Bridges on Proverbs 1:5-6

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 1:5-6


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5. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6. To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. {the interpretation: or, an eloquent speech}

Not only the simple and the young, but even the wise, may here gather instruction. For a truly wise man is one, not who has attained, but who knows that he “has not attained,” and is pressing onward to perfection. (Philippians 3:12. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:18; 8:2.) David, while conscious of comparative attainments, was ever seeking for higher light. (Psalm 119:89-100; with 18, 33, 34.) Indeed the richest stores would soon waste, without constant additions. Hearing is a great medium of knowledge. Jethro instructed Moses (Exodus 18:17-26); our Lord his disciples. (Matthew 13:11-16. John 16:12.) Peter enlightened is fellow-apostles. (Acts 11:2-18) Priscilla and Aquila “instructed Apollos in the way of God more perfectly.” (Ibid. 18:24-26.) Indeed we must be hearers, ere we would be teachers. ‘He gathers that hears; he spends that teacheth. If we spend before we gather, we shall soon prove bankrupts.’† The longer we learn, the more we feel ourselves to be learners; and the more ready we shall be to hear, that we may increase in learning. (Chapter 9:9; 18:15.) And at such a crisis as this, both of the Church and of the world, how eagerly should we improve every medium of instruction, by which we might become “men of understanding, and attain wise counsels, to know what Israel ought to do”! (1 Chronicles 12:32.) The wise man himself expounded his words and dark sayings to the delight and instruction of his royal scholar (1 Kings 10:1-5); so to a teachable hearer “the deep things of God” will be interpreted. (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10.) Hence the value of the Minister of God; “an interpreter, one of a thousand” (Job 33:23. Compare Acts 8:27-35); the divinely-appointed means of bringing to the perfection of knowledge. (Ephesians 4:11-15. 1 Thessalonians 3:10.) Many disorders and heresies might have been spared to the Church, if, instead of indulging the perversity of an unsettled judgment, men had honoured “the Priest, as the messenger of the LORD of Hosts,” and in humble simplicity had “sought the law at his mouth.” (Malachi 2:7. Compare Hebrews 13:7, 17 with 1 Corinthians 4:8; 3:2-4.) Self-will may resist this suggestion as Romish domination. But humble subjection to the faithful “steward of the mysteries of God,” coming to learn, not to teach; to have, not the curiosity fed, but the conscience satisfied. This reverence of God's ordinance will issue in the “good things of the heart established with grace.” (Hebrews 13:9).

Philippians 3:12

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Compare

1 Corinthians 3:18;

18 ¶ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

1 Corinthians 8:2

2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Psalm 119:89-100

89 ¶ LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. {unto...: Heb. to generation and generation} {abideth: Heb. standeth} 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 ¶ Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 ¶ I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 ¶ I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. 95 ¶ The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. 96 ¶ I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. 97 ¶ MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 ¶ Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. {they...: Heb. it is ever with me} 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts

with

Psalm 119:18, 33, 34

18 ¶ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. {Open: Heb. Reveal} 33 ¶ HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Exodus 18:17-26

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. {Thou wilt...: Heb. Fading thou wilt fade} 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.

Matthew 13:11-16

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

with

John 16:12.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Acts 11:2-18

2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Acts 18:24-26

24 ¶ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Footnote:

Bishop Hall.

Proverbs 9:9

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 18:15.

15 ¶ The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

1 Chronicles 12:32

32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

1 Kings 10:1-5

1 ¶ And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. {questions: Heb. words} 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. {attendance: Heb. standing} {cupbearers: or, butlers}

1 Corinthians 2:9, 10

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Job 33:23

23 If there be with him {1} an angel, An interpreter, one {2} among a thousand, To show unto man {3} what is right for him; {1) Or a messenger 2) Or of the thousand 3) Or his uprightness} 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

Compare

Acts 8:27-35

27 And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, {1} He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth: {1) Isa 53:7 f} 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other? 35 And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, {1} preached unto him Jesus. {1) See marginal note on Ac 5:42}

Ephesians 4:11-15

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: {in: or, into} {stature: or, age} 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {speaking...: or, being sincere}

1 Thessalonians 3:10

10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Malachi 2:7

7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Compare

Hebrews 13:7, 17.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. {have the rule: or, are the guides} 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. {have...: or, guide}

with

1 Corinthians 4:8; 3:2-4

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? {divisions: or, factions} {as men: Gr. according to man?} 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Hebrews 13:9

9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.