Bridges on Proverbs 14:26

Charles Bridges on Proverbs 14:26


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26. In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

“Fear hath torment.” (1 John 4:18. Acts 24:25.) It is the trembling of the slave (Romans 8:15); the dread of wrath, not of sin. There is no confidence here. It is pure selfishness. It ends in self. There is no homage to God. But the true fear of God is a holy, happy (See Psalm 112:1; 22:18; 147:11), reverential principle; not that which “love casts out” (1 John 4:18), but which love brings in. It is reverence tempered with love. We fear, because we love. We “fear his goodness” (Hosea 3:5. Psalm 130:4) no less than his justice; not because we doubt his love, but because we are assured of it.(Hebrews 12:28. 1 Peter 1:17, 18.) We fear, yet we are not afraid. (Psalm 112:1, 7.) The holiest and humblest is the most fixed and trusting heart. The fear of man produces faintness. (Chapter 29:25. Jonah 1:3. Galatians 2:12.) The fear of the LORD — such is the Christian paradox — emboldens. Its child-like spirit shuts out all terrors of conscience, all forebodings of eternity. Confidence — strong confidence — issues out of it. Abraham sacrificed his son in the fear of God; yet fully confident, “that God was able to raise him up from the dead.” (Genesis 22:12, with Hebrews 11:17-19.) The fear of God led the Babylonish captives with unshaken confidence into the fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:16-18.) And thus does the child of God, while walking in godly fear, rejoice in confidence, even in the most frowning dispensation.† His covenant privilege covers him;† “and that wicked one toucheth him not.”†

And how happy is the change wrought on our profession! Before, as criminals, we fled from God — now, as his children, we “flee to him — to hide us.” (Genesis 3:8, with Psalm 143:9.) The atonement, which has “made and end of sin;” the righteousness, which hath brought in the sunshine of favor; the intercession which maintains our standing of acceptance — this is our ground of confidence, strong as death, stronger than hell. (Romans 8:31-39.) Yes — if heaven and earth shake, God hath ordained and secured that his children shall have a place of refuge, such as they need, and when they need (Psalm 46:1; 48:3. Isaiah 32:2); when the enemy is most strongly assaulting (Psalm 56:1-4. Isaiah 25:4); at the last extremity, when every other refuge shall have been swept away. (Isaiah 28:16, 17.) Oh! does not every act of faith strengthen our confidence, and realize more sensibly the peaceful security of our refuge? (Chapter 1:33; 18:10. Isaiah 32:18, 19.) But remember — nothing short of a full application of the atonement can establish our confidence, and deliver us from slavish fear and uncertainty.

1 John 4:18

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Acts 24:25

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

Romans 8:15

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Psalm 112:1

1 ¶ Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. {Praise...: Heb. Hallelujah}

Psalm 22:18

18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Psalm 147:11

11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

1 John 4:18

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Hosea 3:5

5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Psalm 130:4

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Hebrews 12:28

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: {let...: or, let us hold fast}

1 Peter 1:17, 18

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Psalm 112:1, 7

1 ¶ Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. {Praise...: Heb. Hallelujah} 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

Proverbs 29:25

25 ¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. {safe: Heb. set on high}

Jonah 1:3

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.

Galatians 2:12

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Genesis 22:12

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

with

Hebrews 11:17-19

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: {of: or, to} 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Daniel 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Footnote:

Job 1:1, with 13:15. Micah 7:7-9. Hebrews 3:16-19.

Job 1:1

1 ¶ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

with

Job 13:15

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. {maintain: Heb. prove, or, argue}

Micah 7:7-9

7 ¶ Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 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. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

Hebrews 3:16-19

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Footnote:

Jeremiah 32:40.

Jeremiah 32:40

40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. {from them: Heb. from after them}

Footnote:

1 John 5:18. Compare chapter 3:21-26; 19:23.

1 John 5:18

18 ¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. {is born: Gr. has been born}

Proverbs 3:21-26

21 ¶ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Proverbs 19:23

23 ¶ The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Genesis 3:8

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. {cool: Heb. wind}

with

Psalm 143:9

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. {flee...: Heb. hide me with thee}

Romans 8:31-39

31 ¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 46:1

1 ¶ {To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.} God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. {for: or, of}

Psalm 48:3

3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

Isaiah 32:2

1 ¶ {To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.} God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. {for: or, of}

Psalm 56:1-4

1 ¶ {To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.} Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. {Michtam...: or, A golden Psalm of David} 2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. {enemies: Heb. observers} 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Isaiah 25:4

4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Isaiah 28:16, 17

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Proverbs 1:33

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Proverbs 18:10

10 ¶ The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. {safe: Heb. set aloft}

Isaiah 32:18, 19

18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; 19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. {low in...: or, utterly abased}