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3. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.†
It is a great part of wisdom to see what God is doing, or about to do. When evil is come, most men can see it. But the prudent foreseeth it. Not that God hath given to us the knowledge of futurity. This would only have encouraged presumption. But he has given us prudence, naturally foreseeing evil, and forecasting the most effectual means of deliverance. David was thus directed to hide himself from Saul;† Elijah from Jezebel.† The disciples were taught to flee from impending evil.† Paul repeatedly hid himself from threatened destruction.† Even our Divine Master acted on this rule of prudence,† till his hour was come. (Matthew 26:46.)
But to apply it to spiritual evils foreseen — “Noah, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house.” (Hebrews 11:7.) Josiah endeavored to ward off the threatened judgment by humiliation before God. (2 Chronicles 34:21.) Paul “labored” for the covering of present acceptance, foreseeing the tremendous evil of “appearing” unsheltered “before the judgment-seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:9, 10.)
Not that the prudent man is gifted with supernatural knowledge. He only uses the discernment which God hath given him. He regards the signs of the times. He studies the word of God in reference to coming judgments; and he acts accordingly. To walk carelessly in the midst of evil, is reckless folly. We stand “not by faith” only, but “by faith” balanced with fear (Romans 11:20); yet not the fear of bondage and scrupulosity, but of care, watchfulness, and diligence. (Hebrews 4:1, 11.) Guilty, wandering, tempted, afflicted, dying as we are, common — at least Christian — prudence, shews us our need of an hiding-place. Except we seek one in time, we are lost for eternity. Did we but realize the huge mass of guilt lying upon us, and the infinite wrath that for that guilt hangs over us, could we rest in an unsheltered state? Should not we tread upon all that lies in our way to run to shelter? Coming judgments there may be. But let us set our face towards our hiding-place. God will undertake for our danger. His own most loving voice points us to a shelter in the chamber of his own perfections.†
Very different is the course of the simple. (Chapter 14:15, 16.) Devoid of all prudence; foreseeing no evil; fearing none; given up to their own ways, and reckless of all consequences, they pass on, and are punished by their own folly. (Chapter 7:7, 22, 23.) Oh! many such are there, who “when the LORD's hand is lifted up, will not see” (Isaiah 26:11); who will not hear the distant thunder, betokening the approaching storm; who in their fancied security laugh at those who are preparing for an evil day; laugh even on the brink of that destruction, which, unless Sovereign grace interpose, will make them wise too late.
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