the Old Testament you may find these allegories besides, Deuteronomy 32:13,15,22,32-33,41-42; 33:19-20,24-25; Judges 8:2 , and Judges 14:18; 1 Kings 12:11,14; 2 Kings 19:3; Job 4:10-11; 20:12 , (&c.,) Job 27:20 , (&c.,) Job 29:14, (&c.,) and Job 38:9-10; Psalms 23:1 , (&c.,) Psalms 51:8-9; 69:1-3; 75:8- 9; 80:8, (&c.,) Psalms 110:2-3; 123:3; Proverbs 3:8 , and Proverbs 9:1 , (&c.,) Ecclesiastes 11:1 , (&c.,) Isaiah 1:5-7,22; 66:6-7; 14:29; 30:33; 32:20; 36:6; 42:3; 45:8; 54:11-12; 55:1-2,12-13 and Isaiah 59:5-6; Jeremiah 4:11-12; 5:6; 6:28-30; 12:9; 50:17; Ezekiel 13:10 , (&c.,) Ezekiel 17:3 , (&c.,) Ezekiel 22:19 , (&c.,) Ezekiel 23:2 , (&c.,) Ezekiel 29:3 , (&c.,) Ezekiel 31:5; 32:3 , (&c.,) and Eze 34 . (&c.) In the New Testament, Matthew 3:10,12; 5:13; 7:3-6; 9:15 , (&c.,) Matthew 12:43, (&c.,) and Matthew 15:13; Luke 9:62; Romans 11:16-18 , (&c.,) and Romans 13:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:6 , (&c.,) 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 , and 1 Corinthians 9:26-27; 2 Corinthians 3:2-3; 5:1 , (&c,) 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 , and 2 Corinthians 11:2; Galatians 4:19; 5:15; 6:8-9; Ephesians 6:11 , (&c.) The explication of all which, (at least for the most part) may be taken from our treatise of metaphors, that we shall leave them to be improved by the studious reader.

## 1. The inward understanding, intelligence, or discretion of the mind, Genesis 11:7; 41:5; 42:23; 2 Kings 18:26; Isaiah 36:11; Jeremiah 5:15; Matthew 13:13; 1 Corinthians 14:2 , (&c.) 2. Approbation and obedience, Genesis 3:17; 21:12; Joshua 1:17-18; Judges 2:17,20; Deuteronomy 18:19; 1 Samuel 2:25; Proverbs 4:1; Isaiah 33:15; Matthew 17:5; John 8:47; 9:27; 10:27; 1 Timothy 4:16 , see James 1:22 , (&c.) To hearing is opposed deafness, denoting unbelieving, wicked, and obstinate sinners, Isaiah 42:18-19 , with Isaiah 6:10 ; it is spoken of the converted, Isaiah 29:18 . Smell; what relates to this sense we have in part shown before, a thread of tow is said to smell the fire, so the Hebrew, Judges 16:9 , when it touches it, and finds its force. See chap. 15:14, also Job 14:9; 39:25 . Bad report is said to stink, Genesis 34:30; Exodus 5:21; 1 Samuel 13:4; 2 Samuel 10:6; 16:21; Daniel 6:14 . To taste, is put for to understand, experience, or enjoy, Psalms 34:8- 9; Proverbs 31:18; Matthew 16:28; John 8:52; Hebrews 6:4-5; 1 Peter 2:3 . Hence the noun XXXX, gustus , taste, translated to the mind, signifies counsel, judgment, or reason, 1 Samuel 21:13; 25:33; Psalms 119:66; Proverbs 11:22; Job 12:20; Daniel 3:10,12; Jonah 3:7