Bridges on Proverbs 13:12
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 13:12
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7 
 8 
 9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
 16 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 20 
 21 
 22 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 

12.  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
 
The first springing of hope is a pleasurable sensation, yet not unmixed with pain. It is the hunger, that makes our food acceptable. But hope deferred, like hunger prolonged, brings a kind of torture. It maketh the heart sick. (Psalm 119:82, 123; 143:7.) Yet when the desire — the fulfillment of the hope — cometh, what a tree of life it is — so invigorating! (Verse 19.)
We must however limit this application to the spiritual world. Elsewhere the fulfillment of the desire, instead of a tree of life, is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 2:11.) Here however the child of God is often tried in his faith, but never disappointed of his hope. Long we may have to wait. But never let us despair. “The patience of hope” issues in “the full assurance of hope.” What was it to Abraham, when, after long deferred hope, the desire came, and he called the child of promise — Laughter! (Genesis 15:3; 21:3-6.) What was it “when the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, and they were like unto them that dream!” (Psalm 137. with 126.) What was it to old Simeon and the waiting remnant, when “the desire of all nations” came! (Luke 2:25-30, with Haggai 2:7. Compare Matthew 13:16, 17.) What to the disciples, when at the manifestation of their risen Lord, their sickening hearts “believed not for joy, and wondered!” (Luke 24:41.) What to the little flock met together in the faintness of deferred hope to plead for Peter's deliverance, when the desire came — the answer to prayer, so marvelously vouchsafed! (Acts 12:12-16.)
To come to more personal experience. Such was the trial of faith appointed for our Beloved Lord. Such was the joyful issue. (Psalm 22:1-3, with 22-25; 69:1-3, with 30-35.) Many a waiting, sickening heart has been thus refreshed from a tree of life. But what will be the joy of the grand consummation of hope! (Romans 8:23-25. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4.) “The earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19.) Time seems long, trials heavy, hearts failing. But “yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come , and will not tarry.” (Hebrews 10:37, 38. Habakkuk 2:3. Revelation 22:7, 12, 20.) The first moment of the glorious manifestation will blot out the remembrance of all toils, weariness, and trial. Yes — the desire cometh — come it will in God's best time — “quickly.” One moment sick; the next — “the inhabitant of that land,” where sickness is no more. (Isaiah 33:24. Revelation 21:4.) One moment clad in the rags of the flesh; “in the twinkling of an eye” arrayed in the glory of the Savior's image. (1 Corinthians 15:51-54.) “Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly.” (Revelation 22:20.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 119:82, 123
82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 123 ¶ Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
 
Psalm 143:7
7 ¶ Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. {lest...: or, for I am become like, etc}
 
 
Proverbs 13:19
19 ¶ The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 2:11
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
 
 
Genesis 15:3
3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
 
Genesis 21:3-6
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
 
 
Psalm 137.
1 ¶ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. {a song: Heb. the words of a song} {wasted...: Heb. laid us on heaps} 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? {strange...: Heb. land of a stranger?} 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. {my chief...: Heb. the head of my joy} 7 ¶ Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. {Rase it: Heb. Make bare} 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. {destroyed: Heb. wasted} {rewardeth...: Heb. recompenseth unto thee thy deed which thou didst to us} 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. {the stones: Heb. the rock}
 
with
Psalm 126.
1 ¶ {A Song of degrees.} When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. {turned...: Heb. returned the returning} 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. {hath...: Heb. hath magnified to do with them} 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 ¶ Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. {joy: or, singing} 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. {precious...: or, seed basket}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luke 2:25-30
25 ¶ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
 
with
Haggai 2:7
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
 
Compare
Matthew 13:16, 17
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
 
 
Luke 24:41
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
 
 
Acts 12:12-16
12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. {to hearken: or, to ask who was there} 14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.
 
 
Psalm 22:1-3
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.} My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? {Aijeleth...: or, the hind of the morning} {helping...: Heb. my salvation} 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. {am...: Heb. there is no silence to me} 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
 
with
Psalm 22-25
22 ¶ I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. 25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
 
Psalm 69:1-3
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.} Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. {deep mire: Heb. the mire of depth} {deep waters: Heb. depth of waters} 3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
 
with
Psalm 30-35
30 ¶ I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. {humble: or, meek} 33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. 34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein. {moveth: Heb. creepeth} 35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romans 8:23-25
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
 
2 Corinthians 5:1-4
1 ¶ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
 
 
Romans 8:19
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
 
 
Hebrews 10:37, 38
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
 
Habakkuk 2:3
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
 
Revelation 22:7, 12, 20
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 20 ¶ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 
 
Isaiah 33:24
24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
 
Revelation 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
 
 
1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
 
 
Revelation 22:20
20 ¶ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.