Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 7:6

From Solomon's observation we learn:—

I. The special perils of great cities. (1) The vastness and multitudinousness of many of our modern cities provide a secrecy which is congenial to vice. This enormously adds to the power of temptation, that you may pluck the poisonous fruit unobserved. Only keep the inward monitor quiet, and you may run undetected and unchallenged into every excess. (2) In all great towns, solicitations to vice abound as they do not elsewhere. Every passion has a tempter lying in wait for it.

II. We learn from this passage the evil of late hours. The devil, like the beast of prey, stalks forth when the sun goes down. Midnight on earth is hell's midnoon.

III. The next warning in the text is the danger of foolish company. The word "simple" means in the Book of Proverbs silly, frivolous, idle, abandoned. You could almost predict with certainty the future of one who selected such society. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but the companion of fools shall be destroyed."

IV. No man's understanding can be called thoroughly sound till it has been brought under the power of the truth as it is in Jesus. Your only security against the perils of the city, of the dark night and of evil company, is a living faith in God, a spiritual union with Christ.

J. Thain Davidson, The City Youth, p. 3.

References: Proverbs 8:4.—R. M. McCheyne, Memoir and Remains, p. 325. Proverbs 8:10.—W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, 1st series, p. 197. Proverbs 8:11.—Clergyman's Magazine, vol. xi., p. 86. Proverbs 8:12.—A. Mursell, Christian World Pulpit, p. 406. Proverbs 8:13.—W. Arnot, Laws from Heaven, 1st series, p. 200.