Bridges on Proverbs 29:1
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 29:1
 
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1.  He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. {He...: Heb. A man of reproofs}
 
THIS is indeed an awful word. The intractable ox, hardening his neck against the yoke,† is but too apt a picture of the stubborn sinner, casting off the restraints of God. This was the uniform complaint against Israel,† a true picture of the mass of the ungodly before our eyes. Conviction follows upon conviction, chastening upon chastening. Still the rebel hardens his neck, stops his ears against the voice of God, and invites his threatened judgments.
Awfully frequent are these instances among the children of godly parents, or the hearers of a faithful minister.† Every means of grace is a solemn, but despised, reproof. Aggravated sin makes the judgment of a righteous God more manifest. The more enlightened the conscience the more hardened the neck. Every beating pulse is rebellion against a God of love.
Sometimes it is more the immediate voice of God. An alarming illness, a dangerous accident, or the death of a companion in wickedness, is “the rod and reproof” intended to “give wisdom.” (Verse 15.) But if the “fool” continue to despise all God's reproof, his destruction will be sudden,† and without remedy.†
Such was the destruction of the old world, and of the cities of the plain, long hardened against the forbearance of God.† Pharaoh grew more stubborn under the rod, and rushed madly upon his sudden ruin.† Eli's sons “hearkened not unto the voice of their father, and in one day died both of them.”† Ahab, often reproved, by the godly prophet, hardened his neck, and “the bow, drawn at a venture,” received its commission.† How must Judas have steeled his heart against his Master's reproof!† Onward he rushed, “that he might go to his own place.”† Truly Divine patience has its end. And this fearful moment once arrived, “the vessels of wrath, endured with much long-suffering,” are now shewn more manifestly, as “fitted for destruction.” (Romans 9:22.) No remedy — not even the Gospel — can remedy the case. As they lived, so they die, so they stand before God — without remedy. No blood — no advocate pleads for them. As they sink into the burning lake, every billow of fire, as it rolls over them, seems to sound — without remedy.
Sinner — Oh! that thou wouldst be wise to consider thy guilt, thy state, thy prospect, while yet “thy judgment and damnation linger”!† Is not “the Spirit of grace” pleading with thine heart? Would he not now save thee wouldst thou but obey his call? Thou art standing upon mercy's ground, betwixt heaven and hell. O thou God of almighty sovereign grace, shew “a pattern” of thy “long-suffering.” (1 Timothy 1:16.) Let the sinner sing thy everlasting praise, as “a brand plucked out of the fire,” a monument of thine over-abounding grace. (Zechariah 3:2.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Jeremiah 31:18.
 
 
Jeremiah 31:18
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 32:9. 2 Chronicles 36:13-16. Nehemiah 9:29. Isaiah 48:8. Jeremiah 17:23. Zechariah 7:11, 12. Acts 7:51.
 
 
Exodus 32:9
9 And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
 
2 Chronicles 36:13-16
13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. 14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: {by: Heb. by the hand of} {betimes: that is, continually and carefully} 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. {remedy: Heb. healing}
 
Nehemiah 9:29
29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. {withdrew...: Heb. they gave a withdrawing shoulder}
 
Isaiah 48:8
8 Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
 
Jeremiah 17:23
23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
 
Zechariah 7:11, 12
11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. {pulled...: Heb. they gave a backsliding shoulder} {stopped: Heb. made heavy} 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. {by: Heb. by the hand of}
 
Acts 7:51
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 5:12, 13. 1 Samuel 2:12.
 
 
Proverbs 5:12, 13
12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
 
1 Samuel 2:12
12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
 
 
Footnote:
Proverbs 29:15.
 
 
Proverbs 29:15
15 ¶ The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Thessalonians 5:3.
 
 
1 Thessalonians 5:3
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 1:22-30; 6:15; 28:14, 18. Isaiah 30:12-14.
 
 
Proverbs 1:22-30
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
 
Proverbs 6:15
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
 
Proverbs 28:14, 18
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. 18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
 
Isaiah 30:12-14
12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: {oppression: or, fraud} 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. {the potters'...: Heb. the bottle of potters}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Luke 17:27-29.
 
 
Luke 17:27-29
27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 9:27, 34; 10:27, 28; 14:28.
 
 
Exodus 9:27, 34
27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
 
Exodus 10:27, 28
27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. 28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.
 
Exodus 14:28
28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 2:25, 34; 4:11.
 
 
1 Samuel 2:25, 34
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
 
1 Samuel 4:11
11 And the ark of God was taken; the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. {were slain: Heb. died}
 
 
Footnote:
1 Kings 18:18; 21:20; 22:28, 34.
 
 
1 Kings 18:18
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
 
1 Kings 21:20
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
 
1 Kings 22:28, 34
28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. 34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. {at a...: Heb. in his simplicity} {joints...: Heb. joints and the breastplate} {wounded: Heb. made sick}
 
 
Footnote:
John 6:70; 13:10, 11, 18-27.
 
 
John 6:70
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
 
John 13:10, 11, 18-27
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. {Now: or, From henceforth} 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. {sop: or, morsel} 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 26:14-16. John 13:30. Acts 1:25.
 
 
Matthew 26:14-16
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
 
John 13:30
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
 
Acts 1:25
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
 
 
Romans 9:22
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {fitted: or, made up}
 
 
Footnote:
(It is not known if this quote is from a hymn, a poem, or some other source - because there is no reference or footnote in the book. One verse in Scripture that uses three key words found in the quote [“judgement”, “damnation”, “linger”] is 2 Peter 2:3 [see KJV below], so perhaps Mr. Bridges had this in view[?]. The Scripture has “lingereth not” however, whereas the quote has it positively: “linger”, so if this is the verse he had in mind, it is more of an allusion to it than it is a direct quote.)
 
 
2 Peter 2:3
3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
 
 
1 Timothy 1:16
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
 
 
Zechariah 3:2
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?