Proverbs 18
Verse 1 speak's of one who refuses the true wisdom. The marginal reading is better than the text: He that separateth himself seeketh according to (or seeketh his pleasure). It is not God or the things of God that he seeks, but what will please himself.
The fool in verses 2, 6 and 7 is a self confident person: how many there are today! They have no delight in under standing; they like to contend, but only show their vanity, their entire emptiness of real wisdom.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and the righteous runs into it and is set in a high retreat” (verse 10).
“How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend
Whose love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end.”
So read the lines of a familiar hymn reflecting the truth of God’s Word.
“Safe in Christ, the weakest child,
Stands in all God’s favor.”
Blest is the trouble that drives us to God for safety and help.
Verse 15. Intelligence, knowledge and wisdom spoken of in the Proverbs are in connection with the true knowledge of God. Having through His Word reached our consciences, so that we have seen our selves as guilty, undone, hell deserving sinners: and then spoken to our hearts, comforting us with the testimony of His love,—love which now flows from a Father’s heart to us as His beloved children, He would occupy our minds in an ever increasing knowledge of Him, of His abounding grace, and of His purposes in connection with the Son of His love in whom we have obtained an inheritance.
Here we sadly fail to make use of God's gifts; too easily we are content with our passport to glory, not seeking to learn more than the knowledge of the forgiveness of our sins.
The closing verse of our chapter speaks of a Friend who never fails those who know Him. The new translation is so much better than the King James version that I shall give it here,
“A man of many friends (or companions) will come to ruin, but there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” How blessed are we who know and trust Him.
“Earthly friends may fail and leave us,
One day soothe, the next day grieve us,
But this Friend will ne’er deceive us,
O how He loves!”
Messages of God’s Love 7/24/1932