Proverbs 3 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

My law — The law of God, which might be called his law, as the gospel is called Paul's gospel, 2 Timothy 2:8, because delivered by him.

Mercy — Mercy denotes all benignity, charity, and readiness to do good to others: truth or faithfulness respects all those duties which we owe to God or man, which we have special obligation from the rules of justice. Bind them — Like a chain, wherewith persons adorn their necks. Table — In thy mind and heart, in which all God's commands are to be received and engraven.

Understanding — Whereby to know thy duty, and to discern between good and evil. Of God — Grace or favour with God, and that understanding which is good in God's sight.

Trust — Wholly rely upon God's promises and providences. Lean not — Under this one kind of carnal confidence, he understands all other confidence in bodily strength, wealth, or friends.

Navel — To thy body, which is signified by one part of it. Marrow — Which is the nourishment and strength of the bones.

Substance — Lay out thy estate not to please thyself, but to glorify God. First — fruits — Or, with the chief or best; which answers to the first — fruits under the law.

So — This is not the way to diminish thy estate, but rather to increase it.

Despise not — Either by making light of it, or not being duly affected with it; or by accounting it an unnecessary thing: but rather esteem it a privilege and favour from God. Weary — Neither think it tedious or hard, but endure it with patience and chearfulness.

Findeth — Which supposes his diligent searching for it.

Peace — Procure a blessed tranquility in a man's mind and conscience.

A tree — A pledge of everlasting life. He alludes to the tree of life, and intimates, that this is the only restorer of that life which we have lost by sin.

Wisdom — Either by Christ, or by that Divine perfection of wisdom, which is the fountain of wisdom in man.

The depths — That great abyss contained in the bowels of the earth, breaks forth into fountains and rivers.

Eyes — The eyes of thy mind. Constantly and seriously meditate upon them.

Grace — Like a beautiful chain or ornament.

Be not — Thou shalt not be afraid. Sudden — For sudden and unexpected evils are most frightful. And fear is here put for the evils feared. Desolation — Which cometh upon the wicked.

Shall be — A sure ground of confidence to thee. Taken — In the snares either of sin or mischief.

With — hold not — Do not deny it, but readily and chearfuly impart it. Good — Any thing which is good, either counsel, comfort, reproof, or the good things of the present life. Due — That is, to all men, by that great and sovereign law of love.

Say not — The former verse forbad the denial, and this forbids the delay of this duty.

Securely — Relying upon thine integrity.

Envy not — For his impunity and success.

Abomination — Therefore sooner or later he must be miserable. The righteous — They are God's friends, to whom he imparts the favours and comforts to which other men are strangers.

The house — Not only upon his own person, but also upon his posterity.

Shame — Instead of that glory which they seek.