The following commentary covers Chapters 10 through 31.
Snares
to be avoided, the path to be followed
In chapter 10 begin the
details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the
snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be
followed in many cases, and the consequences of men's
actions: in short, that which characterises wisdom in
detail, what may be prudence for man, divine discretion
for the children of God; and also, the result of God's
government, whatever appearances may be for awhile. It is
well to observe, that there is no question of redemption
or propitiation in this book; it proposes a walk
according to the wisdom of God's government.
Wisdom for
government: industry and its reward
In the final chapter we
have the character of a king according to wisdom, and
that of the woman in her own house—the king who does
not allow himself that which, by darkening his moral
discernment through the indulgence of his lusts, would
make him unfit to govern. In the woman we see the
persevering and devoted industry which fills the house
with riches, brings honour to its inhabitants, and
removes all the cares and anxieties produced by sloth.
The typical application of these two specific characters
is too evident to need explanation. The example of the
woman is very useful, as to the spirit of the thing, to
one who labours in the assembly.
The great use of
the book to the Christian
Although in this book the
wisdom produced by the fear of Jehovah is only applied to
this world, it is on that very account of great use to
the Christian, who, in view of his heavenly privileges,
might, more or less, forget the continual government of
God. It is very important for the Christian to remember
the fear of the Lord, and the effect of God's presence on
the details of his conduct; and I repeat that which I
said at the beginning, that it is great grace which
deigns to apply divine wisdom to all the details of the
life of man in the midst of the confusion brought in by
sin. Occupied with heavenly things, the Christian is less
in the way of discovering, by his own experience, the
clue to the labyrinth of evil through which he is
passing. God has considered this, and He has laid down
this first principle, "wise unto that which is good,
and simple concerning evil." Thus the Christian may
be ignorant of evil (if a worldling were so, he would
fall into it), and yet avoid it through his knowledge of
good. The wisdom of God gives him the latter; the
government of God provides for all the rest. Now, in the
Proverbs, we have these things in principle and in
detail. I have not dwelt on the figurative character of
the forms of evil. They are rather principles than
figures. But the violent man of the last days is
continually found in the Psalms; and Babylon is the full
accomplishment of the woman who takes the simple in her
snares and leads them down to death; just as Christ is
the perfect wisdom of God which leads to life. But these
two things which manifest evil proceed from the heart of
man at all times since the fall: only we have seen that
there is an active development of the wiles of the evil
woman, who has her own house and her own arrangements. It
is not simply the principle of corruption, but an
organised system, as is that of sovereign wisdom.
Proverbs 31 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
Snares to be avoided, the path to be followed
In chapter 10 begin the details which teach those who give ear how to avoid the snares into which the simple might fall, the path to be followed in many cases, and the consequences of men's actions: in short, that which characterises wisdom in detail, what may be prudence for man, divine discretion for the children of God; and also, the result of God's government, whatever appearances may be for awhile. It is well to observe, that there is no question of redemption or propitiation in this book; it proposes a walk according to the wisdom of God's government.
Wisdom for government: industry and its reward
In the final chapter we have the character of a king according to wisdom, and that of the woman in her own house—the king who does not allow himself that which, by darkening his moral discernment through the indulgence of his lusts, would make him unfit to govern. In the woman we see the persevering and devoted industry which fills the house with riches, brings honour to its inhabitants, and removes all the cares and anxieties produced by sloth. The typical application of these two specific characters is too evident to need explanation. The example of the woman is very useful, as to the spirit of the thing, to one who labours in the assembly.
The great use of the book to the Christian
Although in this book the wisdom produced by the fear of Jehovah is only applied to this world, it is on that very account of great use to the Christian, who, in view of his heavenly privileges, might, more or less, forget the continual government of God. It is very important for the Christian to remember the fear of the Lord, and the effect of God's presence on the details of his conduct; and I repeat that which I said at the beginning, that it is great grace which deigns to apply divine wisdom to all the details of the life of man in the midst of the confusion brought in by sin. Occupied with heavenly things, the Christian is less in the way of discovering, by his own experience, the clue to the labyrinth of evil through which he is passing. God has considered this, and He has laid down this first principle, "wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." Thus the Christian may be ignorant of evil (if a worldling were so, he would fall into it), and yet avoid it through his knowledge of good. The wisdom of God gives him the latter; the government of God provides for all the rest. Now, in the Proverbs, we have these things in principle and in detail. I have not dwelt on the figurative character of the forms of evil. They are rather principles than figures. But the violent man of the last days is continually found in the Psalms; and Babylon is the full accomplishment of the woman who takes the simple in her snares and leads them down to death; just as Christ is the perfect wisdom of God which leads to life. But these two things which manifest evil proceed from the heart of man at all times since the fall: only we have seen that there is an active development of the wiles of the evil woman, who has her own house and her own arrangements. It is not simply the principle of corruption, but an organised system, as is that of sovereign wisdom.