Bridges on Proverbs 11:17
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 11:17
 
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17.  The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
 
Mercifulness is not natural benevolence, without God or godliness. It is the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22); the image of our Father (Luke 6:36); the constraint of the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 8:9); the adorning of “the elect of God.” (Colossians 3:13.) It is not pity in words and looks. It is when our neighbor's trouble descends into the depths of our hearts, and draws out thence bowels of kindness and practical sympathy. (Luke 10:33.) The merciful man will ever find a merciful God. (Psalm 41:1. Matthew 5:7.) The widow of Sarepta and the woman of Shunam, each for their kindness to the LORD's prophets, “received a prophet's reward.” (2 Kings 4:16; 8:1-6.) The alms of Cornelius brought good to his own soul. (Acts 10:2-4.) In watering others with our mercy, our own “souls will become a watered garden.” (Isaiah 32:8. Psalm 112:4.) Even now “God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labour of love.” (Hebrews 6:10. Matthew 10:42.) At the great day he will honour it before the assembled universe. (Matthew 25:34.)
But not less certainly will cruelty bring its own mischief. (James 2:13. Matthew 18:34, 35.) Unsubdued passion is carrying about us the very element of hell, wanting nothing but immortality to perfect the misery. Cain found his brother's murder an intolerable trouble to his flesh. (Genesis 4:13, 14.) Joseph's brethren severally smarted from their unfeeling wantonness. (Ib. 42:21.) Adoni-bezek was constrained to acknowledge the justice of his chastisement. (Judges 1:6, 7.) The doom of Ahab and Jezebel was the curse of their own cruelty. (1 Kings 22:38. 2 Kings 9:36, 37.) The treasures of selfishness will eat as doth a canker in our own flesh. (James 5:1-3.) O my God, save me from the tyranny of my own lust, and may thy perfect image of mercy be my standard and my pattern!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Galatians 5:22
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
 
 
Luke 6:36
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
 
 
2 Corinthians 8:9
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
 
(2 Corinthians 5:14)
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
 
 
Colossians 3:13
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}
 
 
Luke 10:33
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
 
 
Psalm 41:1
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. {the poor: or, the weak, or, sick} {in time...: Heb. in the day of evil}
 
Matthew 5:7
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
 
 
2 Kings 4:16
16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. {season: Heb. set time}
 
2 Kings 8:1-6
1 ¶ Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. 2 And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. 4 And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done. 5 And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now. {officer: or, eunuch}
 
 
Acts 10:2-4
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
 
 
Isaiah 32:8
8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. {stand: or, be established}
 
Psalm 112:4
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
 
(Jeremiah 31:12)
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
 
 
Hebrews 6:10
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
 
Matthew 10:42
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
 
 
Matthew 25:34
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
 
 
James 2:13
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. {rejoiceth: or, glorieth}
 
Matthew 18:34, 35
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
 
 
Genesis 4:13, 14
13 ¶ And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. {My...: or, Mine iniquity is greater than that it may be forgiven} 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
 
 
Genesis 42:21
21 ¶ And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
 
 
Judges 1:6, 7
6 But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 7 And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. {their thumbs...: Heb. the thumbs of their hands and of their feet} {gathered: or, gleaned}
 
 
1 Kings 22:38
38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.
 
2 Kings 9:36, 37
36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: {by: Heb. by the hand of} 37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
 
 
James 5:1-3
1 ¶ Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.