Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
If we carry on as undoubtedly we ought, the same idea of wisdom through the whole book of the Proverbs as we began it with, and consider that Christ is the wisdom of God that is spoken of, We shall find some very sweet things concerning Jesus in these verses. It is indeed through Christ, and in Christ; and upon Christ, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, is built. Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, and which God the Father himself laid in Zion. Isaiah 28:16; 1Co 3:11; 2 Corinthians 5:1. And as the foundation is Christ, so all the chambers of the covenant are his; and in them the believer finds retreat in times of danger, and everything of riches that is precious and pleasant. Isaiah 26:20. But as the Proverb here expresseth it, the knowledge and enjoyment of Christ is too high for a fool; the Lord hath not imparted to him this knowledge. Christ is and ever will be to all such while precious to his people, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. 1 Peter 2:7-8. I detain the Reader in this place to make a short observation upon the scripture expression of a fool, concerning whom it is said that wisdom is too high for such an one; and I detain the Reader for this purpose, because it may serve not only for the present but for every other occasion, whensoever he meets with the term in God's word. And the best, indeed the only infallible method of coming to the right knowledge of this, or any other scriptural expressions, is by comparing scripture with scripture. Now by a fool is meant, one that is ignorant of Christ. Hence therefore the wicked and unregenerate are stilled men void of understanding; they have eyes, and see not; ears, and hear not; and the like. So that when the prophet was commissioned to tell the church the final state of such characters, he expresseth himself in those striking words, for it is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour. Isaiah 27:11. And that there might be no misapprehension upon a point of such infinite consequence, but that everyone might discover the cause of things; and that the folly here and elsewhere spoken of is, not the weakness of intellect, but the ignorance of Christ and the despising of Jesus, the Lord Jehovah's one ordinance, and the only one for salvation; Job was commissioned no less to shew, in naming in what the contrary to this folly manifested itself. And unto man he said, behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28. Hence therefore, the fools of scripture are the despisers of Christ, the wisdom of God. This is indeed the highest folly: and many, very many such fools it is to be feared, will be found at the last day, among that class of men who pride themselves on great wisdom. I refer the Reader for further light upon this interesting subject to the following scriptures: Romans 1:21, etc. 1 Corinthians 1:18-29.