Posted on 09/18/2019 5:54:42 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom” (Proverbs 18:1 KJV).
“Through desire,” what a man wants.
“. . . having separated himself,” but this isn’t a “godly” separation like a Christian would separate himself from the world and separates himself for God’s use—that is sanctification. This is something else. Well, you take people that want to be successful and make a lot of money, for a time they have to get an education, so they separate themselves from, in essence, from mainstream society, in order to get an education. Some even have to go across the sea to get the education they want—to fulfill their desires. A lot of this has to do with religious things, notice he says:
“. . . seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” Well, all wisdom is God, and the wisdom that God has given. Christ is said to be “our wisdom” in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31. And he begins to “intermeddle,” that is “to interfere,” “to meddle in the affairs of others” or “to treat something improperly.” Here you got this business of the monk, or the monastery-type thing, where men separate themselves from society to be religious and they are seeking some personal justification—that is the “desire.” What do they desire? These kind of people separate themselves in their manner of dress, in their pious actions, and they have all this religious garb. But, what do they desire? They “love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi” (Mat 23:6-7 KJV).
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in [They intermeddle with all wisdom, they mess it up for themselves and everybody else—the wisdom of salvation]. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses [Now we see what they want, they want—they are looking for a religious buck], and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation” (Matthew 23:13-14 KJV).
We understand now why some of these men separate themselves in their prayer closets and their prayer towers for hours. There is a dollar behind it.
I think this proverb can also apply to the individual who truly and actively seeks Gods grace , will disregard the helpers (holy spirit) guidance and daily path that is given by God for each of us to follow . I / we let ourselves think we are in control when that is simply not the case . Praise and glory to God and Jesus our savior for shining the light and permitting true forgiveness . I slip in this same manner as I’m sure everyone else does but I usually catch myself and try to do what I think God would want me to do as I a sinner seek his love and grace . For without it life would be miserable . Praise God and thank you Pilgrim’s progress for posting THE word .
Thanks for adding your insight into this passage. I agree, and so does Solomon: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
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