Exposition of Proverbs 1-3, Expositions · Chapter 3 · Verse 6
VERSE 6. In all thy waies acknowledge him, and he ſhall direct thy paths.
COnfidence on God was required in the laſt Verſe, and that in the heart. Here homage to God is required, and acknowledgement of him in all our waies. And an encouraging promiſe is added of better ſucceſſe, then we could otherwiſe expect. God will direct our paths to a better end, then we look for. For the words.
In all. See on Chap. 1.13. Not in ſome one way, but in all.
Thy waies. See on Chap. 1.15. Here is meant the actions of our life, in which we continue, and go on, as travailers in their way. It is ſeldom uſed for thoughts, which are internall, or words, but for deeds, or courſes of life in ſcripture phraſe; Yet is God to be acknowledged in them alſo.
Acknowledge him. See on Chap. 1.2. on the word, Know. For thoſe whom we will not acknowledge, wee make the world believe, we know them not. Some underſtand it of acknowledging God in the beginning of our works, or in the contriving of them. To acknowledge him, as a Catholick enjoyner, or director, and not to dare to goe about any thing not agreeable to his word, nor in any way diſagree able.
To take notice what God appoints to be done, and how, and to what end, and to proceed accordingly, and commit the ſucceſs to him, as a ſervant, or letter-carrier doth his buſineſſe appointed, not taking care whether it be likely to prove wel or ill. Others underſtand it of acknowleding God in the progreſſe of our works. And that either as a perpetual overſeer, which will keep us from evill, and encourage us to good. So God bids Abraham, walk before me, and be thou perfect. Gen. 17.1. Or as an enabler, without whom wee can do no good, nor get no good by what we doe, and therefore pray to him for ſtrength to do what we undertake, and a bleſſing upon it: others interpret it of the ſucceſſe of our workes, if it be good, then to acknowledge God the giver of it, or rewarder. If bad, then to acknowledge God the revenger, if we did ill, or trier of our graces, if wee did well, and ſpeed ill. Under theſe heads come the many interpretations of commenters. It is hard to ſay preciſely, which is intended. I conceive, Not the firſt, becauſe he ſpeaks not of the preparations for our journey, but of the journey it ſelf. Nor the laſt, for that is the end of the way, not the way it ſelf. Nor the firſt part of the ſecond interpretation taking God as an overſeer. But the ſecond part of it, looking to him for all ſtrength, which is a greater acknowledgment of him, as it is more to enable one to doe the work, then to look on, while he doth it. Alſo it agrees well with what went before. Truſt in him onelyonly, and no way to thy ſelf, and ſo acknowledge all ſtrength to be in him, and ſeek to him for it. It agrees well with what followes.
And. That is, Then, when thou haſt ſo done, thou maieſt boldly expect a good iſſue from him of all thou doeſt according to his will. So this particle is tranſlated, Then he is gracious unto him. Iob 33.24.
He ſhall direst thy paths. For paths ſee on Chap. 1.19. on the word waies. Some underſtand this of informing men, what they may lawfully doe, and what not. But it is better interpreted of relation to the end. He will make thy waies to proſper, and give a comfortable ſucceſſe: So that here is not a bare reward, but a ſuitable one. Acknowledge thou all thy ſtrength to come from God, and pray to him to aſſiſt thee, and he will bleſſe thy labours, that thou ſhalt effect more then thou couldſt expect.
Figures. Direct thy paths. A metaphor from a guide, that leads an ignorant man in a right way to the place, to which he would go, but knows not, how to get thither.
Note. 1. A precept.
2. A promiſe.
In the precept obſerve.
1. The Act. Acknowledge.
2. The Object. Him. The Lord mentioned, ver. 5.
3. The Adjuncts.
1. Of quality. In thy waies.
2. Of quantity. In them all.
In the promiſe note.
1. The bleſſing, Gods direction. And he ſhall direct.
2 The objects, Mans waies. Thy paths.
1. Doct. A good mans life is a journey. It appears by Peters charge. Dearly beloved, I beſeech you, as strangers and Pilgrims, abſtain from fleſhly lusts, which war against the ſoul. 1 Pet 2.11. It appears alſo by Pauls profeſſion, Brethren I count not my ſelfe to have apprehended: but this one thing I doe, forgetting thoſe things, which are behind, and reaching forth unto thoſe things, which are before, I preſſe toward the mark, for the price of the high calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus. Phil. 3.13, 14.
Reaſon. 1. In regard of the beginning of it. It begins as ſoon as grace is wrought in the heart. Then comes the firſt ſtep of our ſpirituall journey; Paul converted went immediately about this journey, and conferred not with fleſh and blood to delay him.
In reſpect of motion. He is ever moving from one good duty to another, as a traveller from one Town to another.
3. In regard of progreſſe. Hee grows in knowledge, and grace, as a traveller daily ſhortens his journey.
4. In reſpect of ſtrangeneſſe. Men marvell at a ſtrangers habit, and carriage, and he at theirs. So in piety. Wicked men think it ſtrange, that godly men run not with them into the ſame exceſſe of riot. 1 Pet. 4.4. And godly men marvell as much at the extravagant courſes of wicked men. Paul and Barnabas ſeeing the indolatry of the Lystrians rent their cloths, and cry out, ſaying, Sirs, why do ye theſe things? Act. 14.14, 15.
5. In regard of perill. Strangers are expoſed to dangers every where. So are godly men. The Lystrians, that would have worſhipped Paul as a God, preſently after at the perſwaſion of the Antiochians, and Iconians ſtone him. Act. 14.19. He might well then by experience ſay, We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God. Act. 14.22.
6. In reſpect of the aimed-at end, which is ſome rich, faire, or mart by the traveller, Heaven by the godly man.
Uſe 1. Let us reſolve to bear all the inconveniences of the way, wants, and affronts. The end will pay for all.
2. Let us mind our end, and be diligent in our way, that we may be at reſt, and in happineſſe. So a merchant labours and travells in his youth to have reſt, and wealth in his' age.
2. Doct. A good man hath many good actions of ſeverall good kinds to do. So a traveller hath fair paths, and foule, green, ſtony waies, and good ſtore of each to travell over. Rem. 12. All over contains ſeverall duties. The Goſpell teacheth us to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godlily in this preſent world. Tit. 2.11.12.
Reaſon. 1. Many duties to God are to be done, as praying, hearing Gods word, &c.
2. Many to our ſelves, as ruling our appetite, and anger.
3. Many to our fellow-travellers the Saints by the uſe of our ſpirituall, and temporall talents.
4. Many to ſtrangers, as worldly men, through whoſe Country we travell. We muſt obſerve the rules of equity, and charity.
Uſe 1. Make no account of an idle life on earth. Many actions admit little reſt, as in Governours in War, and peace. An husbandman plows, harrows, ſows, gathers corn, threſhes it, finds ſomewhat to do all the year long.
2. Pleaſe thy ſelf with variety of imployments. Go from private duties to publick, from common to holy. Thou ſhalt have reſt enough in Heaven.
3. Doct. A good man muſt look up to God for ſtrength in his actions. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments. Incline my heart unto thy teſtimonies. Pſal. 119.35, 36. Set a watch (O Lord) before my mouth: keep the door of my lips. Pſa. 141.3.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe the Fountain of all ſtrength is with God. We are too weak to think of a good work, much more to effect it. This is to acknowledge God in al our waies, when we confeſſe we can do nothing without him, and therefore muſt in all things depend upon him, pray to him, and truſt in him. Ianſenius.
2. Becauſe then we may look for good ſucceſſe, and not elſe. for God being neglected will croſſe and blaſt our ſtrongeſt endeavours.
Uſe 1. Be frequent in prayer to God for a bleſſing, though thy buſineſſes be never ſo well contrived. Elſe thou wilt not thrive. If God drive not the Chariot of the ſoul, the horſes the affections will be too unruly for any man to guide.
2. If any thing ſucceed well upon thy hearty prayer, and faithfull endeavours, acknowledge help found from God. So Paul; when he looks upon any good done by him, ſtraitway cries out, Not I, but the grace of God, which was with me. 1 Cor. 15.10. Let ſuch thoughts bee the ballaſt of the ſhip to humble thee in great atchievments. So the Bee carries what ſhe gathers, or elſe little ſtones upon her wings, that the wind blow her not away. So Paul and Barnabas call men off from worſhipping them to worſhip God. Act. 14.15. Ambroſ. Gregory on Revel. 3.10. ſets out well the humility, and thankfulneſſe of the Elders, Sibi victorias non attribuunt, ſed totum Deo aſcribunt, qui vires ipſis ad vincendum ſuggeſſit. They do not attribute their victories to themſelves, but aſcribe all to God, who, gave them strength to overcome Plinie reports, that the Roman Generall after a Victory, brought in his Garland, and laid it in Jupiters lap in the Capitoll. David doth the like, ſpeaking of his great preparations for the building of Gods Temple, Who am I, and what is my People, that we ſhould be able to offer ſo willingly after this ſort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 1 Chron. 29.14. He aſcribes all to the true God. Non magnum eſt humil…m eſſe in abjestione, ſed magna prorſus, & rara virtus humilitas honorata. Bern. in Cant. Ser. 33. It is no great matter to be humble in a low eſtate, but it is certainly a great, and a rare vertue for men in honor to be humble. Non mirum eſt, ſi ventus pulverem ſecum ferat, & rapiat; Nos pulvis ſumus. Anſelm. de ſolitudine. No wonder, if the wind carry and ſnatch away the duſt with it. We are duſt.
4. Doct. A good man muſt ſeek for ſtrength from God, not in ſome of his actions alone, but in all, even in the leaſt. Without me ye can do nothing. Ioh. 15.5.
Reaſon. The ſtrength to do the leaſt things is from God, even to breath. He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. Act. 17.25. And he can take it away, when he pleaſe, and ſo ſpoile all our actions. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts periſh. Pſal. 146.4.
Uſe. It reproves thoſe, who pray not to God for a bleſſing on their ordinary labours. OnelyOnly they ſeek unto him in difficult caſes, when they are at their wits end, as Seamen pray in a ſtorm. Pſal. 107.27, 28. It may be they pray not, before they work, and therefore God lets them be forty years, as the Iſraelites in the Wilderneſſe, about that which might be done in fourty daies.
5. Doct. Such as ſeek for Gods help may expect Gods bleſſing. Cail upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee. Pſal. 50.14. Jabez called on the God of Iſrael, ſaying, Oh that thou wouldeſt bleſſe me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me. And God granted him, that which he requeſted 1 Chron. 4.10.
Reaſon. 1. He will make thy waies right.
2. He will make them full, and compleat.
3. He will make them ſucceſſefull.
Uſe. See the reaſon, why many mens waies proſper not. They go on in their own ſtrength. God is not in all their thoughts. Pſ. 10.4. So Pharaoh went deſperately into the Sea, and was drowned. Pſ. 136.15. They ſeek not for ſtrength from God, and God will not bleſſe them.
6. Doct. The chief director of our waies for good is God. I have raiſed him up in righteouſneſſe, and I will direct his waies: he ſhall build my City. Iſa. 45.13. I will direct their work in truth. Iſa. 61.8.
Reaſon. 1. Becauſe the wiſeſt man in the world canot direct his own waies ſo, as to make them alwaies ſucceed well. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himſelfe: it is not in man, that walketh, to direct his steps. Ier. 10.23.
2. God hath wiſdom enough to guide us through all difficulties.
Uſe. Do nothing without Gods direction in his word. A man that had an houſe to build, would in all things follow the direction of a skilfull workman, leſt he loſe his coſt. So let us follow Gods guidance. Elſe all our labour is loſt. None deſires to go aſtray out of his way, except he be firſt gone out of his wits. Every man will rather take a guide to directhim the right way, and give money to that end. If we be careful to acknowledge God in our waies, we ſhal not wander out of them, for we ſhal have a truſty guide, who offereth himſelfe freely in the Text, to direct our paths. God led the Iſraelites through the wilderneſſe, not the ſhorteſt but the ſafeſt way; So wil God do for all them that make him their guide. The Athenians conceived that their Goddeſs Minerva turned all their evil counſels into good to them: the Romans thought their Goddeſſe Videlia ſet them again in the right way, when at any time they were out. All this, and more then is undoubtedly done by the true God, for all that commit their waies unto him, and depend upon him for direction and ſucceſſe. Then may we conclude, This God is our God for ever and ever, he wil be our guide even unto death. Pſal. 48.14.