Bridges on Proverbs 14:14
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:14
 
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14.  The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
 
Every spot is not the leprosy. Every mark of sin does not prove a backslider. “A man may be overtaken in a fault” (Galatians 6:1); or it may be the sin of ignorance (Leviticus 4:2. Hebrews 5:2); or sin abhorred, resisted, yet still cleaving. (Romans 7:15-24.) Backsliding implies a willful step; not always open, but the more dangerous, because hidden. Here was no open apostasy, perhaps no tangible inconsistency. Nay — the man may be looked up to as an eminent saint. But he is a backslider in heart. A secret canker of unwatchfulness; worldly conformity (Hosea 7:8), neglect, or indulgence, has insensibly “devoured his strength.” (Hosea 7:9. Judges 16:20.) He was once pressing onward. A langour has now stolen upon him. His heart beats unsteadily. He has become formal and hurried in his prayers; lukewarm in the means of grace: reading his Bible to soothe his conscience, rather than to feed his soul. The first steps, instead of alarming and bringing him to secret weeping (Matthew 26:75), hurried him onwards from one liberty to another, till he lost all power of resistance. His unsoundness was known to God, long before it was manifested to the Church. Before the matter of Uriah, indolence and security had probably unhinged the man of God, and laid him open to the tempter. (2 Samuel 11:1, 2.) Perhaps this dispensation may be permitted to teach the child of God his need of watchfulness and dependence. (2 Chronicles 32:31. Philippians 2:12.) The backslider's folly and wretchedness is graphically portrayed, as a merciful warning to the church. He needs no other rod than his own ways. To be filled with them; thus to become the fountain of his own misery, is the most fearful of all Divine judgments.
The good man is also filled from himself; yet not as the backslider, with misery, but with solid satisfaction. God has given him a fountain fed from a higher fountain; a living spring within himself (John 4:14); the witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16); the life and joy of the Heavenly Comforter (John 14:16, 17); the rejoicing testimony of his conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12); the assured hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27.) This is not independent of God, the one source of self-sufficiency. But it is Himself dwelling in the heart and filling it with his fulness. Let the sinner compare the satisfaction of sin and godliness — the curse and the blessing; and lift up his heart for the direction of a right choice. Let the backslider return to the gospel to awaken his contrition, and to reanimate his faith. (Hosea 14.) Let the good man invigorate his soul daily from his well of consolation.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Galatians 6:1.
1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. {if: or, although}
 
 
Leviticus 4:2
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
 
Hebrews 5:2
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. {can...: or, can reasonably bear with}
 
 
Romans 7:15-24
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. {allow: Gr. know} 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? {the body...: or, this body of death}
 
 
Hosea 7:8
8 ¶ Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
 
 
Hosea 7:9
9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. {here...: Heb. sprinkled}
 
Judges 16:20
20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
 
 
Matthew 26:75
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
 
 
2 Samuel 11:1, 2
1 ¶ And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. {after...: Heb. at the return of the year, or, in the spring} 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.
 
 
2 Chronicles 32:31
31 Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. {ambassadors: Heb. interpreters}
 
Philippians 2:12
12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
 
 
Psalm 32:3, 4
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
 
Jeremiah 2:19
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
 
Jeremiah 4:8
8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
 
Compare
1 Samuel 28:15
15 ¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. {by prophets: Heb. by the hand of prophets}
 
Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
, Philippians 4:11, self-sufficiency. Compare 2 Corinthians 9:8. — Gr.
 

 
Philippians 4:11
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
 
2 Corinthians 9:8
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
 
 
John 4:14
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
 
 
Romans 8:16
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
 
 
John 14:16, 17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
 
 
2 Corinthians 1:12
12 ¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
 
 
Colossians 1:27
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: {in: or, among}
 
 
Hosea 14.
1 ¶ O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. {receive...: or, give good} 3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 ¶ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. {grow: or, blossom} {cast...: Heb. strike} 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. {spread: Heb. go} 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. {grow: or, blossom} {scent: or, memorial} 8 ¶ Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.