Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 34
VER. 34. Surely he ſcorneth the ſcorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
GODS ſeverity againſt all kind of ſinners was declared before. Now he ſhews, that God hath a ſpeciall quarrell againſt ſcorners, and mockers at Gods word, and admonitions, his promiſes, and threatnings, his ſervice, and ſervants. Wicked men deride thoſe, that truſt to Gods promiſes, or fear his threats: therefore God ſcornes them. Here are many names for wicked men; Froward, wicked, ſcorners, fooles. Many for good men; righteous, juſt, lowly, wiſe. Many evills threatned to the one, abomination, curſe, ſcorn, ſhame. Many good things promiſed to the other, as knowledge of Gods ſecrets, his bleſſing, favour, glory.
For the words.
Surely. The word foreign ſignifies
1. If. If it be afore. Exod. 1.16.
2. It notes a queſtion. Am I a Sea? Job 7.12.
3. It ſignifies when. When he went in unto his brothers wiſe. Gen. 38.9.
4. Though. Though thou detain me. Iudg. 13.6.
5. Seth, or, Seeing. But fith ye ſay. Jer. 23.38.
6. Surely. Surely your turning of things upſide down. &c. Iſa. 29.16. So here. And then it may come from foreign truth, the laſt letter being loſt. And ſo our Saviour ſaith in a like word made Greek. Amen, Amen. Verily, verily Ioh. 1.51.
He ſcorneth the ſcorners. See on Chap. 16. upon the word, Interpretation. God lightly eſteems of thoſe, that ſet light of his Ordinances, and ſcoffe at religion. And ſometimes he ſhews them, that they are deluded by puniſhing them openly, and giving them over to beſcorned by others, as he poureth contempt upon Princes. Iob 12.21.
But. See on Chap. 2.22.
He giveth. See on Chap. 1.4.
Grace. Reſpect from himſelf, and men, as on the contrary, he ſcornes proud perſons, and makes men contemn them alſo. For the word, ſee on Chap. 1.19.
Unto the lowly. Theſe are fitly oppoſed to ſcorners, who are proud. Proud and haughty ſcorner is his name. &c. Chap. 21.24. Some read, to the poor. For ſuch are often lowly, when rich men prove proud ſcorners. Our ſoul is exceedingly filled with the ſcorning of thoſe, that are at eaſe, and with the contempt of the proud. Pſal. 123.4. But the former reading is better, for poor men are not alwaies lowly, nor rich men proud ſcorners.
Figures none. Note. 1. Gods oppoſition to the ſcorners.
2. His favour to the lowly.
In the firſt obſerve
1. The word of aſſurance. Surely.
2. The perſon. He. God ſcornes them.
3. The Act. Scorneth.
4. The Object. The ſcorners.
In the ſecond note.
1. The word of oppoſition. But.
2. The Act. Giveth.
3. The Object of the thing, Grace.
4. The object of the perſon, Unto the lowly.
Doct. 1. Wicked men are called by divers bad names in ſcripture, and good men by divers good. It appears in the laſt verſes of this Chapter, where ungodly men are called froward, wicked, ſcorners, fooles, names of diſgrace, and good men are called righteous, juſt, lowly, wiſe, names of credit: So in other places, ungodly men are called Goats, Math. 25.33. Dogs, Swine, 2 Pet. 2.22. Foxes, Cant. 2.15. Good men are called Gods peculiar treaſure, Pſal. 135.8. His jewels, Mal. 3.17. His Sheep, Math. 25.33. His ſons, Gen. 6.2.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe God thinks no one name bad enough to ſet out his diſlike of wicked men, nor good enough, to ſet out his delight in good men.
2. Becauſe there are many vices in evill men, and many vertues wrought by God in good men; yet one is predominant: we ſay, one man is cholerick, though he have other humors, becauſe that prevailes: So among wicked, ſome are froward to men, others are impious towards God, others ſcorners of piety, others fooliſh in their waies: Among good men, ſome are more righteous and juſt, ſome more lowly or wiſe then others, and ſome of theſe names may fit one good man, and ſome another.
Uſe. Seeing God declares his hatred of ſinners, and love of Godly men by ſo many ſeverall names, let us learn to ſhew our diſlike of the one, and love of the other, by ſeverall waies. In our eyes let a vile perſon be contemned, but let us honour them that fear the Lord. Pſal. 15.4. It becomes a Citizen of the heavenly Jeruſalem, to be affected like God. If Ahaſhueroſh honour Mordecas, he expects the people ſhould do it too, and therefore ſhews him in ſtate to the people, with a proclamation▪ Thus ſhall it be done to the man whom the King will honour. Es… 6.9. If he will diſgrace Haman, his ſervants at the firſt word cover his face: As the word went out of the Kings mouth, they covered Haman's face. Est. 7.8. So ſhould we honour thoſe whom God honours, and lightly eſteem of others.
Doct. 2. God ſets light by proud ſcornfull men. If thou ſcornest, thou alone ſhalt bear it Chap. 9.12. He that ſitteth in the ſeat of the ſcornfull, God will make him like the chaffe, which the wind driveth away. Pſal. 1.1, 4.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe God hath more reaſon to ſcorn them, then they to ſcorn others: There is more difference between God, and the wiſeſt, richeſt, ſtrongeſt man in the world, then is between him, and the fooliſheſt, pooreſt, weakeſt creature in the world.
2. Becauſe nothing is more juſt, then lex talionis, the law of requital. It was the Magiſtrats rule in the Law, Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, &c. Exod. 21.22, 23. Adonibezeck acknowledges it, As I have done, ſo God hath requitted me. Judg. 1.7. So with the froward, thou wilt ſhew thy ſelfe froward. Pſal. 18.26. And by proportion God will ſcorn ſcorners. This is a glaſſe to ſhew ſcorners how ill it becomes them.
Uſe. Take heed of ſcorning: If men dare not ſet you as light as you ſet them, God will. If your height make you deſpiſe others, God will either bring you low in this world, or take you out of it, and ſend you to hell, to ſhew, that he ſets as light by you, as you do by others.
Doct. 3. God ſhews great reſpect to humble men. He giveth grace unto the humble. Jam. 4.6.1 Pet. 5.5.
Reaſ. 1. He gives to ſuch grace and favour in his own ſight. I will look to him that is poor, and of a contrite ſpirit. Iſa. 66.2. Nihil est tam Deo gratum quàm ſeipſum in poſtremis numerare. Chryſost. Nothing is ſo pleaſing to God, as for a man to reckon himſelfe among the meaneſt.
2. Becauſe he makes them to find favour with men. Manſuetude reddit hominem gratioſum non ſolùm coram Deo. ſed etiam coram hominibus. Meekneſſe makes a man gratious, not only before God, but alſo before men. Lyra.
Uſe. Baniſh all proud thoughts, and labour for true humility; ſuch are pleaſing both to God, and good men, and therefore though evill men ſcorn them, they ſhall be no loſers. Humility is both a grace, and a veſſell to receive grace. Men let the veſſell down into the water to fill it in a river: ſo muſt he that will find favour with God, lie down in the duſt, and cry, Non ſum dignus, at ſum indigen…. I am not worthy, but I am needy. He ſhall then have cauſe to ſay, I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh on me. Pſal. 40.17.