Bridges on Proverbs 12:8
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 12:8
 
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8.  A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. {of a...: Heb. perverse of heart}
 
The ordinary judgment of this world is to “put darkness for light” (Isaiah 5:20), and therefore to commend according to folly, rather than according to wisdom. And yet even hated wisdom often caries its voice of conviction both to conscience and judgment; and a man is commended according to it. Hence the elevation of Joseph and Daniel; the honour paid to David in private life; and the universal respect shewn to his wise son. Our Lord's wisdom was also commended, not only by the popular voice (Matthew 7:28, 29), but even by the testimony of his enemies. (John 7:46). The wisdom of Stephen, “making his face to shine,” overpowered his beholders with solemn awe. (Acts 6:10, 15.) How thrilling will be the commendation of wisdom before the assembled universe! (Luke 12:42-44.) Who will not then acknowledge the wise choice of an earthly cross with an heavenly crown? (Matthew 5:11, 12.) Wisdom (2 Samuel 20:18-22) then — not dignity, riches, or talent — brings honour. This is the Lord's commendation. It must be right. (2 Corinthians 10:18.) It will stand for eternity.
What then makes a man despised? Not his poverty, obscure circumstances, or misfortune; but perverseness of spirit (1 Kings 12:16. Malachi 2:8, 9), too proud to be taught: following a mad course to ruin. Perverse Nabal was despised by his own family (1 Samuel 25:17, 25); the prodigal by his former companions. (Luke 15:15, 16.) And of all such, shame will be their present promotion (Chapter 3:35; 11:2; 18:3), their eternal doom. (Daniel 12:2.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 5:20
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! {call...: Heb. say concerning evil, It is good, etc}
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 41:39. Daniel 1:19, 20; 2:46. 1 Samuel 16:18; 18:30. 1 Kings 3:28; 4:29-34.
 

 
Genesis 41:39
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
 
Daniel 1:19, 20
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. {wisdom...: Heb. wisdom of understanding}
 
Daniel 2:46
46 ¶ Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
 
1 Samuel 16:18
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. {matters: or, speech}
 
1 Samuel 18:30
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. {set by: Heb. precious}
 
1 Kings 3:28
28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. {in him: Heb. in the midst of him}
 
1 Kings 4:29-34
29 ¶ And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew 7:28, 29
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
 
 
John 7:46
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
 
 
Acts 6:10, 15
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
 
 
Luke 12:42-44
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
 
 
Matthew 5:11, 12
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. {falsely: Gr. lying} 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
 
 
2 Samuel 20:18-22
18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter. {They were...: or, They plainly spake in the beginning, saying, Surely they will ask of Abel, and so make an end} 19 I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. 21 The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. {by name: Heb. by his name} 22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king. {retired: Heb. were scattered}
 
 
2 Corinthians 10:18
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
 
 
1 Kings 12:16
16 ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
 
Malachi 2:8, 9
8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. {stumble at: or, fall in} 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. {have been...: or, lifted up the face against: Heb. accepted faces}
 
 
1 Samuel 25:17, 25
17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 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}
 
 
Luke 15:15, 16.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
 
 
Proverbs 3:35
35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. {shall be...: Heb. exalteth the fools}
 
Proverbs 11:2
2 ¶ When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
 
Proverbs 18:3
3 ¶ When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
 
 
Daniel 12:2
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.