Bridges on Proverbs 2:10-11
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 2:10-11
 
 1-6 
 7-9 
 10-11 
 12-15 
 16-19 
 20-22 
 

10.  ¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11. Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
 
We have seen the good that wisdom brings to us. (Verse 5.) Now see the evil, from which it preserves us. But observe its place — in the heart. Here only has it any light, life, or power. (Chapter 4:23.) Clear knowledge floating in the head is deep ignorance. While it only glitters in the understanding, it is dry, speculative, and barren. When it entereth into the heart, light beams out, all the affections are engaged; and how pleasant is it to the soul! (Chapter 24:13, 14. Job 23:12. Psalm 119:103. Jeremiah 15:16.) Religion now is no lifeless notion. It is handled, tasted, enjoyed. It gives a discreet and understanding direction to the whole conduct. It becomes not only an external rule, but a preserving, keeping principle (Chapter 4:6; 6:22-24. Psalm 17:4; 119:9-11, 104); like the military guard for the safety of the royal person. (1 Samuel 26:16. 2 Kings 11:11.) Before, it was the object of our search. Now, having found it, it is our pleasure. Until it is so, it can have no practical influence. It is “the man, whose delight is in the law of the LORD,” who is preserved from “walking in the counsel of the ungodly.” (Psalm 1:1-2; Compare chapter 7:4, 5.) Education, conviction, high moral principle, are at best only partially operative. The reclaimed drunkard may be true to his Temperance-pledge; but, if the “root of bitterness” be untouched, he may be a Socialist or a Chartist, or revel in some other equally ruinous course. External wickedness may be exchanged for decent formality. Vagrant affections may be turned from some object of vanity; yet not fixed upon the Divine centre of attraction. The mind may be disciplined from utter unprofitableness, only to indulge in the idolatry of talent, or the fascinations of poisoned literature. The folly of the pride of life may be resisted; yet pride in other of its multiform fruits tenderly cherished. In all these cases, the principle is unsubdued. The forsaken sin only makes way for some more plausible, but not less deadly passion. The heart, cast into the mold of the Gospel, is the only cover from those snares within and without (Romans 6:17, 18. 2 Corinthians 3:18), which so imperceptibly, yet so fatally, estrange us from God. Never, till the vital principle is implanted, is their mischief discerned. Never, till then, does the heart find its proper object, its true resting-place.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 2:5
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
 
 
Proverbs 4:23
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. {with...: Heb. above all keeping}
 
 
Proverbs 24:13, 14
13 ¶ My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: {to...: Heb. upon thy palate} 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
 
Job 23:12
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. {esteemed: Heb. hid, or, laid up} {my...: or, my appointed portion}
 
Psalm 119:103
103 ¶ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! {taste: Heb. palate}
 
Jeremiah 15:16
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. {I am...: Heb. thy name is called upon me}
 
 
Proverbs 4:6
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
 
Proverbs 6:22-24
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: {lamp: or, candle} 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. {of the...: or, of the strange tongue}
 
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.
 
Psalm 119:9-11, 104
9 ¶ BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 ¶ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
 
 
1 Samuel 26:16
16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. {worthy to die: Heb. the sons of death}
 
2 Kings 11:11
11 And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple. {corner: Heb. shoulder}
 
 
Psalm 1:1-2
1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. {ungodly: or, wicked} 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
 
Compare
Proverbs 7:4, 5
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
 
 
Romans 6:17, 18
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {which...: Gr. whereto ye were delivered} 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
 
2 Corinthians 3:18
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. {by the...: or, of the Lord the Spirit}