Bridges on Proverbs 12:15
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 12:15
 
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15.  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
 
The fool's conceit hinders his wisdom. (Job 11:12.) A discouraging case! (Chapter 26:12.) His way is right in his own eyes. (Chapter 16:2.) He needs no direction, asks no counsel, is stubborn in his own way, because it is his own (Judges 2:19), and follows it to his own ruin. His chief danger is his security. (Deuteronomy 29:19.) There may be no flagrant sin, nothing that degrades him below the level of his respectable neighbour. He has no doubt of heaven. Instead of the way being so narrow, that few find it (Matthew 7:14); in his view it is so easy of access, that few miss it. Thus all his religion is self-delusion. (Chapter 14:12.) O my God! save me from myself — from my own self-deceitfulness.
What a proof of wisdom is a teachable spirit! What an excellent means of increasing it! (Chapter 1:5.) Was not Moses wiser for hearkening to Jethro's counsel (Exodus 18:14-24); and David for listening to the restraining advice of Abigail? (1 Samuel 25:23-32.) How precious then to the child of God is the office of the Divine Counsellor! (Isaiah 9:6.) How wise the reverential faith, that hearkens to his counsel! Whom does he ever disappoint? Whom does he “upbraid”? (James 1:5.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Job 11:12
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. {vain: Heb. empty}
 
 
Proverbs 26:12
12 ¶ Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
 
 
Proverbs 16:2
2 ¶ All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
 
 
Judges 2:19
19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. {corrupted...: or, were corrupt} {ceased...: Heb. let nothing fall of their}
 
 
Deuteronomy 29:19
19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: {imagination: or, stubbornness} {drunkenness...: Heb. the drunken to the thirsty}
 
 
Matthew 7:14
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. {Because: or, How}
 
 
Proverbs 14:12
12 ¶ There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
 
 
Proverbs 1:5
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
 
 
Exodus 18:14-24
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. {one...: Heb. a man and his fellow} 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. {Thou wilt...: Heb. Fading thou wilt fade} 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 Samuel 25:23-32
23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. {audience: Heb. ears} 25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. {regard: Heb. lay it to his heart} {Nabal: that is, Fool} 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. {avenging...: Heb. saving thyself} 27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. {blessing: or, present} {follow...: Heb. walk at the feet of, etc} 28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. 29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. {as out...: Heb. in the midst of the bought of a sling} 30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; 31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. {no grief: Heb. no staggering, or, stumbling} 32 ¶ And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.
 
 
James 1:5
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.