THE PRACTICAL WAY OF THE WISDOM In chapter 2 Solomon mentions o the advantages and rewards of wisdom in our life. In chapter 3 he explains the practical way of the wisdom. He states that those who have a continual regard to God’s precepts and trust in the divine guidance by acknowledging God and praying in faith to Him, shall find health of soul, good habits of body and true success in life. In all the wealth of the world is not to be found taste of that transcendent happiness which is gained in Christ, in whom are stored the treasures of wisdom, which consist in the knowledge and love of God. The profitableness of wisdom in all the concerns of life, 13-26. No act of duty should be deferred beyond the time in which it should be done, 27, 28. We should not envy the wicked, 31, 32. The curse of God is in the house of the wicked; but the humble and wise shall prosper, 33-35. 1. An exhortation to obedience 1-4. 2. Trust in God’s providence 5-6. 3. humility 7-8. 4. Charity 9-10. 5. Submission to God’s chastening 11-12. 6. Seeking after wisdom 13-20. 7. Accepting the guidance of Wisdom 21-26. 8. Brotherly love and forbearance 27-30. 9. The Lord’s curse and blessing 33-35. 1. AN EXHORTATION TO OBEDIENCE 1-4. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail. Do not design any thing but what is lawful, and beg God to direct thee in every case, Though it may seem quite plain. In all our ways that prove pleasant, in which we gain our point, we must acknowledge God with thankfulness. In all our ways that prove uncomfortable, and that are hedged up with thorns, we must acknowledge him with submission. It is promised, He shall direct thy paths; so that thy way shall be safe and good, and happy at last. v. 9-10 In the Old Testament, believers gave to God the “ first-fruits,” i.e, the firstborn of the flocks and the first crops gathered at harvest time. These were dedicated to God by formally presenting them at the temple on the day of Pentecost (Num. 28:26). It means that all of their works were to be dedicated to God. Thus believers honored the Lord with their whole heart, their possessions, their works and finances. The New Testament cautions us against expecting God to reward us with material blessings for purposing godliness (1 Tim. 6:3-6). God does not want to hire Christians; because He does not want them to be employees, but His own children, and to be Christlike, in love, obedience and purity. God wants us to seek Him for His own https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 2 sake, not for a payoff of physical or financial gain. The reward of loving obedience is a closer relationship to God (John 14: 15-18, 21-23). He also wants us to be content with what he provides us, not greedy for more (1 Tim. 6:6). TAKING PROFITS [14-15] Investors are always looking to take profits on their financial investments. This proverb is one of a series of choices between competing alternatives presented in the Proverbs (Prov. 27:5). * Wisdom is better than much wealth; it is more profitable (Prov. 3:13-14; 8:11). * Fearing the Lord is to be preferred over great treasure associated with trouble (Prov. 15:16). * A simple meal with love is better than a feast with hatred (Prov. 15:17). * Associating with the humble is better than getting wealthy with the proud (Prov. 16:19). * Self-control is better than getting to rule your own city (Prov. 16:32). * It is better to be poor and honest than rich and crooked (Prov. 19:1, 22; 22:1; 28:6). * An open rebuke is to be preferred over love that is never expressed (Prov. 27:5). Let us put our God-given abilities to work in order to choose the best! Learning At Home As modern-day society is quickly discovering, there is no substitute for a solid, stable home life. Where parents are absent, negligent, or abusive, children will probably not learn to cope with the world in a healthy way. For that reason, proverbs stresses that parents are given to children to impart wisdom (prov.4:3-4). Out of their own seasoning, struggles, and suffering, parents can offer experience and insight that will help the next generation get started on the right course. Gods intention is that both parents are to be involved in their family’ learning process. Fathers are to take the lead as sources of guidance and direction, and mothers are to offer governing principles based on God’s Word(1:8, 4:1, 6:20). In addition, Prov. 4:3- 4 implies that grandparents play a role, largely through the parenting they have done with the parents of the parents of their grandchildren. In this way, a family is to “train up a child in the way he should go”(22:6). That gift that the home gives. The child might not appreciate that until he is older, but parents are urged to give it nonetheless. Indeed, they cannot afford not to. What can you be thankful for as you consider the gifts your parents offered you? In turn, what gifts are you offering your children your children? “My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments” [1] My son — The preceptor continues to deliver his lessons. Forget not my law—. Remember what You have heard, and practice what You dost remember; and let all obedience be from the heart: “Let thy heart keep my commandments.” Remember what the psalmist says, “Your word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). Also we are told regarding a young priest named https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 3 Ezra: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statues and judgments” (Ezra 7:10). 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you. 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart: For it is not once that we have to please God, but constantly. The racer, if, after running even ten heats, he leave the remaining one undone, has lost all; and we, if we begin with good works, and afterward faint, have lost all, have spoiled all. Listen to that profitable admonition that saith, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee.” (Proverbs 3:3.) He saith not do so once, nor the second time, nor the third, nor the tenth, nor the hundredth, but continually: “let them not forsake thee.” And he did not say, Do not forsake them, but, “Let them not forsake thee,” showing that we are in need of them, and not they of us; and teaching us that we ought to make every effort to keep them with us. St. John Chrysostom: Homilies on Philippians, Introduction. Let us feed Him now, not one day, nor two, nor three days. “For let not mercy and truth,” saith the Wise Man, “forsake thee.” (Proverbs 3:3.) He saith not “do it once, nor twice” The Virgins, we know, had oil, but not enough to last out (Matthew 25:3, 8.). St. John Chrysostom: Homilies on Ephesians 24. 3:4 So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 3:3,4 LXX FOR TRUE VIRGINITY PERFECT VIRTUE IS NECESSARY Of all virgins of either sex who have truly resolved to preserve virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven — of each and every one of them it is required that he be worthy of the kingdom of heaven in every thing. For not by eloquence or renown, by station and descent, or by beauty or strength, or by length of life, is the kingdom of heaven obtained; but it is obtained by the power of faith, when a man exhibits the works of faith. For whosoever is truly righteous, his works testify concerning his faith, that he is truly a believer, with a faith which is great, a faith which is perfect, a faith which is in God, a faith which shines in good works, that the Father of all may be glorified through Christ. Now, those who are truly virgins for the sake of God give heed to Him who hath said, “Let not righteousness and faith fail thee; bind them on thy neck, and You shall find favor for thyself; and devise You good things before God and before men.” Epistle 1 of the Blessed Clement concerning Virginity, 2. 2. TRUST IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE 5-6. 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. 3:11 Such is the discipline of wisdom (“for whom the Lord loveth He chaveens” ), causing pain in order to produce understanding, and restoring to peace and immortality. St. Clement of Alexandria: Stromata 2:2. 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. 2. To piety, and to improve afflictions. (7-12) Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 4 so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. Afflictions are so far from doing God’s children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness. 3. HUMILITY 7-8. 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 3:8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. 4. CHARITY 9-10. 3:9 Honor the Lord with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: 3:10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine. We have to remember what God said to His people that the land was His mine, and He gave it to them. They have to offer the first-fruits and the tithes just to acknowledge that the land was His own. 3:10 I have heard the Scripture say: Who can find a valiant woman? and declare that she is a divine gift, and that a good marriage is brought about by the Lord. Even those wiYout are of the same mind; if they say that a man can win no fairer prize than a good wife, nor a worse one than her opposite. But we can mention none who has been in this respect more fortunate than he. For I think that, had anyone from the ends of the earth and from every race of men attempted to bring about the best of marriages, he could not have found a better or more harmonious one than this. For the most excellent of men and of women were so united that their marriage was a union of virtue rather than of bodies: since, while they excelled all others, they could not excel each other, because in virtue they were quite equally matched. St. Gregory Nazianzen: On the Death of His Father, 7. 5. SUBMISSION TO GOD’S CHASTENING 11-12. 3:11 My son, despise not the chaveening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 3:11 It is to the free will of man that the words are addressed: “My son, remove not thyself from the chastening of the Lord.” And the Lord said: “I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not.” (Luke 22:32). So that a man is assisted by grace, in order that his will may not be uselessly commanded. St. Augustine: On Grace and Free Will, 9. 3:11 He teaches us to give thanks and rejoice, over and above, at being Thought worthy of divine chastisement. “Whom I love,” saith He, “I chasten.” O blessed servant, on whose amendment the Lord is intent! with whom He deigns to be wroth! whom He does not deceive by dissembling His reproofs! On every side, therefore, we are bound to the duty of exercising patience, from whatever quarter, either by our own errors or else by the snares of the Evil One, we incur the Lord’s reproofs. Of that duty great is the reward — namely, happiness. For whom but the patient has the Lord called happy, in saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens?” Tertullian: Of Patience, 11. 3:11 https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 5 But if God rebukes whom He loves, and rebukes him for the very purpose of amending him, brethren also, and especially priests, do not hate, but love those whom they rebuke, that they may mend them; since God also before predicted by Jeremiah, and pointed to our times, when he said, “And I will give you shepherds according to my heart: and they shall feed you with the food of discipline.?” (Jer. 3:15) St. Cyprian: Treatise 2, On The Dress Of Virgins, 1. 3:11,12 Reproof is the bringing forward of sin, laying it before one. This form of instruction He employs as in the highest degree necessary, by reason of the feebleness of the faith of many…And He uses the bitter and biting language of reproof in His consolations by Solomon, tacitly alluding to the love for children that characterizes His instruction: “My son, despise not You the chaveening of the LORD; nor faint when You art rebuked of Him: for whom the LORD loveth He chaveeneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;” “For a man who is a sinner escapes reproof.” Ecclus. 32:21 Consequently, therefore, the Scripture says, “Let the righteous reprove and correct me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head.” Ps. 112:5 St. Clement of Alexandria: Instructor 1:9. Hear the words of David, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:71.) And again another prophet, who saith, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.” (Lamentations 3:27.) And again, “Blessed is the man whom You chaveenest, O Lord.” (Psalm 94:12.) And another who saith, “Despise not the chaveening of the Lord.” (Proverbs 3:11.) And “if You come near to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.” (Ecclus. 11:1.) And Christ also said to His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer.” (John 16:33.) And again, “Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice.” (John. 16:20.) And again, “Narrow and straitened is the way.” (Matthew 7:14.) Dost You see how tribulation is everywhere lauded, everywhere assumed as needful for us? St. John Chrysostom: Homilies on Philippians, 15. 3:11 The sick are to be admonished that they feel themselves to be sons of God in that the scourge of discipline chaveises them. For, unless He purposed to give them an inheritance after correction, He would not have a care to educate them by afflictions. For hence the Lord says to John by the angel, Whom I love I rebuke and chaveen (Revelation 3:19; Proverbs 3:11). Hence again it is written, My son despise not You the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when You art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth He chaveeneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth (Hebrews 12:5, 6). Hence the Psalmist says, Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and out of all these hath the Lord delivered them (Psalm 33:20. Hence also the blessed Job, crying out in his sorrow, says, If l be righteous, I will not lift up my head, being saturated with affliction and misery (Job 10:15). The sick are to be told that, if they believe the heavenly country to be their own, they must needs endure labors in this as in a strange land. For hence it was that the stones were hammered outside, that they might be laid wiYout sound of hammer in the building of the temple of the Lord; because, that is, we are now hammered with scourges wiYout, that we may be afterwards set in our places within, wiYout stroke of discipline, in the https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 6 temple of God; to the end that strokes may now cut away whatever is superfluous in us, and then the concord of charity alone bind us together in the building. Fr. Gregory (the Great), Pastoral Rule, 12. 3:12 For whom the Lord loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. God does not whip the devil’s children, but He certainly does slap His own. That is a good evidence that you belong to Him (Cf. Job. 5:17-18). 3:12 For whom the Lord loveth He chaveeneth, and a rebuke is a fatherly action; while every soul which is unchaveized, is unhealed. Is not then freedom from chaveisement a hard thing? But to fail to be corrected by the chaveisement is still harder. One of the prophets, speaking of Israel, whose heart was hard and uncircumcised, says, Lord, You have stricken them, but they have not grieved, You have consumed them but they have refused to receive correction; and again, The people turned not to Him that smiteth them; and Why is my people slid-den back by a perpetual backsliding, because of which it will be utterly crushed and destroyed? St. Gregory Nazianzen: On His Father’s Silence, 15. 3:12 Now the children of wrath God punishes in anger; whereas it is in mercy that He punishes the children of grace. St. Augustine: On Forgiveness of Sins, And Baptism, 2:25. 3. To gain wisdom. (13-20) No precious jewels or earthly treasures are worthy to be compared with true wisdom, whether the concerns of time or eternity be considered. We must make wisdom our business; we must venture all in it, and be willing to part with all for it. This Wisdom is the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation, sought and obtained by faith and prayer. 6. SEEKING AFTER WISDOM 13-20. 3:13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. Happy is the man who finds Christ, He is the Wisdom for us in our daily life. 3:1 3 “Blessed is the man that hath found wisdom, and the mortal who has seen understanding; for out of its mouth,” manifestly Wisdom’s, “proceeds righteousness, and it bears law and mercy on its tongue.” For both the law and the Gospel are the energy of one Lord, who is “the power and wisdom of God;” and the terror which the law begets is merciful and in order to salvation. St. Clement of Alexandria: Stromata 1:27. 3:13-15 And let not their ears be pierced, contrary to nature, in order to attach to them ear-rings and ear-drops. For it is not right to force nature against her wishes. Nor could there be any better ornament for the ears than true instruction, which finds its way naturally into the passages of hearing. And eyes anointed by the Word, and ears pierced for perception, make a man a hearer and contemplator of divine and sacred things, the Word truly exhibiting the true beauty “which eye hath not seen nor ear heard before” (1 Cor. 2:9). St. Clement of Alexandria: Instructor 2:13. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 7 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto her. 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor [ , and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue LXX]. 3:16 And thus concerning His wisdom we are told, that “she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.” The “law,” whereby she may convict the proud, the “mercy,” wherewith she may justify the humbled. St. Augustine: On the Spirit and the Letter, 15 (9). 3:16 We do not then make void the Law through faith, but we establish the Law (Rom. 3:31), which by terrifying leads to faith. Thus certainly the Law works wrath, that the mercy of God may bestow grace on the sinner, frightened and turned to the fulfilment of the righteousness of the law through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is that wisdom of God of which it is written, “She carries law and mercy on her tongue.” The Law whereby she frightens, mercy by which she may help, Law by His servant, mercy by Himself, — the Law, as it were, in the staff which Elisha (2 Kings 4:29 sq.) sent to raise up the son of the widow, and it failed to raise him up, “For if a law had been given which could have given life, righteousness would altogether have been by the law” (Gal. 3:21), but mercy, as it were, in Elisha himself, who, wearing the figure of Christ, by giving life to the dead was joined in the signification of the great sacrament, as it were, of the New Testament. St. Augustine: Against Two Letters of the Pelagians, 4:11. 3:16 When it is said, “Let us love one another,” it is law; when it is said, “For love is of God,” it is grace. For God’s “wisdom carries law and mercy upon her tongue.” Accordingly, it is written in the Psalm, “For He who gave the law will give blessings.” (Ps. 84:6). St. Augustine: On Grace and Free Will, 37 (18). 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her. The Spirit of God does not open the Word of God to lazy minds, but to those who are alert and want to learn and know the will of God and the Word of God. 3 :18 Some contend that those days of the tree of life mentioned by the prophet Isaiah are the present times of the Church of Christ, and that Christ Himself is prophetically called the Tree of Life, because He is Wisdom, and of wisdom Solomon says, “It is a tree of life to all who embrace it;” St. Augustine: City of God, 20:26. 3:18 For of her it is rightly said, “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her.” Just as the one tree was for the bodily Paradise, the other is for the spiritual; the one affording a vigor to the senses of the outward man, the other to those of the inner man. St. Augustine: On Forgiveness of Sins, And Baptism, 2:35. (21) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 8 3:18 The Prophet Solomon teaches us what this tree of Life is in his exhortation concerning Wisdom: She is a tree of life to all them that lay hold upon her, and lean upon her. This tree then is living; and not only living, but, furthermore, guided by reason; guided by reason, that is, in so far as to yield fruit, and that not casually nor unseasonably, but in its own season. And this tree is planted beside the rills of water in the domain of the Kingdom of God, that is, of course, in Paradise, and in the place where the stream as it issues forth is divided into four heads. St. Hilary of Poitiers: On Psalm 1 (14). 3:18 For the tree of life is wisdom first begotten of all. “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her,” says the prophet; “and happy is every one that retaineth her.” “A tree planted by the waterside, that will bring forth his fruit in due season;” that is, learning and charity and discretion are imparted in due time to those who come to the waters of redemption. He that hath not believed in Christ, nor hath understood that He is the first principle and the tree of life, since he cannot show to God his tabernacle adorned with the most goodly of fruits, how shall he celebrate the feast? How shall he rejoice? Desirest You to know the goodly fruit of the tree? Consider the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how pleasant they are beyond the children of men. Methodius: Banquet of the Ten Virgins, 3. That we should not, then, try to get anything with sin under pretense of almsgiving we are plainly warned by Holy Scripture, which says, The sacrifices of the impious are abominable which are offered of wickedness (Proverbs 21:27). For whatever in God’s sacrifice is offered of wickedness appeases not, but provokes, the anger of Almighty God. Hence again it is written, Honor the Lord from thy just labors (Proverbs 3:9). Whoso, then, takes evilly that he may, as he supposes, give well, it is evident wiYout doubt that he honors not the Lord. Hence also it is said through Solomon, Whoso offers a sacrifice of the substance of the poor is as Though he slew a son in his father’s sight (Ecclus. 34:24). Fr. Gregory (the Great):Book 9, Epistle 106. 3:18 For hence it is that the Church says by the voice of the elect, His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me (Cant. 2:6). The left hand of God, to wit prosperity in the present life, she has put under her head, in that she presses it down in the intentness of her highest love. But the right hand of God embraces her, because in her entire devotion she is encompassed with His eternal blessedness. Hence again, it is said through Solomon, Length of days is in her right hand, but in her left hand riches and glory (Proverbs 3:16). In speaking, then, of riches and glory being placed in her left hand, he shewed after what manner they are to be esteemed. Hence the Psalmist says, Save me with thy right hand (Psalm 117:7). For he says not, with thy hand, but with thy right hand;’ in order, that is, to indicate, in saying right hand, that it was eternal salvation that he sought. Hence again it is written, Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemies (Exodus 15:6). For the enemies of God, Though they prosper in His left hand, are dashed to pieces with His right; since for the most part the present life elevates the bad, but the coming of eternal blessedness condemns them. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 9 Fr. Gregory (the Great), Pastoral Rule, 26. 3:19 The Lord by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has he established the heavens. 33:19 If God be, and be called, the Fountain of wisdom and life — as He says by Jeremiah, ‘They have forsaken Me the Fountain of living waters (Jer. 2:13)…and in the book of Baruch it is written, ‘You have forsaken the Fountain of wisdom (3:12),’ — this implies that life and wisdom are not foreign to the Essence of the Fountain, but are proper to It, nor were at any time wiYout existence, but were always. Now the Son is all this, who says, ‘I am the Life (John 14:6),’ and, ‘I Wisdom dwell with prudence.’ Is it not then irreligious to say, ‘Once the Son was not?’ for it is all one with saying, ‘Once the Fountain was dry, destitute of Life and Wisdom.’ But a fountain it would then cease to be; for what begetteth not from itself, is not a fountain. What a load of extravagance! for God promises that those who do His will shall be as a fountain which the water fails not, saying by Isaiah the prophet, ‘And the Lord shall satisfy thy soul in drought, and make thy bones fat; and You shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (Isa. 58:11).’ And yet these, whereas God is called and is a Fountain of wisdom, dare to insult Him as barren and void of His proper Wisdom. But their doctrine is false; truth witnessing that God is the eternal Fountain of His proper Wisdom; and, if the Fountain be eternal, the Wisdom also must needs be eternal. For in It were all things made, as David says in the Psalm, ‘In Wisdom bast You made them all ;’ (Ps 104:24) and Solomon says, ‘The Lord by Wisdom hath formed the earth, by understanding hath He established the heavens .’ And this Wisdom is the Word, and by Him, as John says, ‘all things were made,’ and ‘wiYout Him was made not one things.’ (John 1:3). St. Athanasius of Alexandria: Four Discourses Against the Arians, 1:6:19. :20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. 7. ACCEPTING THE GUIDANCE OF WISDOM 21-26. 3:21 My son, let not them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion, 3:22 So shall they be life unto your soul, and grace to your neck. Life and grace come through this wisdom of studying the Word of God. 3:23 Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble. 3:24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid: yea, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. 3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes. 3:26 For the Lord shall be your confidence, and shall keep your foot from being taken. 8. BROTHERLY LOVE AND FORBEARANCE 27-30. 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 3:28 Say not unto your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you. 3:29 Devise not evil against your neighbor, seeing he dwells securely by you. 3:30 Strive not with a man wiYout cause, if he have done you no harm. 3:31 Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Proverbs 3 10 9. THE LORD’S CURSE AND BLESSING 33-35. “The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesses the habitation of the just” [33]. “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools” [35]. Through the centuries there are many folk that envy the rich. And many have disvcovered, as did the psalmist, that God judges the wicked rich. Verse 8. It shall be health to thy navel — We need not puzzle ourselves to find out what we may suppose to be a more delicate meaning for the original word r shor than navel; for I am satisfied a more proper cannot be found. It is well known that it is by the umbilical cord that the fetus receives its nourishment all the time it is in the womb of the mother. It receives nothing by the mouth, nor by any other means: by this alone all nourishment is received, and the circulation of the blood kept up. When, therefore, the wise man says, that “trusting in the Lord with the whole heart, and acknowledging him in all a man’s ways, etc., shall be health to the navel, and marrow to the bones;” he in effect says, that this is as essential to the life of God in the soul of man, and to the continual growth in grace, as the umbilical cord is to the life and growth of the fetus in the womb. Without the latter, no human being could ever exist or be born; without the former, no true religion can ever be found. Trust or faith in God is as necessary to derive grace from him to nourish the soul, and cause it to grow up unto eternal life, as the navel string or umbilical cord is to the human being in the first stage of its existence. 3:35 They will not simply obtain, but inherit. The wicked, again, even Though they are exalted, are exalted only so as to have greater dishonor. For as one does not honor an ugly and misshapen fellow, if he exalts him, but only dishonors him the more, by making his shame manifest to a larger number; so also God exalts the wicked, in order that He may make their disgrace patent. For Pharaoh was exalted, but only to have the world as his accuser. From the Commentary of St. Hippolytus on Proverbs
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