Bridges on Proverbs 4:10-13

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 4:10-13


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10. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

It is instructive to see a king (whether David or Solomon) not forgetting in the midst of his royal cares, his domestic responsibilities. We are told — ‘Youth will have its swing.’ ‘So’ — adds an old Commentator solemnly — ‘it may — to hell.’† For where else can a wayward will lead? Let us see the need of guidance of every step, both to take and to avoid. The ways of wisdom assure a happy life in the favor of God. (1 Timothy 4:8, with chapter 3:1, 2. Psalm 34:12-14. 1 Peter 3:10-12.) And what rest to the parent's conscience on the deathbed will be the recollection of children, not brought up for the world, but taught in these ways! Yet this cannot be, if the rod, when needed, has been spared; if the will has been indulged; the love of the world cherished. This will be — if godly discipline has been exercised; if the Bible has been laid down as the rule of life; if habits of prayer, love to the service of God, fellowship with his people, have been encouraged. The path, though rough and sometimes lonely, is a right path, and a path of liberty. (Psalm 119:32, 45.) The single eye will preserve a steady walk. (Chapter 10:9. Isaiah 48:17-18. Matthew 6:22.) Thou shalt run, and shalt not stumble. (Chapter 3:21-26. Hosea 14:9.)

And yet the animated exhortation to take fast hold, shows the struggle necessary to retain our principles. Feeble, indeed, is our hold, when connected merely with the excitement of novelty (Matthew 13:20, 21), temporary convictions (Psalm 78:34-36; 106:12, 13), the restraint of education (2 Chronicles 12:1; 24:2, 15-18), unestablished knowledge (Galatians 3:1-4), or the indulgence of sin. (Mark 6:18-26.) Truths received only in the understanding, not becoming the daily nourishment of the soul, never fix on the heart. The fast hold of instruction is by a personal living faith; including an intense interest, and persevering pursuit; “continuing in the things which we have heard and been assured of;” cleaving with purpose of heart unto the Lord. (2 Timothy 3:14. Acts 11:23; 2:42.) As Jacob detained the angel (Genesis 32:26-29); as the spouse held fast hold of her Beloved (Song of Solomon 3:4); as the disciples “constrained the Savior to abide with them” (Luke 24:28, 29) — So — young Christian — let her not go, Keep her, as the man “for joy” guarded his precious treasure. (Matthew 13:44.) So let thy heavenly treasure stand above every earthly blessing. Thus will it be thy life. (Chapter 3:18. Ecclesiastes 7:12.) And while others “turn back, and walk no more” in the way, thine heart will turn to its only spring of happiness — “Lord, to whom shall I go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-69.)

Footnote:

Taylor.

1 Timothy 4:8

8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. {little: or, for a little time}

with

Proverbs 3:1, 2

1 ¶ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. {long...: Heb. years of life}

Psalm 34:12-14

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:10-12

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. {against: Gr. upon}

Psalm 119:32, 45

32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. 45 ¶ And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. {at liberty: Heb. at large}

Proverbs 10:9

9 ¶ He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Isaiah 48:17, 18

17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

Matthew 6:22

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Proverbs 3:21-26

21 ¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Hosea 14:9

9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Matthew 13:20, 21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. {offended: he relapseth, or, falleth into sin}

Psalm 78:34-36

34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God. 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Psalm 106:12, 13

12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. 13 ¶ They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: {They soon...: Heb. They made haste, they forgat}

2 Chronicles 12:1

1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

2 Chronicles 24:2, 15-18

2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 15 ¶ But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. 17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. 18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

Galatians 3:1-4

1 ¶ O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. {so many: or, so great}

Mark 6:18-26

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: {a quarrel: or, an inward grudge} 20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. {observed him: or, kept him, or, saved him} 21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

2 Timothy 3:14

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

Acts 11:23

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

Acts 2:42

42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Genesis 32:26-29

26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. {Israel: that is, A prince of God} 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Song of Solomon 3:4

4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.

Luke 24:28, 29

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

Matthew 13:44

44 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Proverbs 3:18

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. {defence: Heb. shadow}

John 6:67-69

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.