Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. The word "early" is not in the original. The passage therefore might be read thus —"And those that seek Me Shall find Me." Yet we cannot altogether throw out the word "early"; it seems to complete the rhythm. The word "seek" as originally employed is a word which involves the meaning of seeking in the dawn—just as the east is whitening a little, just as the day is being born. Thus we have some claim to the word early. There are men who do not wait until midday in order to resume their journey after they have been benighted; they have, indeed, succumbed to circumstances, saying, "The darkness has overtaken us, and here we must lie"; but the moment there is a streak in the east up they start, the staff is resumed, and the journey is prosecuted with renewed energy. This is the image of the text: "they that seek Me in the dawn shall find Me; they that seek Me at daybreak; they that come after Me ere the dew be risen shall find Me, and we shall have a long morning talk together: when the soul is young, when the life is free, when the heart is unsophisticated, they that seek Me in the dawn shall find Me, for I have been waiting for them, yea, standing by them whilst they were sleeping, and half-hoping that the moment they open their eyes they would see Me, and exclaim, "Blessed Spirit, take charge of my poor, young, little, frail life all the day, and tell me what I ought to do." Fool is he who begins the day prayerlessly, who takes his own life into his own hand: verily in doing so he puts his money into bags with holes in them, and at night he shall have nothing. (J. Parker, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.WEB: I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me. |
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