Bridges on Proverbs 13:22
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 13:22
 
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22.  A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
 
Here we have particular instance of the good to be repaid to the righteous. It cannot however be meant as an universal statement. Many good men have no inheritance to leave; or they have no children; or none that survive them; or no children's children; or this generation may be in poverty. The wealth of the sinner also, instead of being laid up for the just, descends to his posterity for successive generations. (Psalm 17:14.) Yet Scripture gives many examples of this dispensation of Providence; shewing the blessing of personal godliness to unborn posterity. Abraham left his covenanted inheritance to his children's children. Caleb's children inherited their father's possession. “Although David's house was not so with God” as he could have desired; yet his lamp continued to burn for upwards of seventeen generations. Often also has the Divine blessing upon the discreet guidance of his affairs (Psalm 112:5), and the special promise of Christian liberality (Chapter 3:9, 10), preserved the good man's inheritance. And if there is no earthly substance to leave; yet a church in the house; a family altar; the record of holy example and instruction; and above all, a store of believing prayer laid up for accomplishment, when we shall be silent in the grave — will be an inheritance to our children of inestimable value. For though no trust can be placed in hereditary religion (John 1:13); yet the recollection of the path in which their fathers walked, and in which they themselves were trained, may, under God's grace, continue a godly entail in our families, so that “instead of the fathers may be the children.” (Psalm 78:5, 6; 45:16.)
But the good man's inheritance is also increased from the wealth of the sinner. Laban's wealth was laid up for Jacob; the spoils of Egypt and Canaan for Israel; Haman's wealth for Esther and Mordecai. Indeed this appears to have been a prominent feature of the Old Dispensation (Chapter 28:8. Job 27:16, 17); and it will be openly renewed in the latter-day glory of the Church. (Isaiah 61:6.) Probably therefore the fulfillment is far more frequent than meets the eye. Often also the wealth of the sinner, laid up for the aggrandizement of his own name in his posterity, becomes the portion of the just in their own holy seed; consecrated to the service of their Lord and his Church (Ecclesiastes 2:26.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 17:14
14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. {which are: or, by} {they...: or, their children are full}
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 17:7, 8. Psalm 112:2.
 

 
Genesis 17:7, 8
7 ¶ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. {wherein...: Heb. of thy sojournings}
 
Psalm 112:2
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
 
 
Footnote:
Joshua 14:14.
 

 
Joshua 14:14
14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 23:5. 2 Chronicles 21:7.
 

 
2 Samuel 23:5
5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.
 
2 Chronicles 21:7
7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. {light: Heb. lamp, or, candle}
 
 
Psalm 112:5
5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. {discretion: Heb. judgment}
 
 
Proverbs 3:9, 10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
 
 
John 1:13
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
 
 
Psalm 78:5, 6
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
 
Psalm 45:16
16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 31:1, 9, 16.
 

 
Genesis 31:1, 9, 16
1 ¶ And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory. 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
 
 
Footnote:
Exodus 12:35, 36. Joshua 11:14. Psalm 105:44.
 

 
Exodus 12:35, 36
35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
 
Joshua 11:14
14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
 
Psalm 105:44
44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
 
 
Footnote:
Esther 8:1, 2.
 

 
Esther 8:1, 2
1 ¶ On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. 2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
 
 
Proverbs 28:8
8 ¶ He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. {unjust...: Heb. by increase}
 
Job 27:16, 17
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
 
 
Isaiah 61:6
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 2:26
26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. {in his...: Heb. before him}