A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil
(See Gill on Proverbs
22:3); or "seeth the evil" F6; the evil of sin, as it
is contrary to the nature, will, and law and abominable in his
sight; and not only the evil of gross actions of sin, but of
indwelling lust; and such an one, who is wise to that which is
good, sees the sad work sin has made in the world, and in
himself; how it has defaced the image of God in man, stripped him
of his righteousness, and defiled all the powers and faculties of
his soul; upon which sight of it he is filled with shame,
reflects upon himself for his past conduct, loathes sin, and
himself for it, repents of it, confesses and forsakes it: he
likewise sees the evil of punishment for sin, the just demerit of
it, the curse of the law, the wrath of God, the second and
eternal death, a separation from God, a sense and feeling of
divine vengeance, anguish, and distress intolerable, and that for
ever;
[and] hideth himself;
not in secret places, that he may not be seen by the Lord; nor in
his own works of righteousness, to secure him from the wrath of
God: nor is it to he understood of his hiding himself from
sinners and their company, and so escaping the pollutions of the
world; but of his betaking himself to Christ, who is the city of
refuge, the stronghold, the rock, in the clefts of which the
people of God hide themselves; even in his wounds, or in him as a
suffering crucified Saviour, and who is the hiding place from the
wind, and covert from the storm of divine wrath; such are
redemption by him, his sacrifice and satisfaction, his blood and
righteousness, and intercession; see ( Isaiah 32:2 ) ; also
(See Gill on Proverbs
22:3);
[but] the simple pass on, [and] are punished;
such who are thoughtless and foolish, have no sight nor sense of
sin and danger, go on in their sinful course of life without any
care or concern, without any fear or dread, till their feet
stumble on the dark mountains of eternity; and they fall into the
bottomless pit of perdition, from whence there is no recovery.