The first five verses of chapter 6 are warnings about acting surety for a friend and also for a stranger. While the Lord had commanded His people to love their neighbors, He warns them here against acting impulsively in such a case and not waiting upon Him. If such has been the case, however, and one has become a surety for another, directions are given as to what course he should pursue in order that he might be discharged from this obligation. He is to lose no time, to give no sleep to his eyes, until he has been to see his friend about the matter. It would be wrong to break his word to his friend, but he should go to him and acknowledge that he had done wrong in offering himself as a surety, according to what was written. It is becoming that he who has pledged himself thus should humble himself before his friend, and urge upon him the necessity of discharging the debt at once. It seems that the underlying thought all through is that to offer oneself as a surety generally means that such a one would have to assume responsibility for the debt. But it is also implied that when these instructions are followed, in seeking to get discharged from the obligation one can count on the Lord to make a way of escape for both before it is too late.
Many a Christian has suffered by being surety for a friend. It may be difficult to refuse, but it is unrighteousness unless the one who is surety can bear the loss if it should fall upon him. And this leads us to think of the Lord Jesus who was made “a surety of a better testament (or covenant),” Heb. 7:2222By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (Hebrews 7:22), in contrast with the covenant made with Israel at Sinai. The latter depended on their obedience, but only ended in the curse through their disobedience. Before the birth of the Lord Jesus it was said of Him, “He shall save His people from their sins,” and this obligation He assumed at all cost to Himself at the cross where in His death He paid the debt of sin of all who trust Him as Saviour.
As our Surety we behold Thee,
Ransoming our souls from death;
As the willing Victim view Thee,
Yielding up to God Thy breath.
He is the powerful One who is certain of being able to bring to pass in its due time all that is foretold that He will do in carrying out the purpose of God.
Next we have the sluggard who is seen as having sunk so low that he must look to the tiny ant for instruction. The ant’s unceasing industry is brought out very vividly, and the warning is also given that indolence shall cause poverty and want to come upon us as an armed man. It has been remarked that while man may put forth great energy in various pursuits in life, nevertheless in the things of God he is in general a sluggard. Were it not for the activity of God’s love working in our hearts, who of us would have sought the Saviour?
‘Twas the same love that spread the feast
That gently forced me in,
Else I had still refused to come,
And perished in my sin.
ML 09/10/1961