Hear instruction,.... The instruction of wisdom, the Gospel of Christ; which instructs men in things relating to God the Father; as that he is the God and Father of his people, the God of all grace, the giver and sender of Christ, and all good things by him; in things respecting Christ, his person, office, grace, and righteousness; in things that appertain to the Spirit of God, his deity, personality, and operations of grace on the souls of men; in the knowledge of themselves, their impurity, impotence, and unrighteousness; and in the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, and therefore to be hearkened to;

and be wise; this is the way to be wise to that which is good, both as to the knowledge and practice of it; to be wise unto salvation, and with respect to everlasting things and a future state; and the Gospel instruction teaches men to behave wisely, to walk in wisdom towards them that are without;

and refuse it not; for this is not to be wise, but to act the part of fools; and such as do so despise their own souls, show that they have no care of them, or concern for their eternal welfare, Proverbs 1:7; for, if this is rejected, there is no escaping eternal damnation, Hebrews 2:3.

The summons 32a, and its reason 32b, are repeated in these verses which follow:

33 "Hear instruction, and be wise,

     And withdraw not.

34 Blessed is the man who hears me,

     Watching daily at my gates,

     Waiting at the posts of my doors!

35 For whosoever findeth me has found life,

     And has obtained favour from Jahve;

36 And whosoever misseth me doeth wrong to himself;

     All they who hate me love death."

The imper. וחכמוּ, 33a (et sapite), is to be judged after Proverbs 4:4, וחיה, cf. the Chethı̂b, Proverbs 13:20; one sees this from the words ואל־תּפרעוּ which follow, to which, after Proverbs 15:32, as at Proverbs 4:13, to אל־תּרף, מוּסר is to be placed as object: and throw not to the winds (ne missam faciatis; vid., regarding פרע at Proverbs 1:25), viz., instruction (disciplinam).

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

8:32-36 Surely we should hearken to Christ's voice with the readiness of children. Let us all be wise, and not refuse such mercy. Blessed are those who hear the Saviour's voice, and wait on him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer. The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom's instructions, when people professing godliness, seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace? Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers; nor can we obtain God's favour, unless we find Christ, and are found in him. Those who offend Christ deceive themselves; sin is a wrong to the soul. Sinners die because they will die, which justifies God when he judges.