Bridges on Proverbs 13:6
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 13:6
 
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6.  Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. {the sinner: Heb. sin}
 
Would that this repetition of the aphorism (Chapter 11:3, 5, 6) might deepen its impression! It is indeed a straight way to heaven. “Lead me in it, O my God” (Psalm 5:8), and keep me there. The many deviations even of the children of God prove our need of Divine keeping. The fear of man;† the flinching of the flesh from positive duty;† the grasp of some desired object;† the subtle allurements of sin†  — all these have turned him out of the path; embracing his Father's will in many things; in others preferring his own. Righteousness — steady conformity to the mind of God — keeps the soul upright, and so keeps it in the way. (Psalm 25:21.) Not that we exalt it to any meritorious efficacy, or put it in the place of simply “looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) for life and salvation. The Christian, while “walking in his integrity” (Psalm 26:11), never loses his sense of sin, or forgets his need of mercy. Yet his “righteousness is a breast-plate” (Ephesians 6:14) keeping him from many assaults of sin (Genesis 39:9), and covering him from threatening wrath. (Genesis 7:1. 2 Peter 2:7-9.) But this is righteousness, not perfection, mixed with much cleaving infirmity. Yet — blessed be God — the uprightness is accepted, and the fault is covered. (2 Chronicles 15:17.)
But while ‘saints are secured from ruin, sinners are secured for ruin.’† The sinner's own wickedness overthroweth him. (2 Chronicles 28:23.) He is bent upon his own way, the sure road to destruction. ‘Let him not blame the Lord, or any mortal man beside himself, inasmuch as he is the author of ruin to himself.’†
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 11:3, 5, 6
3 ¶ The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 5 ¶ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. {direct: Heb. rectify} 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
 
 
Psalm 5:8
8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. {mine...: Heb. those which observe me}
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 12:11-13; 20:2.
 
 
Genesis 12:11-13
11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
 
Genesis 20:2
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
 
 
Footnote:
Jonah 1:1-3.
 
 
Jonah 1:1-3
1 ¶ Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, {Jonah: Gr. Jonas} 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
 
 
Footnote:
Genesis 27:19-24.
 
 
Genesis 27:19-24
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. {to me: Heb. before me} 21 And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 24 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 11:2. 1 Kings 11:1-4.
 
 
2 Samuel 11:2
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
 
1 Kings 11:1-4
1 ¶ But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; {together...: or, beside} 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
 
 
Psalm 25:21
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
 
 
Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. {author: or, beginner}
 
 
Psalm 26:11
11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.
 
 
Ephesians 6:14
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
 
 
Genesis 39:9
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
 
 
Genesis 7:1
1 ¶ And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
 
2 Peter 2:7-9
7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
 
 
2 Chronicles 15:17
17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
 
 
Footnote:
Henry in loco.
 
 
2 Chronicles 28:23
23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. {Damascus: Heb. Darmesek}
 
 
Footnote:
Muffet's (Peter) Commentary on Proverbs, 12mo. 1596.