Chapter XXI (3)

+II. Yet men are ever opposing their finite wisdom and strength to the almightiness and infinite knowledge of God.+ The proverb embodies a truth so palpable to any who will look facts plainly in the face--it contains an inference so obvious to an unprejudiced mind that it would seem unnecessary to write it if we did not know that sin has so distorted men's mental vision--so biassed their reason--that they are ever imagining a _"vain thing"_ and taking _"counsel against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us"_ (Psa. ii. 2, 3). The world is full of confirmations of the fact, and it also contains abundant evidence of the truth of the inspired word. _"He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, and the Lord shall have them in derision."_

_OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._

It would be a strong sentence if he declared that counsel against the Lord could never amount to anything. . . . But he does something more clear than that. _There is no_ (such thing as) _wisdom,_ etc., against the Most High. They could do nothing if they were; but wisdom never could be enticed to that side. The sentence embodies both ideas. There is no wisdom that could avail against God; but secondly, there is none that would ever attempt it. The expressions are peculiar. _There is nothing of wisdom._ The word is repeated: _"Nothing, nothing, nothing."--Miller._

We may, perhaps, consider the wise man as pointing out _three modes_ of covering and effecting evil purposes: in the twenty-seventh verse, the _mask of religion;_ in the twenty-eighth, _false testimony;_ in the twenty-ninth, the _assumed boldness and look of innocence._ But (verse 30) "there is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel, against the Lord." There may be against _men._ In one, or other, or all of these ways they may be deceived. There may, in many cases, be "wisdom, and understanding, and counsel" more than sufficient to impose upon and outwit them. But God _knows all._ His eye cannot be eluded; His designs cannot be thwarted; neither His promises nor His threatenings can be falsified, by any artifice, or policy, or might of the children of men--no, nor of any created being.--_Wardlaw._

Wisdom is that which is gotten by experience, understanding that which is gotten by study, counsel that which is gotten by advice . . . but let all be put in the scales against the Lord, they are but the dust of the balance unto Him. . . . For if wisdom be gotten by experience, He is the Ancient of days; He was ancient when days began. If understanding come by study, He hath all understanding of Himself at once. . . . And the whole world is His common council, and that not to give at all, but to receive counsel from _Him.--Jermin._

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