The marriage supper for the king's son.
I. The house. The frame is set up from everlasting, well-ordered in all things, and sure. The tried Foundation is the Lord our Righteousness. The seven pillars indicate, in Oriental form, that its supports and ornaments are perfect in strength and beauty.
II. The feast prepared. The provisions of God's house are wholesome, various, plentiful. Whatever the covenant provides, the true Church diligently sets forth in the ordinances before the people.
III. The inviting messenger. These are the ambassadors whom Christ employs to carry the message of His mercy to their brethren.
IV. The invited guests. The message is specially addressed to the simple. Those who are conscious of ignorance are ever most ready to learn the wisdom from above.
V. The argument by which the invitation is supported is: (1) positive, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine which I have mingled;" and (2) negative, "Forsake the foolish and live." The grand turning-point is to get the prodigal to break off from that which destroys him.
W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven,1st series, p. 209.
Reference: Proverbs 9:1-18. R. Wardlaw, Lectures on Proverbs,vol. i., p. 207.