Bridges on Proverbs 14:1
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:1
 
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1.  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
 
WE have seen the wife to be a blessing or a curse to her husband. (Chapter 12:4.) Such is she to his house. Her wisdom may supply many of his defects; while all the results of his care and prudence may be wasted by her folly. The godly matron is the very soul of the house. She instructs her children by her example, no less than by her teaching. She educates them for God and for eternity; not to shine in the vain show of the world, but in the Church of God. Her household order combines economy with liberality (Chapter 31:13, 18-27); strict integrity in the fear of God. (Ib. verse 30.) Thus, as godly servants bring a blessing to the house (Genesis 30:27; 39:5) so does the wise woman build her house (Chapter 24:3) under the blessing of God, ‘establishing it in a firm and durable state.’ Who can estimate the worth of a Christian mother — a Hannah  — an Eunice?
But mark the foolish woman — her idleness, waste, love of pleasure, want of all forethought and care, her children's wills allowed, their souls neglected, their happiness ruined! We see her house plucked down in confusion. A sad issue, if an enemy had done this! But it is the doing, or rather the undoing, of her own hands. In proportion to her power and influence is her capability of family mischief. Such was Jezebel, the destroyer of her house.
What responsibility then belongs to the marriage choice, linked with the highest interests of unborn generations! If ever there was a matter for special prayer and consideration, this is it. Here to err once, may be an undoing of ourselves and of our house. Of how little account are birth, fortune, external accomplishments, compared with godly wisdom!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 12:4
4 ¶ A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
 
 
Proverbs 31:13, 18-27
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. {She...: Heb. She tasteth} 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. {She...: Heb. She spreadeth} 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. {scarlet: or, double garments} 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
 
 
Proverbs 31:30
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
 
 
Genesis 30:27
27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.
 
Genesis 39:5
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
 
 
Proverbs 24:3
3 ¶ Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
 
 
Footnote:
Diodati.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 1:27, 28.
 

 
1 Samuel 1:27, 28
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. {lent him: or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition} {he shall...: or, he whom I have obtained by petition shall be returned}
 
 
Footnote:
2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15.
 

 
2 Timothy 1:5
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
 
2 Timothy 3:15
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.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 16:31-33; 21:24, 25. Compare 2 Kings 11:1.
 

 
1 Kings 16:31-33
31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. {as if...: Heb. was it a light thing, etc} 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
 
1 Kings 21:24, 25
24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. 25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. {stirred...: or, incited}
 
Compare
2 Kings 11:1
1 ¶ And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. {seed...: Heb. seed of the kingdom}
 
 
Footnote:
Mr. Scott here aptly quotes the proverb — that ‘a fortune in a wife is better than a fortune with a wife.’ ‘For the building of a house three things are principally necessary; first, a holy coming together; secondly, a special fitness in the head of the family; and lastly, a holy living together. As many order the matter, they so provoke God by the first entering upon a family, that the family travels ever after under the burden of God's anger.’ — Byfield on Colossians 3:18.
 

 
Colossians 3:18
18 ¶ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.