Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right… The truth is, that men live the chief part of their lives without any knowledge of their own separation from the Lord; they do not understand that sin separates the sinner from his Maker. I. WHO ARE THE WISE? 1. They are willing hearers of God's truth. Like Cornelius of old. 2. Humble receivers of truth. Like the jailer at Philippi. 3. They are careful thinkers. Like Mary, who pondered things in her heart. No others but these can really be spoken of as wise. II. GOD'S RIGHT WAYS. He has a right to demand obedience on our part to whatever He may please to lay down. If we walk in His ways we shall have grace to support us, and supply our various wants, we shall have guidance in the hour of difficulty, we shall have our hearts prepared for the enjoyment of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for evermore. He will give us strength for the day, and grace unto the end. The ways of the just shall be increasingly clear. "The wicked shall fall therein." The ways are the same, but men receive them and walk in them differently. That which is really good for those who are anxious to serve God, we are told here, is turned into evil in the case of the wicked. (H. Montagu Villiers, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. |
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