Bridges on Proverbs 1:1-4

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 1:1-4


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EXPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF

PROVERBS

1. The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; {equity: Heb. equities} 4. To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. {discretion: or, advisement}.

THE Book naturally opens with a short account of its author. Solomon is recorded as the wisest of men; a man of wisdom, because a man of prayer. (1 Kings 3:12. Compare Chapter 2:1-9.) His extraordinary wisdom was the admiration of the world. (1 Kings 3:28; 4:34.) Had he been the son of Jeroboam, he would have commanded respect; much more as the son of David, formed by his godly prayers (Psalm 72:1) and counsels. (Chapter 4:1-4. 1 Kings 2:1-4. 1 Chronicles 28:9.) And if a King’s sayings even though without intrinsic merit, are preserved, the wise teaching of this King of Israel (Ecclesiastes 1:1; 12:9, 10) may well demand our especial interest.

Valuable, however, as were Solomon’s maxims for their own wisdom (exceeding the sages of his own or any other time) (1 Kings 4:29-31); they claim our reverence upon infinitely higher ground. “Behold! A greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42). Often does he speak in the person (verse 20; Chapter 8. Chapter 9. Chapter 23:26) always under the inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) of “the wisdom of God;” so that his sayings are truly “Divine sentences in the lips of the King.” (Chapter 16:10.)

The great end of this inestimable book is to teach, not secular or political wisdom (though many excellent rules of each are interspersed) (Chapter 6:1-11; 27:23-27; with 11:14; 14:28, 34; 20:18); but that knowledge of God (Verse 7), which, while it “maketh wise unto salvation, perfects and furnishes the man of God unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17. Titus 2:11, 12.) Its glowing privileges are set forth (Chapter 3:13-18.) It is pressed upon us with intense earnestness, as “the principal thing,” our very “life.” (Chapter 4:5-9, 13.) Instruction is the means of gaining it. We are directed to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction as a complete rule of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity (Compare Chapter 2:9); sound principles, and their practical application. Here also the simple, so readily deluded (Chapter 14:15; 21:11. Ezekiel 45:20), learn that subtlety, so needful to discriminate between truth and error (Philippians 1:10. 1 Thessalonians 5:21); to guard them from false teachers (Psalm 17:4. 1 John 4:1. Compare Acts 17:11); and to “convince gainsayers.” (Titus 1:9; 2:8 Compare Matthew 22:15-46.) Specially is the young man directed to this book.† Hiis undisciplined ardor runs to waste. His mind fluctuates at the mercy of the winds of opinion in the world around him; and greatly does he need some settled master-principles to fix his purpose, choice, and conduct. Here then he finds knowledge and discretion; a religion, not of imagination, impulse, or sentiment; but the sound practical energy of Scriptural truth.

1 Kings 3:12

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

Compare

Proverbs 2:1-9

1 ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; {liftest...: Heb. givest thy voice} 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

1 Kings 3:28

28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. {in him: Heb. in the midst of him}

1 Kings 4:34

34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Psalm 72:1

1 ¶ {A Psalm for Solomon.} Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. {for: or, of}

Proverbs 4:1-4

1 ¶ Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

1 Kings 2:1-4

1 ¶ Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: {prosper: or, do wisely} 4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. {fail...: Heb. be cut off from thee from the throne}

1 Chronicles 28:9

9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

Ecclesiastes 1:1

1 ¶ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. {moreover...: or, the more wise the preacher was, etc} 10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. {acceptable...: Heb. words of delight}

1 Kings 4:29-31

29 ¶ And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

Matthew 12:42

42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Proverbs 1:20

20 ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: {Wisdom: Heb. Wisdoms, that is, Excellent wisdom}

Proverbs 8

Proverbs 9

Proverbs 23:26

26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Proverbs 16:10

10 ¶ A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. {A divine...: Heb. Divination}

Proverbs 6:1-11

1 ¶ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. {and make...: or, so shalt thou prevail with thy friend} 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 ¶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Proverbs 27:23-27

23 ¶ Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. {look...: Heb. set thy heart} 24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? {riches: Heb. strength} {to...: Heb. to generation and generation?} 25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. {maintenance: Heb. life}

with:

Proverbs 11:14

14 ¶ Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Proverbs 14:28, 34

28 ¶ In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

34 ¶ Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. {to any...: Heb. to nations}

Proverbs 20:18

18 ¶ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Proverbs 1:7

7 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. {the beginning: or, the principal part}

2 Timothy 3:15-17

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. {throughly...: or, perfected}

Titus 2:11, 12

11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, {hath...: or, to all men, hath appeared} 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Proverbs 2:9

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Proverbs 4:5-9, 13

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. {a crown...: or, she shall compass thee with a crown of glory} 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Proverbs 2:9

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Proverbs 14:15

15 ¶ The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Proverbs 21:11

11 ¶ When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Ezekiel 45:20

20 And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.

Philippians 1:10

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; {approve: or, try} {are...: or, differ}

1 Thessalonians 5:21

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Psalm 17:4

4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

1 John 4:1.

1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Compare

Acts 17:11

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Titus 1:9

9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. {as...: or, in teaching}

Titus 2:8

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Compare

Matthew 22:15-46

15 ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. {penny: in value seven pence halfpenny} 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? {superscription: or, inscription} 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. 23 ¶ The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. {seventh: Gr. seven} 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 34 ¶ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 ¶ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Footnote:

Psalm 119:9. Over the gates of Plato’s school, it was written: (Literally — Let no one who is not a geometrician enter.) But very different is the inscription over these doors of Solomon — Let the ignorant, simple, foolish, young enter. Cartwright in loc. — Lavater in c. iv. 4:20-22.

Psalm 119:9

9 Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.