Bridges on Proverbs 8:32-33

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 8:32-33


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32. ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Now therefore hearken. It is no mean and undeserving person that calls. It is none other than the Wisdom of God; the source of all light and knowledge (Verses 12-14); the King of kings (Verses 15, 16); the loving rewarder of his children, especially of his young children (Verse 17. Compare Hebrews 11:6); the rich portion and unfailing guide of his people. (Verses 18, 19.) Look at him once again in his Divine glory, as “the only-begotten Son of God” (Verses 22, 24); the Mediator in the everlasting Councils of Redemption (Verse 23); the Almighty Creator of the world (Verses 27-30); the adorable Friend of sinners (Verse 31). How should his Divine Majesty and condescending love endear his instruction to us!† Yet his promised blessing belongs only to practical hearing — to those that keep his ways (Isaiah 55:2, 3. Luke 11:28. John 14:21-23. James 1:25) with godly fear, constancy, and perseverance; keeping their eye on them, their hearts towards them, their feet in them. Such are truly blessed. They choose rightly; they walk surely; they live happily; they progress honourably; they end gloriously. Is it not therefore our wisdom to hear instruction with “the obedience of faith” — not doing what he commands — (in which we may sometimes do — not his will, but our own) but doing because he commands — doing his will in it — obeying as well when it crosses our nature, as when it is more congenial with it? But for this cheerful, child-like obedience, sovereign grace must open the heart, and give the ear. (Chapter 20:12, with Acts 16:14.) The guilt of refusing is inexcusable — a resolved will against the most gracious call. (Acts 3:22, 23. Hebrews 2:1-3.)

Now therefore, hearken, O ye children. Oh! happy moment, when the soul is made “willing in the day of his power” (Psalm 110:3); when “the bands of love are drawing” (Hosea 11:4) unto him! The cold, dead indifference is gone. The enmity is slain. And who will not now joyfully swear fealty; yea, count it his unspeakable delight to take such a yoke; to be bound to such a service, where there is nothing but for our good? (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13.) Oh, my Prince — my Savior! thou hast based thy dominion on thy blood. Thou hast purchased thy right by thy cross. (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. Romans 14:9.) Thou rulest, only that thou mightest save. Take to thyself the glory of thy victory. I am thine — not my own — for ever.

Proverbs 8:12-14

12 ¶ I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. {prudence: or, subtilty} 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Proverbs 8:15, 16

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Proverbs 8:17

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Compare

Hebrews 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Proverbs 8:18, 19

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 8:22, 24

22 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:23

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Proverbs 8:27-30

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: {a compass: or, a circle} 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Proverbs 8:31

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Footnote:

See how the Father manifested the glory of his Divine Son to give constraining force to his instruction. Matthew 17:1-5.

Matthew 17:1-5

1 ¶ And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Isaiah 55:2, 3

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. {spend: Heb. weigh} 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Luke 11:28

28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

John 14:21-23

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

James 1:25

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. {deed: or, doing}

Proverbs 20:12

12 ¶ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

with

Acts 16:14

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Acts 3:22, 23

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Hebrews 2:1-3

1 ¶ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. {let...: Gr. run out as leaking vessels} 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Psalm 110:3

3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. {from...: or, more than the womb of the morning: thou shalt have, etc}

Hosea 11:4

4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

Deuteronomy 10:12, 13

12 ¶ And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Romans 14:9

9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.