Bridges on Proverbs 13:9
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 13:9
 
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9.  The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out. {lamp: or, candle}
 
Who can estimate the worth of a Christian's bright shining light? (Matthew 5:14-16. Philippians 2:15. Chapter 4:18.) Happy in his own soul, like his counterpart in the heavens, he sheds a joyous light around him. But how glowing, then, is the light of the Church in the combined shining of all her members! Many of them have no remarkable individual splendour; yet, like the lesser stars forming the milky way, they present a bright path of holiness in the spiritual firmament. This happy heavenly light “shineth into perfect day,” and that day will never set. (Isaiah 60:19, 20.) Sometimes it may be obscured, but only that it may break out more gloriously (Micah 7:8); and soon will it be a day without a cloud. (Revelation 21:23, 24.)
But it is the light of the righteous that rejoiceth. Sin therefore will bring the cloud. Do we hope to shine in the heavenly firmament? Then must we shine with present glory in the firmament of the Church. So delicate is the Divine principle, that every breath of this world dims its lustre.
The wicked have their lamp, a cold profession of the name of religion. But being without oil, it will soon be put out (Job 18:5, 6. Matthew 25:8.) Even while it lasts, it rejoiceth not. It sheds no light upon the soul. It guides no fellow-pilgrim with its light. Fearful will be the end. He takes his leave of the light of this world, only to enter into eternal darkness, without even a flickering ray to cheer “the blackness of darkness for ever.” (Psalm 49:19. Matthew 22:13.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Matthew 5:14-16
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. 16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
 
Philippians 2:15
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; {harmless: or, sincere} {ye shine: or, shine ye}
 
Proverbs 4:18
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
 
 
Isaiah 60:19, 20
19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
 
 
Micah 7:8
8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
 
 
Revelation 21:23, 24
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
 
 
Job 18:5, 6
5 ¶ Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. 6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. {candle: or, lamp}
 
Matthew 25:8
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. {gone out: or, going out}
 
 
Psalm 49:19
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. {He...: Heb. The soul shall}
 
Matthew 22:13
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.