Bridges on Proverbs 11:26
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 11:26
 
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26. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
 
This is a piece of sacred ‘political economy.’ It reminds us, that we are the stewards of the gifts of God. (2 Corinthians 9:11.) To use them therefore for our own interest, without a due regard to our neighbour, is unfaithfulness to our trust. (Matthew 25:26, 27.) A flagrant sin, therefore, is it to withhold the very “staff of life” (Isaiah 3:1); holding back the hand of God stretched out in bounty over our land. This may indeed be a prudential restraint in the time of scarcity. (Genesis 41:46-49.) Private interest may also claim a measure of consideration. But a grinding spirit; a spirit of selfish monopoly; raising the price for gain, with manifest suffering to the poor — will bring a piercing curse.† And here the curse of the people may be the curse of God. For if the cry of oppressed individuals (Exodus 22:22-24. James 5:4) — much more that of an oppressed people — will “enter into the ears of the LORD of Sabaoth.” (Amos 8:4-8.) His withering blast upon withholden corn has often scourged this merciless covetousness.
The point of the antithesis apparently fails, only to give stronger security to the blessing. The curse comes directly from the people; the blessing from above. To him that subordinates his own interest to the public good — blessings shall be upon his head (Chapter 10:6), descending immediately from the fountain of all grace.
Would that the cry for the “bread of life” were as earnest and universal as for the bread that perisheth! But if he be justly cursed that withholds the one; much more he, that unfaithfully and cruelly withholds the other. And if blessings be upon the head of him, that selleth the corn of this life; what is his privilege, who sells not indeed the bread of life, but freely dispenses it to his fellow-sinners! “The blessing of him that was ready to perish shall come upon him.” (Job 29:13.) The supply is abundant. Let the invitation be welcomed. (Isaiah 55:1.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Corinthians 9:11
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. {bountifulness: or, liberality: Gr. simplicity}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew 25:26, 27
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 3:1
1 ¶ For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Genesis 41:46-49
46 ¶ And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
The original implies the piercing of a sword, or dagger; as if the selfish spoiler was, as it were, pierced through and stabbed to death by the curses of the people. — Cartwright in loco. The system of speculating in corn, in cruel disregard of the poor, was rebuked by a popular preacher in the latter days of Elizabeth, in the true spirit of Latimer — ‘The poor man must needs sell presently to maintain his family, to pay his rents. And that which he sells the rich cormorant buys that hath money enough lying by him, to hoard it up, that he may sell it dearer after. These buyers commonly dwell in market-towns, and wait to get into their hands all the corn (if it were possible) in the country. Nay — they will not only wait at home, but they will travel abroad into the country to those men, whom they know have great plenty of cord to sell, and will bargain aforehand with them for as much as they can spare, and so will prevent the market. And when they have it in their garners, they make the price at their pleasure. Surely this is a wolf of the soul. Some others will sell at home to their poor neighbours; but they will make them pay for their ease. They shall pay, above the market something; or else they will let them have none. They know the poor man must need have it. He cannot buy it in the market, because he cannot then convey it home; and knowing this his necessity, they will make him pay above all reason. And that also which makes their sin more heinous; if they send any corn to market, they will dress it very clean, and it shall be of their best corn. But if they sell at home, they which buy shall be constrained to take their worst or meanest, and not so well dressed.’ A godly and fruitful sermon, preached at Grantham A.D. 1592, by Francis Trigge.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exodus 22:22-24
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
 
James 5:4
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. {sabaoth: Heb. hosts}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amos 8:4-8
4 ¶ Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? {new...: or, month} {set...: Heb. open} {falsifying...: Heb. perverting the balances of deceit} 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 10:6
6 ¶ Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Job 29:13
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 55:1
1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.