Bridges on Proverbs 10:24

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 10:24


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24. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

The sport of the wicked: how soon is it gone! (Ecclesiastes 7:6.) But his fear — the evil which he feared — comes upon him. The Babel builders were punished with the evil, which they had laboured to prevent. (Genesis 11:4, 8.) Ahab's device could not shelter him from his foreboded judgment. (1 Kings 22:28-37.) The rebellious Jews rushed into the ruin from which they fled. (Jeremiah 42. 43.) Belshazzar's trembling was realized in his speedy destruction. (Daniel 5:6, 30.) Thus are “the wicked” tossed, “like a troubled sea.” (Isaiah 57:20, 21.) Do not “their hearts” in solitude “meditate terror”? (Ib. 33:18. Compare Deuteronomy 28:67. Job 3:25; 15:21.) Do not their consciences turn pale at the question — “Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18.) And will it not be the constrained confession at the great day — “According to thy fear, so is thy wrath”? (Psalm 90:11. Malachi 4:1.) Unwilling are they now to be reckoned among the righteous. Much more will they then be to be found in their sins — fear their portion — ruin their doom — without hope — without end.

But if the fear of the wicked — so also will the desire of the righteous — be fully realized. As the one cannot fear anything so bad, so the other cannot desire anything so good, as what is really in store for them. Desires bounded by the will (1 John 5:14), and centered in the enjoyment, of God (Psalm 4:6; 37:4), will be granted to their utmost extent. (Ib. 81:10. Jeremiah 33:3. John 16:23, 24.) God did not raise them to be our torment, but our rest

Granted they are upon the principle, that they “are only good.” (Chapter 11:23.) Yet too often the desires of the righteous are not righteous. The defilement of a worldly spirit (Mark 10:37), or the hastiness of an impatient spirit† — far better that they should be denied than granted. (Psalm 106:15. James 4:3.) So generally indeed are they mixed with infirmity, that their unreserved gratification might be our destruction. (Exodus 33:18, 20.) But he is no less wise than kind: he separates the evil, and fulfils the good (Ib. verse 19); answering, not according to our wishes, but our wants; not as in our ignorance we may have asked, but as an enlightened regard to our best interests would have led us to ask.

But ‘I have desired a thousand times on my knees, and yet it has not been granted.’ Yet is it not worth being upon our knees for it a thousand times more? May not the blessing be withheld a while, till our sensibility of need be quickened (Isaiah 41:17); or to prepare us ultimately for a richer enjoyment? (Chapter 13:12.)

But if our desires be granted, and even exceeded (Genesis 48:11. 1 Kings 3:13. Ephesians 3:20); faith and patience will be tried in the very grant. Growth in grace is given by deep and humbling views of our corruption. Longings for holiness are fulfilled by painful affliction. Prayers are answered by crosses. Our Father's dispensations are not what they seem to be, but what he is pleased to make them.† Yet in the darkest cloud the ground of our confidence is firm. All things needful will be given, and at the grand consummation every desire will be eternally fulfilled — “As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15; 16:11.)

Ecclesiastes 7:6

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. {crackling: Heb. sound}

Genesis 11:4, 8

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

1 Kings 22:28-37

28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you. 29 ¶ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead. 30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. {I will...: or, when he was to disguise himself, and enter into the battle} 31 But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. 32 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. {at a...: Heb. in his simplicity} {joints...: Heb. joints and the breastplate} {wounded: Heb. made sick} 35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. {increased: Heb. ascended} {midst: Heb. bosom} 36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. {was brought: Heb. came}

Jeremiah 42.

1 ¶ Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) {Let...: or, Let our supplication fall before thee} 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God. 7 ¶ And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. 8 Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him; 10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. 11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God, 14 Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell: 15 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; 16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die. {shall follow...: Heb. shall cleave after you} 17 So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. {So...: Heb. So shall all the men be} 18 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more. 19 The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. {admonished...: Heb. testified against you} 20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. {ye dissembled...: or, ye have used deceit against your souls} 21 And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you. 22 Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn. {to go...: or, to go to sojourn}

Jeremiah 43.

1 ¶ And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words, 2 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there: 3 But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah. 5 But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah; 6 Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes. 8 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9 Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah; 10 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. 11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. 12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. 13 He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire. {images: Heb. statues, or, standing images} {Bethshemesh: or, The house of the sun}

Daniel 5:6, 30

6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. {countenance: Chaldee, brightnesses} {was changed: Chaldee, changed it} {joints: or, girdles: Chaldee, bindings, or, knots} 30 ¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

Isaiah 57:20, 21

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Isaiah 33:18

18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? {receiver: Heb. weigher?}

Compare

Deuteronomy 28:67

67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

Job 3:25

25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. {the thing...: Heb. I feared a fear, and it came upon me}

Job 15:21

21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. {A dreadful...: Heb. A sound of fears}

1 Peter 4:18

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Psalm 90:11

11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

Malachi 4:1

1 ¶ For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

1 John 5:14

14 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: {in: or, concerning}

Psalm 4:6

6 ¶ There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Psalm 37:4

4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 81:10

10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Jeremiah 33:3

3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. {mighty: or, hidden}

John 16:23, 24

23 ¶ And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Proverbs 11:23

23 ¶ The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Mark 10:37

37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

Footnote:

Elijah, 1 Kings 19:4. Jonah 4:1-4. The disciples, Luke 9:54-56.

Elijah,

1 Kings 19:4

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. {for himself: Heb. for his life}

Jonah,

Jonah 4:1-4

1 ¶ But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. 2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4 Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? {Doest...: or, Art thou greatly angry?}

The disciples,

Luke 9:54-56

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Psalm 106:15

15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

James 4:3

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. {lusts: or, pleasures}

Exodus 33:18, 20

18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Exodus 33:19

19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Isaiah 41:17

17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Proverbs 13:12

12 ¶ Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Genesis 48:11

11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.

1 Kings 3:13

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. {shall...: or, hath not been}

Ephesians 3:20

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Footnote:

See a beautiful hymn in Olney Collection. — Book iii. 36.

Psalm 17:15

15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Psalm 16:11

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.