Bridges on Proverbs 24:1-2
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 24:1-2
 
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1.  Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. 2.  For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
 
THIS counsel has been lately given. (Chapter 23:17.) But it is very difficult in the false glare of this world's glory to “walk by faith, as the evidence of things not seen.” (2 Corinthians 5:7. Hebrews 11:1.) In the confined atmosphere of impatience and unbelief, “the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.” (James 4:5.) This evil spirit, if it does not bring the scandal of open sin, curses our blessings, withers our graces, cankers our peace, clouds our confidence, and stains our Christian profession. The full cup in the house of evil men stirs up the desire to be with them. (Psalm 73:10-14.) But if their fearful end did not restrain, their awful character is warning enough.† It is the malignity of Satan himself, studying destruction in their heart; mischief in their lips.† Take away then the delusive veil; and who would envy them? When Haman was studying the destruction of the holy nation, the barbed arrow of discontent was corroding his vitals.† Who would envy Judas, studying his Master's destruction? In the agony of remorse, his “soul chose strangling, rather than life.”† “Gather not my soul with sinners” — is the prayer of the child of God — “nor my life with bloody men, in whose hands is mischief.”† Let me, instead of studying the destruction, study the salvation, of my fellow-sinners — what can I do to win them to Christ? Let me desire to be with the man of God, employed in this God-like work. The Christian is the only enviable person in the world. The seeming blessings of evil men are God's heavy curses; and the smart of the stripes is a favor too good for them to enjoy. To judge wisely of our condition, it is to be considered not so much how we fare, as upon what terms. If we stand right with heaven, every cross is a blessing; and every blessing a pledge of future happiness. If we be in God's disfavor, every one of his benefits is a judgment; and every judgment makes way for perdition.† Instead of envying sinners in their successful wickedness, dread their character more than their end, and rejoice that your Father never counted the poor vanities of this world a worthy portion for you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 23:17
17 ¶ Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
 
 
2 Corinthians 5:7
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
 
Hebrews 11:1.
1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. {substance: or, ground, or, confidence}
 
 
James 4:5
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? {to envy: or, enviously?}
 
 
Psalm 73:10-14
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. {chastened: Heb. my chastisement was}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 23:18. Compare verses 19, 20, infra.
 
 
Proverbs 23:17, 18
18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. {end: or, reward}
 
Proverbs 24:19, 20
19 ¶ Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; {Fret...: or, Keep not company with the wicked} 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. {candle: or, lamp}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 1:11-14; 4:16; 6:18. 1 Samuel 23:9. Job 15:35. Psalm 7:14; 114:2-6. Micah 7:3.
 
 
Proverbs 1:11-14
11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
 
Proverbs 4:16
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
 
Proverbs 6:18
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
 
1 Samuel 23:9
9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
 
Job 15:35
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit. {vanity: or, iniquity}
 
Psalm 7:14
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
 
Psalm 114:2-6
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
 
Micah 7:3
3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. {his...: Heb. the mischief of his soul}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Esther 3:8, 9; 5:13.
 
 
Esther 3:8, 9
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. {for the...: Heb. meet or, equal, etc} 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. {that they...: Heb. to destroy them} {pay: Heb. weigh}
 
Esther 5:13
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 26:16; 27:3-5. Job 7:15.
 
 
Matthew 26:16
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
 
Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
 
Job 7:15
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. {life: Heb. bones}
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 26:9; 28:3.
 
 
Psalm 26:9
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: {Gather...: or, Take not away} {bloody...: Heb. men of blood}
 
Psalm 28:3
3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
 
 
Footnote:
Bp. Hall's Works, viii. 206.