Bridges on Proverbs 14:20
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:20
 
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20.  The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. {the rich...: Heb. many are the lovers of the rich}
 
An humbling, but how common an illustration of native selfishness. Sometimes however we hear of cheering exceptions. “Ruth clave to Naomi” in her poverty; Jonathan to David, when stripped of royal favor. But too generally the poor, instead of being pitied and comforted (Job 6:14. Isaiah 58:7), is hated or neglected of his own neighbour. the rich is not in a more enviable condition. He has many friends indeed to his money and favor, but few to his interest. Many would be the deserters, should a change of circumstance cut off supplies for their appetites, pleasures, or covetousness. (Chapter 19:4, 6.) But how endearing is the love of Jesus! He was emphatically the Poor man's Friend. (Psalm 72:12, 14.) He sought his many friends among the wretched and forlorn (Matthew 4:18-22); and still does his powerful compassion plead for those hated ones among their fellow-sinners. (Psalm 109:31.) Shall not we then, like the tried saint of old, learn to look off from earthly destitution in a cleaving confidence on Him, as the Rock of our salvation? (Job 19:13-27.) The practical exercise of this confidence will be an overcoming of our selfish propensity; cultivating that tenderness, which, instead of shrinking from the sight of misery, hastens, though at the expense of personal sacrifice, to its sympathizing relief. (Luke 10:33-35.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Ruth 1:14, 21, 22.
 

 
Ruth 1:14, 21, 22
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 19:1-7; 23:16.
 

 
1 Samuel 19:1-7
1 ¶ And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. 4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. {in times...: Heb. yesterday, third day}
 
1 Samuel 23:16
16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
 
 
Job 6:14
14 ¶ To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. {is afflicted: Heb. melteth}
 
Isaiah 58:7
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? {cast...: or, afflicted}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 10:15; 19:4, 7. Luke 16:21.
 
    Nil habet infelix paupertas durius in se,
    Quam quod ridiculos homines facit. — Juvenal, iii. 152, 153.
 

 
Proverbs 10:15
15 ¶ The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
 
Proverbs 19:4, 7
4 ¶ Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
 
Luke 16:21
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
 
 
Proverbs 19:4, 6
4 ¶ Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. 6 ¶ Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. {him...: Heb. a man of gifts}
 
 
Psalm 72:12, 14
12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
 
 
Matthew 4:18-22
18 ¶ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
 
 
Psalm 109:31
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. {those...: Heb. the judges of}
 
 
Job 19:13-27
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. 17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body. {mine...: Heb. my belly} 18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. {young...: or, the wicked} 19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. {my...: Heb. the men of my secret} 20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. {and to: or, as to} 21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. 22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 23 ¶ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! {Oh...: Heb. Who will give, etc} 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: {And...: or, After I shall awake, though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh} 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. {another: Heb. a stranger} {though...: or, my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire (for that day)} {within...: Heb. in my bosom}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Luke 10:33-35
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.