Bridges on Proverbs 3:29-30
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 3:29-30
 
 1-2 
 3-4 
 5-6 
 7-8 
 9-10 
 11-12 
 13-15 
 16-18 
 19-20 
 21-22 
 23-26 
 27-28 
 29-30 
 31-32 
 33 
 34 
 35 
 

29.  Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. {Devise...: or, Practise no evil} 30.  Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
 
The command — withhold not good — is naturally followed by the forbidding to do evil. The treachery here rebuked was a scandal even to a heathen. It is generally abhorred by the world, and should be doubly hated by a godly man. With him all should be clear and open as the day. An evil device against a neighbour, from whatever cause, is a cursed sin. (Chapter 6:14-18. Deuteronomy 27:24. Psalm 35:20; 55:20. Jeremiah 18:18-20.) But to take occasion from confidence reposed, betrays “the wisdom that descendeth not from above — devilish.” (James 3:15.) Such was the craft of Jacob's sons against the unsuspecting Shechemites (Genesis 34:13-29; 49:5-7); Saul's malice against David, when under his protection (1 Samuel 18:22-26); Joab's murder of Abner and Amasa (2 Samuel 3:27; 20:9, 10); Ishmael's of Gedaliah. (Jeremiah 41:1, 2.) No trial cuts so keenly. (Psalm 55:12-14.) This was one of the bitters in the Savior's cup of suffering. (John 13:21, with Psalm 41:9; Matthew 26:46-50). And many a wounded spirit has been cheered by his sympathy with this poignant sorrow. (Hebrews 4:15.)
Yet we must guard not only against secret malice, but against causeless strivings. A propensity to embroil ourselves in quarrels (Chapter 17:14; 18:6; 25:8, 9) kindles strife, instead of following the rule of peace. (Romans 12:18.) This spirit is a great hindrance to holiness (Hebrews 12:14. Colossians 3:12-15), and inconsistent with a true servant of God. (2 Timothy 2:24.) Irritable persons strongly insist upon their rights, or what they conceive to be due to them from others. “Is there not” — say they — “a cause?” But impartial observers frequently judge it to be striving without cause; that no harm has been done; none at least to justify the breach of love; that more love on one hand, and more forbearance on the other, would have prevented the breach; that “there is utterly a fault — Why do ye not rather take wrong?” (1 Corinthians 6:1-7.) How valuable is a close application of the self-denying law of Christ! (Such as Matthew 5:39-41.) How earnestly should we seek from himself his own meek and loving spirit! (1 Peter 2:21-23.) ‘O Lord, pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace, and of all virtues; without which, whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee.’
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
‘Fallere eum, qui laesus non esset, nisi credidisset.’ — Cicero pro Roscio.
 
 
Proverbs 6:14-18
14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. {soweth: Heb. casteth forth} 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: {unto...: Heb. of his soul} 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, {A proud...: Heb. Haughty eyes} 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief
 
Deuteronomy 27:24
24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
 
Psalm 35:20
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
 
Psalm 55:20
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. {broken: Heb. profaned}
 
Jeremiah 18:18-20
18 ¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. {with...: or, for the tongue} 19 Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me. 20 Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James 3:15
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. {sensual: or, natural}
 
 
Genesis 34:13-29
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: 14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us: 15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; 16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. 18 ¶ And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 ¶ And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. {edge: Heb. mouth} 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, 29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
 
Genesis 49:5-7
5 ¶ Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. {instruments...: or, their swords are weapons of violence} 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. {digged...: or, houghed oxen} 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Samuel 18:22-26
22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law. 23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David. {On...: Heb. According to these words} 25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired. {expired: Heb. fulfilled}
 
 
2 Samuel 3:27
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. {quietly: or, peaceably}
 
2 Samuel 20:9, 10
9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. {struck...: Heb. doubled not his stroke}
 
 
Jeremiah 41:1, 2
1 ¶ Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
 
 
Psalm 55:12-14
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. {mine equal: Heb. according to my rank} 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. {We...: Heb. Who sweetened counsel}
 
 
John 13:21
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.
 
with
Psalm 41:9
9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. {mine...: Heb. the man of my peace} {lifted...: Heb. magnified}
 
Matthew 26:46-50
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 47 ¶ And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
 
 
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
 
 
Proverbs 17:14
14 ¶ The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
 
Proverbs 18:6
6 ¶ A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
 
Proverbs 25:8, 9
8 ¶ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: {a secret...: or, the secret of}
 
 
Romans 12:18
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
 
 
Hebrews 12:14
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
 
Colossians 3:12-15
12 ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. {quarrel: or, complaint} 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
 
 
2 Timothy 2:24
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, {patient: or, forbearing}
 
 
1 Corinthians 6:1-7
1 ¶ Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
 
 
Matthew 5:39-41
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
 
 
1 Peter 2:21-23
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {for us: some read, for you} 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: {himself: or, his cause}
 
 
Footnote:
Collect for Quinquagesima Sunday. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
 

 
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, {vaunteth...: or, is not rash} 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; {in the truth: or, with the truth} 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.