Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
17. early ] Rather diligently, R.V. text, though R.V. marg. retains, early. See Pro 1:28, note. Wisdom is as accessible as she is desirable.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. I love them that love me] Wisdom shows itself; teaches man the knowledge of himself; shows him also the will of God concerning him; manifests the snares and dangers of life, the allurements and unsatisfactory nature of all sensual and sinful pleasures, the blessedness of true religion, and the solid happiness which an upright soul derives from the peace and approbation of its Maker. If, then, the heart embraces this wisdom, follows this Divine teaching, and gives itself to God, his love will be shed abroad in it by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Thus we love God because he hath first loved us and the more we love him, the more we shall feel of his love, which will enable us to love him yet more and more; and thus we may go on increasing to eternity. Blessed be God!
And those that seek me early shall find me.] Not merely betimes in the morning, though he who does so shall find it greatly to his advantage; (see on Ps 4:1-8😉 but early in life – in youth, and as near as possible to the first dawn of reason. To the young this gracious promise is particularly made: if they seek, they shall find. Others, who are old, may seek and find; but never to such advantage as they would have done, had they sought early. Youth is the time of advantage in every respect: it is the time of learning, the time of discipline; the time of improvement, the time of acquiring useful, solid, and gracious habits. As the first-fruits always belong to God, it is God’s time; the time in which he is peculiarly gracious; and in which, to sincere youthful seekers, he pours out his benefits with great profusion. “They that seek me early shall find me.”
Hear, ye young, and ye little ones! God offers himself now to you, with all his treasures of grace and glory. Thank him for his ineffable mercy, and embrace it without delay.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I love them that love me; I do not despise their love though it be but a small and inconsiderable thing to me but I kindly accept it, and will recompense it with my love and favour.
That seek me early, i.e. with sincere affection, and great diligence, and above all other persons or things in the world; which he mentions as the effect and evidence of their love; for otherwise all men pretend to love God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. earlyor, “diligently,”which may include the usual sense of early in life.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I love them that love me,…. Those that love Christ are such who are born again, and have a spiritual and experimental knowledge of him; that believe in him, have seen his loveliness, have had his love shed abroad in their hearts, and a view of his fulness and suitableness; some comfortable apprehensions of their relation to him, and interest in him, and are indulged with communion with him: the love with which such souls love Christ springs from their very hearts, is cordial and sincere; it gives him the preference to all objects, to all creatures, angels or men, and to all creature enjoyments; it is drawn out to all of Christ, and to all that belong to him, or are his; and though it may be lost, become remiss and abate in its fervency, it cannot be lost; and is what is very acceptable to Christ, and highly esteemed of by him: it shows itself by a high veneration for the truths and doctrines of his Gospel; by a strict regard to his commands and ordinances; by a hearty affection for his people; by parting with and bearing all for his sake; a carefulness of offending him, and losing his company; by an earnest desire after his presence, and delight in it, and by a concern at his absence; by a diligent inquiry after him in the use of means until he is found, and by the joy expressed at finding of him: now such Christ loves; not that he begins to love his people when they begin to love him, for he loved them from everlasting; as appears by his espousing their persons, undertaking their cause, and taking the care and charge of their persons, grace, and glory, so early; and by his assumption of their nature in time, and by his suffering and dying for them; all which were before they had any love to him: but this points out and describes the persons, who may be assured of the love of Christ to them, since their love to him springs from his to them; besides, it designs some fresh manifestations of his love, and the continuance of it; as well as suggests that he has future blessings to bestow on such, as fresh marks of his affection, and instances of his love to them; such as granting them his gracious presence, giving them more grace; causing all things, even afflictions, to work together for their good; preserving and keeping them from falling, and at last giving them eternal glory and happiness; see
Joh 14:21;
and those that seek me early shall find me: and they are such who see their need of Christ, and know the worth of him; and those seek to him in the use of means, the word and ordinances, and as assisted by his Spirit and grace, for pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation, which are only to be had in him: and they may be said to “seek [him] early”, or “morning him” f, who seek him in the morning of youth, or in the first place, above all things else, and that with the greatest eagerness and earnestness, diligence and importunity; and such always are successful; they “find” Christ, and life, righteousness, and salvation in him, and every blessing, and therefore are happy,
[See comments on Pr 3:13].
f “quaerentes diluculo me”, Montanus; “qui me mane quaerunt”, Tigurine version, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The discourse of Wisdom makes a fresh departure, as at Pro 8:13: she tells how, to those who love her, she repays this love:
17 “I love them that love me,
And they that seek me early find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me,
Durable riches and righteousness.
19 Better is my fruit than pure and fine gold,
And my revenue (better) than choice silver.
20 In the way of righteousness do I walk,
In the midst of the paths of justice.
21 To give an inheritance to them that love me
And I fill their treasuries.”
The Chethb ( ego hos qui eam amant redamo ), Gesenius, Lehrgeb. 196, 5, regards as a possible synallage ( eam = me), but one would rather think that it ought to be read ( =) ‘ . The ancients all have the reading . (= , with the change of the ee into e , and the compression of the radical ; cf. , , Pro 1:10) is the form of the fut. Kal, which is inflected , Pro 1:22. Regarding (the Graec. Venet. well: ), vid., Pro 1:28, where the same epenthet. fut. form is found.
Pro 8:18 In this verse part of Pro 3:16 is repeated, after which is meant of possession ( mecum and penes me ). Regarding , vid., Pro 1:13; instead of the adjective there, we have here . The verb brev signifies promoveri , to move forwards, whence are derived the meanings old (cf. aetas provecta , advanced age), venerable for age, and noble, free (cf. , Isa 28:9, and Arab. ‘atyk , manumissus ), unbound, the bold. Used of clothing, (Isa 23:18) expresses the idea of venerable for age. used of possessions and goods, like the Arab. ‘atak , denotes such goods as increase during long possession as an inheritance from father to son, and remain firm, and are not for the first time gained, but only need to be inherited, opes perennes et firmae (Schultens, Gesenius’ Thesaur., Fleischer), although it may be also explained (which is, however, less probable with the form ) of the idea of the venerable from opes superbae (Jerome), splendid opulence. is here also a good which is distributed, but properly the distributing goodness itself, as the Arab. sadakat , influenced by the later use of the Hebrew ( = ), denotes all that which God of His goodness causes to flow to men, or which men bestow upon men (Fl.). Righteousness is partly a recompensative goodness, which rewards, according to the law of requital, like with like; partly communicative, which, according to the law of love without merit, and even in opposition to it, bestows all that is good, and above all, itself; but giving itself to man, it assimilates him to itself ( vid., Psa 24:7), so that he becomes , and is regarded as such before God and men, Pro 8:19.
The fruit and product of wisdom (the former a figure taken from the trees, Pro 3:18; the latter from the sowing of seed, Pro 3:9) is the gain and profit which it yields. With , Pro 8:10; Pro 3:14, is here named as the place of fine gold, briefly for , solid gold, gold separated from the place of ore which contains it, or generally separated gold, from , violently to separate metals from base mixtures; Targ. , gold which has stood the fire-test, obrussa , of the crucible, Greek , Pers. ebrz , Arab. ibrz . In the last clause of this verse, as also in 10b, is to be interpreted as pred. to , but the balance of the meaning demands as a side-piece to the (19a) something more than the mere . In 20f. the reciprocal love is placed as the answer of love under the point of view of the requiting righteousness. But recompensative and communicative righteousness are here combined, where therefore the subject is the requital of worthy pure love and loving conduct, like with like. Such love requires reciprocal love, not merely cordial love, but that which expresses itself outwardly.
Pro 8:20-21 In this sense, Wisdom says that she acts strictly according to justice and rectitude, and adds (21) wherein this her conduct manifests itself. The Piel expresses firm, constant action; and means that she turns from this line of conduct on no side. is distinguished from , as ut possidendam tribuam from possidendam tribuendo ; the former denotes the direction of the activity, the latter its nature and manner; both combine if we translate ita ut ….
(Note: Biesenthal combines the etymologically obscure with : to make to flow into, so that denotes inheritance in contradistinction to acquisition; while , in contradistinction to , denotes the inheritance rather of many than of the individual.)
Regarding the origin of , vid., at Pro 2:7; it denotes the being founded, thus substantia , and appears here, like the word in mediaeval Latin and Romanic (Ital. sustanza, Span. substancia), and like and ( ) in classic Greek, to denote possessions and goods. But since this use of the word does not elsewhere occur (therefore Hitzig explains = , I have it = presto est ), and here, where Wisdom speaks, connects itself in thought with , it will at least denote real possession (as we also are wont to call not every kind of property, but only landed property, real possession), such possession as has real worth, and that not according to commercial exchange and price, but according to sound judgment, which applies a higher than the common worldly standard of worth. The Pasek between and is designed to separate the two Jods from each other, and has, as a consequence, for the accentuation with Tarcha and Mercha ( vid., Accentssystem, vi. 4; cf. Torath Emeth, p. 17, 3). The carrying forward of the inf. with the finite, 21b, is as Pro 1:27; Pro 2:2, and quite usual.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 8:17. Early, i.e., earnestly (see on ch. Pro. 1:28).
Pro. 8:18. Durable. Zckler thinks this rather signifies growing.
Pro. 8:21. Inherit substance, abundance.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Pro. 8:17-21
THE REWARD OF EARNEST SEEKERS
I. The mutual love which exists between Wisdom and her children. There is always a mutual love between a true teacher and a diligent, receptive pupil, and the love on each side has a reflex influence on both master and pupil, and renders it more pleasant to teach, and more easy to learn. When a child loves his parent, and the parent is teaching the child, love oils the wheels of the intellectual powers, and furnishes a motive power to conquer the lesson. And when the parent feels that he is loved by his child and pupil, the love is a present reward. There is such a love between Christ and His disciples. Peter appealed to Christs consciousness of being loved by him when he said, Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee (Joh. 21:17). And Christ loves His pupils. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you (Joh. 15:9; Joh. 15:13). This mutual love imparts patience on the one side and perseverance on the other. It was Christs first love to us that gave Him patience to endure the cross and despise the shame (Heb. 12:2). And it is the responsive love of the disciple that enables Him to endure unto the end. It is the love that is born of the consciousness of being loved that stirs up to the diligent seeking of the latter clause of the verse, which expresses
II. A certain success to the seekers of wisdom. In Holy Scripture earnest seeking and finding are complements of each other. The one does not exist without the other. Seeking ensures finding. Finding implies seeking. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (Jas. 1:5). Gods promise is absolute. It can only fail on one of three suppositions.
1. That when God made the promise He had no intention of keeping it, or
2. That unforseen circumstances have since arisen which render Him unable to fulfil His word, or
3. That the conditions have not been fulfilled on the part of the seeker. We know that Gods holiness and omnipotence render the first two impossible, and therefore, whenever there is no finding, we are certain that there has been no real, earnest seeking. For the promise is limited by the condition, they that seek me early, or earnestly. If a traveller has a long journey to perform and many difficulties to overcome in the way, he shows his determination to arrive safely at his destination by setting out at early dawn. Those who are anxious to make a name, or a fortune, show their anxiety by rising early and sitting up late. There are degress of earnestness in seekers after Divine wisdom as in all other seekers. But those whose seeking is the most earnest will receive the most abundant reward. The Syro-Phnician woman who besought Christ to heal her daughter was a type of earnest seekers. She redoubled her efforts as the apparent difficulties increased. She asked, she sought, she knocked. And she received not only what she sought, but a commendation from the Lord for her earnest seeking (Mat. 25:28).
III. What those find who find God. The reward promised to those who seek God is God Himself. In finding Him they find
(1.) The lasting riches of righteousness (Pro. 8:18-19). This a wealth which will last. However great the satisfaction, however many the blessings which may flow from the riches of earth, passing away is written upon all. Yea, long before the end of life the riches may make themselves wings (chap. Pro. 23:5). Among many other qualities that make moral wealth incomparably superior to material wealth, not the least is its durability. (See on Pro. 8:11-12; also chap. Pro. 3:15-16).
2. Guidance, Pro. 8:20. (See on chap. Pro. 3:6, etc.)
3. Reality in opposition to shadow, Pro. 8:21. The hungry man who dreams that he is feasting experiences a kind of pleasure. But the feast is only in vision. There is no power in it to appease his hunger, or nourish his frame. But, if on awaking, he finds a table really spread with food, he then has the substance of that of which in his dream he had only the shadow. Worldly men walk, the Psalmist tells us, in a vain show, i.e., in an image, an unreality (Psa. 39:6). They walk, says Spurgeon on this verse, as if the mocking images were substantial, like travellers in a mirage, soon to be filled with disappointment and despair. There are many who dream that they are being satisfied while they are morally asleep. But by and by they awake and find that they have been feeding on visions of the night, that they have been spending their money for that which was not bread, and their labour for that which satisfieth not (Isa. 55:2). To all who are conscious of this soul-hunger, eternal wisdom here offers substantial heart satisfaction, a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Pro. 8:17. The philosopher could say, that if moral virtue could be seen with mortal eyes, she would stir up wonderful loves of herself in the hearts of the beholders. How much more, then, would the wisdom of God in a mystery! (1Co. 2:7,) that essential wisdom of God especially, the Lord Jesus, who is altogether lovely, the desire of all nations. My love was crucified, said Ignatius, who loved not His life unto the death (Rev. 12:11). Neither was there any love lost, or can be, for I love them that love me. Men do not always reciprocate, or return love for love. David lost his love upon Absalom; Paul upon the Corinthians; but here is no such danger.Trapp.
The characters whom Christ loves. Christ loves those who love Him.
(1) Because He has done and suffered so much for their salvation. We naturally prize any object in proportion to the labour and expense which it cost us to obtain it. How highly, then, must Christ prize, how ineffably must He love His people. For this, among other reasons, His love for them must be greater in degree, and of a different kind from that which He entertains for the angels of light.
(2) Because they are united to Him by strong and indissoluble ties. The expressions used to describe this union are the strongest that language can afford. The people of Christ are not only His brethren, His sisters, His bride, but His members, His body, and He consequently loves them as we love our members, as our souls love our bodies.
(3) Because they possess His spirit, and bear His image. Similarity of character tends to produce affection, and hence every being in the universe loves his own image when he discovers it. Especially does Christ love His own image in His creatures, because it essentially consists in holiness, which is of all things most pleasing to His Father and Himself.
(4) Because they rejoice in and return His affection. It is the natural tendency of love to produce and increase love. Even those whom we have long loved become incomparably more dear when they begin to prize our love and to return it. If Christ so loved His people before they existed, and even while they were His enemies, as to lay down His life for their redemption, how inexpressibly dear must they be to Him after they become His friends.Payson.
Seeking wisdom early implies
(1) that it engages our first concern and endeavour, while matters of an inferior consideration are postponed.
2. The constant use of the proper means to obtain it. If we see one continually practising any art, we judge that it is his intention to be master of it.
3. The using them with spirit and vigour. The superficial and spiritless performance of duty is as faulty as the total omission.Abernethy.
All fancy that they love God. But those who either do not seek God at all, or seek Him coldly, whilst they eagerly seek the vanities of the world, make it plain that they are led by the love of the world more than by the love of God.Fausset.
It is His love to us that makes us to love Him; and, doubtless, He that loves us so as to make us to love Him, cannot but love us when we do love Him.Jermin.
Seek early, as the Israelites went early in the morning to seek for manna (Exo. 16:21), and as students rise early in the morning and sit close to it to get knowledge. To seek the Lord early is to seek the Lord
(1) firstly;
(2) opportunely. There is a season wherein God may be found (Isa. 55:6), and if you let this season slip, you may seek and miss Him.
(3) Affectionately, earnestly (Isa. 26:9). That prayer that sets the whole man a-work will work wonders in Heaven, in the heart, and in the earth. Earnest prayer, like Sauls sword and Jonathans bow, never returns empty.Brooks.
Pro. 8:18. Spiritual riches are durable.
1. Because they are gotten without wronging any man. Temporal riches are often gotten by fraud and violence, and, therefore, are not lasting. The parties wronged use all means to recover their own, and God punishes unjust persons. Spiritual riches no man can challenge from us.
2. They are everlasting riches, and therefore durable. That must needs last long which lasts ever. These are true, not transitory riches, which often change their masters. They will swim out of the sea of this world with us, out of the shipwreck of death. Neither fire nor sword can take them from us.Francis Taylor.
In the matters of rank and riches, the two strong cords by which the ambitious are led, the two reciprocally supporting rails on which the train of ambition ever runs,even in these matters, that seem the peculiar province of an earthly crown, the Prince of Peace comes forth with loud challenge and conspicuous rivalry. Titles of honour! their real glory depends on the height and purity of the fountain whence they flow. They have often been the gift of profligate princes, and the rewards of successful crime. At the best the fountain is low and muddy: the streams, if looked at in the light of day, are tinged and sluggish. Thus saith the Lord, Honour is with me. He who saith it is the King of Glory. To be adopted into the family of God,to be the son or daughter of the Lord Almighty,this is honour. High born! We are all low-born until we are born again, and then we are the children of a King.Arnot.
Pro. 8:20. Christ guides infallibly by
1. His word. It is all truth.
2. His spirit. Men mistake and think they are guided by Gods spirit when they are guided by their own, or by a worse spirit. But certainly whom Christs spirit guides He guides aright.
3. His example. All other men have their failings, and must be followed no further than they follow Christ. He is the original copy; others are but blurred abstracts.Francis Taylor.
I lead in the way of righteousness, which is to say, I got not my wealth by right and wrong, by wrench and wiles. My riches are not the riches of unrighteousness, the mammon of iniquity (Luk. 16:9); but are honestly come by, and are therefore like to be durable (Pro. 8:18). St. Jerome somewhere saith, that most rich men are either themselves bad men or are heirs of those that have been bad. It is reported of Nevessan, the lawyer, that he should say, He that will not venture his body shall never be valiant; he that will not venture his soul never rich. But Wisdoms walk lies not any such way. God forbid, saith she, that I, or any of mine, should take of Satan, from a thread even to a shoelatchet, lest he should say, I have made you rich (Gen. 14:23).Trapp.
Pro. 8:21. The great I AM (Exo. 3:14) is the only substantial reality to satisfy the disciples of Wisdom.Fausset.
The followers of Christ shall be no losers by Him. They shall not inherit the wind, nor possess for their portion those unsubstantial things, of which it is said, they are not (chap. Pro. 23:5), because they are not the true riches. It is not for want of riches to bestow, nor for want of love to His people, that He does not bestow upon every one of them crowns of gold and mines of precious metals.Lawson.
Here is no yawning vacuum, but a grand object to give interest to life, to fill up every vacancy in the heartperfect happiness. All that we could add from the world would only make us poorer, by diminishing that enjoyment of God for the loss of which there is no compensation. There is one pointonly onein the universe where we can look up and cry with the saintly Martyn, With Thee there is no disappointment.Bridges.
I will fill their treasures. This is a great promise. It is made in a kingly style. There is no limit. It will take much to fill these treasures, for the capacity of the human spirit is very large. God moulded man after His own image, and when the creature is empty, nothing short of His Maker will fill him again. Although a man should gain the whole world, his appetite would not be perceptibly diminished, The void would be as great and the craving as keen as ever. Handfuls are gotten on the ground, but a soulful is not to be had except in Christ. In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete (i.e., full) in Him.Arnot.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(17) I love them that love me.Comp. Joh. 14:21 : he that loveth me. . . . I will love him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. I love, etc. This and the following verses to 21, are probably a continuation of the train of thought begun at Pro 8:13.
Seek me early Or, speedily, earnestly. As though Wisdom had said, Seeing that my favour and guidance are essential to real success, especially to those in high places, this one thing is necessary the obtaining them, namely, to love me, to seek me, speedily and earnestly. If they love me they will thus seek me, and if they thus seek me they shall find me. For illustrations see 1Ki 3:5-14; Jas 1:5.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 8:17. I love them that love me In order to seek for wisdom with the earnestness that she merits, we must know her, and love her: we must by our continual prayers seek for this excellent good, and intreat God to increase in us the love of wisdom, holiness, and virtue; because, in proportion as this love increases, wisdom will more abundantly communicate herself to us; and the more early in life we begin this search, the more shall we engage the love, and consequently the encouragement, of this divine and blessed monitor.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 769
ADDRESS PREPARATORY TO CONFIRMATION
Pro 8:17. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early, shall find me.
THESE are the words of our blessed Lord [Note: ver. 2231.], who, under the name of Widom, addresses himself to the children of men [Note: ver. 4, 5.], and urges them to receive instruction from him [Note: ver. 32, 33.]. But to the young they are more particularly directed: and it is for their encouragement more especially that I have selected them for our consideration at this time.
Two things they declare to us most explicitly;
I.
Who they are that already enjoy Gods favour
God in some respects may be said to love the whole world, even in their present degenerate state: for he so loved them, that he gave his only-begotten Son for them. But there are some who are more particularly the objects of his favour. Mark,
1.
The description given of them
[They love the Lord Jesus Christ. They know his character, as set forth in the Holy Scriptures; they know him to be the only, and all-sufficient Saviour of fallen man They have seen and felt their obligations to him, and have sought for redemption altogether through the blood of his cross They live in daily habits of communion with him They have a good hope of acceptance with God through him And his very name is precious to their souls ]
2.
The love he bears towards them
[He loves them, and looks with peculiar complacency upon them, rejoicing over them with joy, and resting in his love, and joying over them with singing [Note: Zep 3:17.]. To them he delights to manifest himself, as he does not unto the world [Note: Joh 14:21-23.], even to come and sup with them [Note: Rev 3:20.], and make his abode with them
He rejoices over them to do them good [Note: Jer 32:40-41.]. imparting all needful supplies of grace and strengeth to their souls [Note: Joh 15:5; Joh 15:7; Joh 15:16.], and ordering all things both in heaven and earth for the promotion of their welfare [Note: Rom 8:28.] He accounts them his jewels [Note: Mal 3:17.] and his peculiar treasure [Note: Exo 19:5.]; and esteems the salvation of their souls a rich recompence for all the sufferings he ever endured [Note: Heb 12:2. Isa 53:11.] For them does he interest himself day and night in heaven; ever making intercession for them with his Father, and preparing kingdoms for them, which they in due season shall inherit, in glory and felicity similar to his own [Note: Joh 14:2. Rev 3:21.]
O! who amongst you does not desire to partake of this blessedness? ]
But as amongst you there must be many who are not yet in this blessed state, and who yet desire to participate this happy lot, we proceed to shew,
II.
Who they are that shall certainly obtain it
In some respects it may be said, that He is found of them that sought him not, and made known to them that inquired not after him. But no person is authorized to hope for an interest in his favour, unless he seek after it. The promise is, Ask, and ye shall have; seek, and ye shall find. But
The persons to whom the promise is more especially made, are those who seek him early.
[Those who seek the Lord even at the eleventh hour shall not be cast out [Note: Mat 20:6-7.]; but those who in the early dawn of their day are found desirous of entering into the service of their Lord, shall surely be employed by him. The very circumstance of their seeking the Lord while yet they are free from the cares of this life, and before their souls are vitiated with its sinful pleasures, whilst their consciences are yet tender, and their hearts open to every good impression, is a strong presumption in their favour: we should be ready, without any express promise from God, to say, that such persons shall never seek his face in vain. But we have an absolute promise in their favour: we can assure them from God himself, that they shall never fail.]
They, says our Lord, shall find me
[Yes, he will delight to visit them: they are the lambs which he will carry in his bosom [Note: Isa 40:11.]; the little ones, whom he will never suffer to perish [Note: Mat 18:14. Luk 12:32.]. Though they be weak both in knowledge and in grace, he will not despise the day of small things [Note: Zec 4:10.]. He says, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And when he sees them flocking around him, he will take them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and bless them [Note: Mar 10:14-16.] When he saw only some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel in the heart of young Abijah, he noticed it with a distinguishing mark of his favour [Note: 1Ki 14:13.]: and how much more will he, when he sees the babes desiring the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby, and actually growing in stature up to young men and fathers! Verily their hosannahs, however despised by men, shall enter into his ears with acceptance, and their prayers shall return in showers of blessings upon their souls [Note: Luk 19:40.] They shall find him here an ever-present help, and hereafter their inestimable and everlasting portion ]
Address
1.
To the Young People here assembled
[You are about to be confirmed. But do you know what confirmation is? You were consecrated to the Lord in your baptism; and a solemn engagement was then entered into in your behalf, that you should love him, end surrender up yourselves entirely to his service. This vow you are now going to take upon yourselves. And tell me Whether in my text you have not all the encouragement that your souls can desire? Give yourselves to the world, and you will inherit only vanity: but seek to love the Lord, and you shall inherit substance [Note: ver. 21.]. Think how happy you will be through life, when you are the objects of the Saviours care and love and think how happy you will be in death O let me not plead with you in vain! but remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, in which you shall say, you have no pleasure in them [Note: Ecc 12:1.] Seek ye the Lord whilst he may be found: call ye upon him whilst he is near [Note: Isa 55:6.] ]
2.
To Parents, and those who have an opportunity of influencing the minds of young people
[This is a favourable opportunity for you to exert yourselves, and to concur with your minister in his labours of love. Be labourers together with him, with all your might But do not forget that the glorious truths in our text are to be experienced by you also And, if much of your day is already past, be the more earnest now in redeeming the time that yet remains to you ]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Reader! when Jesus saith, as he doth in the first of these verses, that he loves them that love him, do not imagine that it is meant to say, that our love of him becomes the cause of his love to us; for if we love him it is because he first loved us. 1Jn 4:19 . And certain it is that his love to us, and for us, is the sole cause of ours. Nay, more than this: if Jesus had not done more than merely looking upon us with love, and by his grace, shedding abroad his love in our hearts by his Holy Spirit, he had not subdued the natural enmity of our nature against him, and both planted love in us towards him, and drawn out that love in exercise upon him, never should we have loved him, notwithstanding all that he hath done for us, to all eternity. By what the loving and all lovely Redeemer here saith, of loving them that love him, we are to understand that in those precious souls where a love to him is shewn, as he himself is the author as well as the object of that love, such may be well assured that he loveth them who love him. And Jesus means, no doubt, at the same time to say by the expression, that he values such love, and his eye is continually upon it. And he will preserve it and keep it alive, and when they seem to feel their love towards him cool, still he will not suffer the flame to go out. Sweet thought to cherish. Son 8:7 . And see, Reader! what blessings are held forth to the lovers of Jesus, here are durable riches and righteousness. Not the fleeting, dying, transitory enjoyments of the world! Not the silver and gold of Peru! Not the righteousness of creatures, nor the bread of creatures which perisheth with using. But the durable riches of Christ’s blood and righteousness which are forever, and the salvation which cannot be abolished. Oh! what fruit can be equal to the fruit of the Spirit, what revenue of choice silver and gold, to the possession of the everlasting income of Christ’s righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the holy Ghost. Yes, precious Jesus, thine is substance indeed, to all who possess thee and thy treasures. All other attainments are hollow, unsubstantial, and insecure. Reader! what saith your soul’s experience to these things? Do you enjoy Christ; is he your portion, your treasure, your happiness, your substance? If your heart can answer yes to the enquiry, then will you have a better apprehension of these things, than by any words which I can make use of, to shew the blessedness of their state, who in the love of Christ, and the possession of Christ, and an interest in his blood and righteousness; find a revenue indeed, of durable riches and pleasure.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Ver. 17. I love them that love me. ] The philosopher could say, that if moral virtue could be seen with mortal eyes, she would stir up wonderful loves of herself in the hearts of the beholders. How much more, then, would the “wisdom of God in a mystery!,” 1Co 2:7 that essential wisdom of God especially, the Lord Jesus, who is totus desiderabilis, “altogether lovely,” Son 5:16 “the desire of all nations,” Hag 2:7 whom whosoever loveth not deserves to be doubly accursed. 1Co 15:22 My love was crucified, a said Ignatius, who “loved not his life unto the death.” Rev 12:11 Neither was there any love lost, or can be, for “I love them that love me.” “And if any man love me, my Father will love him, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Joh 14:21 ; Joh 14:23 Men do not always reciprocate, nor return love for love. “For my love they are mine adversaries; yea, they have rewarded me hatred for my love.” Psa 109:4-5 David lost his love upon Absalom; Paul upon the Corinthians; old Andronicus, the Greek emperor, upon his graceless nephew of the same name. But here is no such danger. It shall not be easy for any man to outlove wisdom. For,
( Objection. ) Whereas some one might reply, You are so taken up with states, and have such great suitors, kings, princes, nobles, judges, as Pro 8:15-16 that it is not for mean men to look for any love from you; –
( Solution. ) Not so, saith wisdom, for “I love them that love me,” be they never so much below me. “Grace be with all them that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity.” Eph 6:23 Tantum velis, et Deus tibi praeoccurret, saith Nazianzen. Ambulas, si amas: non enim passibus ad Deum, sed affectibus curritur, saith Augustine. Thou walkest if thou lovest; thou actest if thou affectest.
They that seek me early.
a O .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that love me. Illustrations: Joseph (Gen 37:2 :; Gen 37:13; Gen 37:16-17; Pro 39:3, Pro 39:9; Pro 41:38); Samuel (1Sa 2:26; 1Sa 7:3-17; compare Jer 15:1); David (1Sa 17:37, 1Sa 17:45, 1Sa 17:46); Abijah (1Ki 14:13); Obadiah (1Ki 18:4; compare verses: Pro 8:3, Pro 8:12); Josiah (2Ch 34:1-3, 2Ch 34:27, 2Ch 34:28); Daniel (Pro 1:6, Pro 1:8; Compare Pro 9:23; Pro 10:11-19).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I love: 1Sa 2:30, Psa 91:14, Joh 14:21, Joh 14:23, Joh 16:27, 1Jo 4:19
those: Ecc 12:1, Isa 45:19, Isa 55:6, Mat 6:33, Mat 7:7, Mat 7:8, Mar 10:14, Jam 1:5
Reciprocal: Num 3:15 – General 1Ch 16:10 – let the heart 2Ch 34:3 – to seek Job 28:15 – It cannot be gotten for gold Psa 34:11 – Come Psa 63:1 – early Psa 71:6 – By thee Psa 105:3 – let the heart Pro 1:4 – to the Pro 2:3 – if Pro 12:1 – loveth Ecc 5:8 – thou seest Son 3:4 – but Son 7:12 – get Isa 26:9 – my spirit Hos 5:15 – in their Mat 2:9 – the star Mar 16:6 – Ye seek Joh 1:39 – Come Joh 5:4 – first 2Th 2:10 – they received 2Ti 3:15 – from Heb 11:6 – diligently Jam 2:5 – rich
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 8:17-18. I love them that love me I do not despise their love, though it be but a small and inconsiderable thing to me, but I kindly accept it, and will recompense it with my love and favour; and those that seek me early That is, with sincere affection, and great diligence, and above all other persons or things in the world; shall find me Shall not seek in vain, but shall obtain that wisdom which they so highly prize. Observe well, reader, in order that we may seek for wisdom with the earnestness she merits, we must know her value, and love her. We do not desire, much less do we earnestly seek that, the excellence and utility of which we do not know. We must therefore sincerely and importunately ask of God this knowledge, that, understanding the worth and necessity of wisdom, we may fervently desire and love her; and then, in proportion as this love increases, wisdom will more abundantly communicate herself to us: and the more early in life we begin this search, the more shall we engage the love, and consequently the encouragement of this divine and blessed monitor. Dodd. Riches and honour are with me To bestow on those that love me, who shall have as much of them as infinite wisdom sees will be for their good: see on Pro 3:16; Pro 4:7-9. Yea, durable riches and righteousness Riches honestly gotten, not by fraud and oppression, but in the way of justice and fair dealing; and riches charitably used, for alms are called righteousness. Those that have their wealth from Gods blessing on their industry, and that have a heart to do good with it, have riches and righteousness, and such riches will be durable. Wealth gotten by vanity, says Henry, will soon be diminished, but that which is well got will wear well, and will be left to childrens children; and that which is spent in works of piety and charity is put out to the best interest, and so will be durable; for the friends made by the mammon of unrighteousness, when we fail, will receive us into everlasting habitations, Luk 16:9.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me {g} early shall find me.
(g) That is, study the word of God diligently, and with a desire to profit.