Bridges on Proverbs 8:15-16
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 8:15-16
 
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15.  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16.  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
 
Another glorious contemplation of this Divine Person! He proclaims himself to be the source of power and authority, no less than of counsel and wisdom. “KING OF KINGS” was the mysterious name written upon his vesture. (Revelation 19:16; 1:5; 17:14.) Yet his crown does not displace the regal diadem from the brow of earthly princes; nor is the sceptre to fall from their hands. These ensigns of power are to be held, but in subordination to his own. By me kings reign; not only by my permission, but by my appointment. They bear my name. They are stamped with my authority. (Exodus 22:28. Psalm 82:6. John 10:35.) Proud anarchy disputes the prerogative, and traces the authority to the people; only that they may cast off the yoke of God, and “do that which is right in their own eyes.” (Judges 17:6; 19:1. Hosea 8:4. 2 Peter 2:10. Jude 8.) Scripture polities lay down the offensive truth — “There is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. They are ministers of God,” not servants of the people. (Romans 13:1-6.) Government in all its administrations — kings, princes, nobles, judges — is a Divinely-consecrated ordinance. Every kingdom is a province of the universal empire of the “King of kings.” Men may mix their own pride, folly, and self-will with this appointment. But God's providential counter-working preserves the substantial blessing. Yet, if “the power be exclusively of God,” then is Wisdom, by whom kings reign, the very essence and person of God. And here is our rest, our anchor in this world's agitating storm. “The government of the world is on the shoulders” of “the Head of the Church.” (Isaiah 9:6.) All things — all power in heaven and in earth — is delivered unto him of his Father. “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice.” (Psalm 97:1.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revelation 19:16
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
 
Revelation 1:5
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
 
Revelation 17:14
14 ¶ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
 
 
Exodus 22:28
28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. {gods: or, judges}
 
Psalm 82:6
6 ¶ I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
 
John 10:35
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
 
 
Judges 17:6
6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
 
Judges 19:1
1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. {a concubine: Heb. a woman a concubine, or, a wife a concubine}
 
Hosea 8:4
4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
 
2 Peter 2:10
10 ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. {government: or, dominion}
 
Jude 8.
8 ¶ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romans 13:1-6
1 ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. {ordained: or, ordered} 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 75:7. Jeremiah 27:5-7. Daniel 2:37, 38; 4:25; 5:18. Compare John 19:11. It is interesting to trace this acknowledgment even in the darkness of heathenism. Kings inherited their septre from Jove; Magistracy was consecrated by Augurs, the Assessors and Counsellors of Jove.
 

 
Psalm 75:7
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
 
Jeremiah 27:5-7
5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. 6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. 7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.
 
Daniel 2:37, 38
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
 
Daniel 4:25
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
 
Daniel 5:18
18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
 
Compare
John 19:11
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 11:27; 28:18. Scott remarks the future tense in the original, as seeming to agree with the prediction of righteous kings and rulers in the latter times of the Church. Compare Psalm 72:1-3; Isaiah 49:23; 60:16, 17. See the national blessing of godly rulers — 2 Chronicles 9:8. Isaiah 1:26.
 

 
Matthew 11:27
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
 
Matthew 28:18
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {teach...: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations}
 
Compare
Psalm 72:1-3
1 ¶ {A Psalm for Solomon.} Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. {for: or, of} 2 ¶ He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
 
Isaiah 49:23
23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. {nursing fathers: Heb. nourishers} {queens: Heb. princesses}
 
Isaiah 60:16, 17
16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
 
2 Chronicles 9:8
8 Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.
 
Isaiah 1:26
26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 97:1
1 ¶ The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad, thereof. {multitude...: Heb. many, or, great isles}